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Payroll

Don’t let the FLSA’s pay rules snow you under this winter

11/21/2011
Winter isn’t a challenging season just because of the lousy weather. It’s tough on payroll staff, who must ensure that the company’s pay policies jibe with the Fair Labor Standards Act when employees leave early, arrive late or just stay home because of snow. Here are the rules for nonexempts and exempts.

What are the rules on setting a late policy?

11/18/2011
Q. We would like to institute a rule subjecting em­­ployees to discipline for clocking in late. Are we permitted to do this even though we round our employees’ time to the nearest quarter-hour?

W-2s: the gift that keeps on giving

11/18/2011

W-2s can give you aggravation, sleepless nights, you name it. Here are the critical due dates, as well as six common W-2 errors and easy tips to avoid them:

Ho-Ho-Ho or Uh Oh?

11/17/2011
You can enjoy the company’s holiday bash even more after you get through these year-end payroll duties:

Health care reporting: What you need to do now

11/15/2011
If dealing with year-end 2011 hasn’t caused enough anxiety, lurking just around the corner is W-2 reporting of employees’ health benefits. If you’ll be filing at least 250 W-2s for 2012 and don’t have a self-insured plan that’s not subject to COBRA, you’re on the hook for health care reporting, beginning next year.

Keep the FLSA at Bay During the Holidays

11/03/2011
The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is a busy time for many companies. Questions regarding overtime, holiday pay and seasonal hires often arise. You don’t have to play Scrooge this holiday season, if you know the rules as written in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Regs Require Uniform Summary of Health Benefits & Coverage

11/01/2011
Beginning March 23, 2012, all group health plans—including grandfathered plans, self-insured plans and plans not covered by ERISA—must provide employees and beneficiaries with a simple explanation of their benefits and a uniform glossary covering basic health insurance and medical terms.

Trade legislation impacts FUTA, new-hire reporting

10/31/2011
To offset the cost of three new free-trade agreements, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 requires states to beef up their unemployment and new-hire reporting laws. Both provisions will affect your payroll operations.

Health benefit affordability safe harbor leans on payroll

10/30/2011

Under the Affordable Care Act health care reform law, employers will pay a penalty if just one employee enrolls in coverage through the individual exchange and receives a premium tax credit and his or her contribution isn’t affordable because it exceeds 9.5% of his or her household income. Problem: You usually don’t know employees’ household income. To remedy this, the IRS is proposing an employer affordability safe harbor.

Wage payment on termination: state laws

10/30/2011
Most states have regulations regarding the timing of when employers have to pay employees when a termination occurs. Often, there is a difference in that timing when it involves an employee who quits versus an employee who is fired by the employer.