Compensation & Benefits

Beware bias suits when raising starting pay

01/20/2022

In this tight labor market, many employers have decided to raise starting pay in order to attract qualified job candidates. However, that can cause unintended consequences if new hires are paid more than current employees, who could decide to sue for some kind of discrimination.

Pandemic fundamentally altered our perspectives

01/18/2022

We’re different now than we were before the pandemic began in 2020, according to a survey of 1,752 Americans by the Gartner business advisory firm.

Paying with 91,500 pennies draws DOL’s attention—and more charges

01/11/2022

A Georgia business owner is being sued for retaliation after delivering a former employee’s final pay in the form of 91,500 oil-covered pennies dumped in the man’s driveway.

Snapshot: Top 5 industries for pay raises

01/04/2022

Here’s how much average weekly pay increased in these industries in the last year.

Health benefits cost more in ’21, outlook uncertain for ’22

12/22/2021

The average per-employee cost of employer-sponsored health insurance jumped 6.3% in 2021 as employees resumed care after avoiding it last year due to the pandemic, according to Mercer’s 2021 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans.

Talent war driving big pay raises for 2022

12/14/2021

With record numbers of employees quitting their jobs in 2021, HR pros are fighting a fierce battle to attract and retain top talent as the calendar flips to 2022. The most powerful weapon in their arsenal: higher pay.

ADA: Consider new schedule before leave

12/02/2021

Under the ADA, disabled employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that allow them to perform the essential functions of their jobs. Generally, employers get to choose the accommodation they prefer. But to survive a lawsuit, that accommodation better permit them to actually work if at all possible.

DOL recovered retirement funds worth $2.4 billion

12/02/2021

The Employee Benefits Security Administration recovered more than $2.4 billion in direct payments to retirement plans, participants and beneficiaries in fiscal year 2021.

Final rule: Fed contractor employees to earn at least $15 per hour

11/23/2021

The U.S. Department of Labor on Nov. 22 issued a final rule increasing the minimum wage for employees working on federal contracts to $15 per hour beginning Jan. 30, 2022.

Paid family and medical leave back in BBB bill passed by House

11/22/2021

A scaled-down provision for paid family and medical leave that had been previously stripped from the $2 trillion Build Back Better Act made it into the final version passed by the House of Representatives on Nov. 19. Odds are the entitlement will not survive once the Senate finishes with the legislation.