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Compensation & Benefits

Congress weighs taxing employee health benefits

03/26/2009

The value of health insurance isn’t counted as income on paychecks. But that could change under an increasingly popular proposal being pushed hard by the key tax-writer on Capitol Hill, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Can we deduct partial days off from salaried employees’ accrued leave?

03/26/2009

Q. If a company tracks employees’ vacation, sick and personal time off, can we make deductions from accumulated time for everyone who takes time off, including salaried employees? I’m talking about deducting it from the accrual, not the pay. I’ve heard that I can’t deduct vacation, sick leave or personal time if the salaried employee worked at least four hours during that day.

8 rules for recognizing and rewarding employees

03/26/2009
Surveys of U.S. workers consistently show that employees want more than a paycheck from their jobs—they want to feel safe, secure and appreciated at work. Good recognition and rewards provide employees with three things: A fair return for their efforts. Motivation to maintain and improve their performance. A clarification of what behaviors and outcomes the […]

School district pulls salary scale bait-and-switch

03/26/2009

A hearing examiner for the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has ruled the Loyalsock Township School District engaged in an unfair labor practice when it failed to release the salary scale the district and teachers’ union agreed upon in the final contract.

The HR I.Q. Test: April ’09

03/24/2009

Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

AIG isn’t the only employer with bonus problems!

03/24/2009

If, like many employers, you rely on a bonus plan to help retain valued employees and motivate them to work hard, don’t get caught in this common trap: Employees who worked overtime during the bonus-earning period will be entitled to additional overtime pay after they get their bonuses.

IRS, DOL release guidance on new COBRA rules

03/24/2009

The IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor have just published guidance to help employers claim the credit for the new 65% COBRA subsidy and create the mandatory new COBRA notices. Look here for links to the documents and information you need to comply.

Feds publish more details on new COBRA subsidy, notices

03/24/2009

Confused about the 65% COBRA subsidy provision that was included in the big federal stimulus package approved in February? You’re not alone. In an effort to clarify things, the IRS has published new information on its web site to help employers claim the credit for COBRA medical premiums they pay for former employees.

Working during FMLA leave: Should we stop it?

03/24/2009

Q. We have an employee in her third week of maternity-related FMLA leave who comes to work to check her e-mails, make some work calls, etc. How should we handle this? Could there be liability issues because there’s no doctor’s release yet?

Zero tolerance for tardiness: Legal but unwise

03/24/2009

Q. Our company’s owner is tired of tardiness and has instituted a new rule that says anyone who is tardy will be fired, no matter the reason. Recently, some people were tardy during a snowstorm when their train could not make it on time. We were told to fire them. What do you think?