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Recognition & Rewards

Company events still deductible, IRS clarifies

04/19/2018
The deductibility of costs incurred for company events, such as a Christmas party, is covered under tax code Sections 274(e)(1) and (e)(4), which the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act didn’t touch.

More employers paying staff to stay ‘fiscally fit’

04/19/2018
An increasing number of employers are giving money and other incentives to workers to encourage them to fund their emergency savings accounts, reduce their debt and attend financial education classes.

Blasé millennials require a different mix of employee benefits

03/13/2018

Millennial employees grew used to taking “just for now” jobs with little hope of long-term stability. Their experience should inform your benefits strategy.

Bonuses or pay raises: Which works best?

02/22/2018

In December, some high-profile businesses announced they planned to give bonuses to their employees. Other companies said they would raise the minimum wage entry-level employees receive, with corresponding increases for higher-paid staff. Both strategies recognize a tightening job market. Which one is right for your organization?

Tax reform fueling changes to benefits and comp programs

02/21/2018

Tax reform legislation enacted late last year is already fueling changes to corporate America’s employee compensation and benefits programs, according to a new survey by the Willis Towers Watson consulting firm.

Do gift cards count as employee income?

01/02/2018

Q. We gave our employees gift cards as holiday gifts. Must these gift cards be reported as taxable income?

Snapshot: Fewer bonuses this year

12/12/2017

A strong economy hasn’t convinced employers to loosen the purse strings this holiday season. 

Best holiday gift for employees could be a simple ‘thank you’

11/28/2017

A little appreciation can go a long way with employees. This holiday season, remind supervisors to stuff their employees’ stockings with a simple “thank you” for a year of loyal service.

Give ‘coupons’ to celebrate on a budget

11/21/2017

When she was getting her Denver product branding firm off the ground, Design and Image founder Deborah Williams couldn’t afford to give big holiday bonuses to her eight employees. Instead, she gave something almost as valuable: a book of coupons redeemable for work/life balance during the year.

Survey: Employers trim discretionary bonuses

09/28/2017
Despite low unemployment, employer payrolls are expected to increase only 3% in 2018, according to recent surveys. That’s in line with pay raises employers have been handing out for the last several years. What is changing, however, is how employers are paying workers.