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Compensation & Benefits

Remind managers to prevent ‘off-the-clock’ work

03/01/2005
Telecom giant Cingular settled a Labor Department audit last month by paying $5.1 million in back wages to more than 25,000 customer-service reps and agreeing to create a new time-reporting review …

You can exclude vacation pay from ‘Regular rate’

03/01/2005

Q. When we are figuring employees’ base pay for overtime calculations, can we exclude their vacation pay? —R.J.D., South Dakota

Entice applicants to beat a path to your door

03/01/2005
The hassle and cost of slogging to work is a big reason that good employees quit. And commuting pains aren’t easing: Two-thirds of new jobs are now located in the suburbs, …

Small changes to returning worker’s job are OK

02/01/2005
When employees return to work after taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you must restore either their original job or an equivalent job with the same pay, …

Jobs must be ‘virtually identical’ (not similar) to bring equal-pay claim

02/01/2005
Don’t be afraid to set different salary levels for employees who hold the same title. Different pay for the same job title is fine as long as you can prove that …

New rules make 401(k) plans easier to administer

02/01/2005
Your organization’s 401(k) plan should be a bit less complicated to administer in the coming years, thanks to new Treasury Department regulations.
The new rules, the first major revision of …

Turn to temporary managers to fill gaps and cut costs

02/01/2005
Issue: Temporary managers and executives can fill a short-term void and save money in the long run.
Benefit: Filling the right positions with interim replacements can enhance your reputation as …

Work with managers to motivate part-time employees

02/01/2005
Issue: Improving the productivity of your part-time employees.
Risk: Part-timers often feel, and are sometimes treated, like second-class citizens, which can hurt their performance.
Action: Work with supervisors to …

Cut prescription expenses by comparing prices online

02/01/2005
More independent Web sites now evaluate prices of generic and brand name drugs, as well as prices at online and brick-and-mortar pharmacies. Check the drug costs of your organization’s health plan, …

Offer, don’t force, light duty as option for FMLA leave

02/01/2005
Issue: Court ruling says employees can perform light-duty work during their FMLA leave.
Benefit: In such cases, time spent on light-duty work would count toward the employees’ 12-week FMLA allotment …