Category: Benefits and Compensation

This topic provides guidance on how to handle compensation issues in a way that attracts and retains the best talent and advances the strategic goals of your business. You get news and tips on what’s going on nationally and in the states, and updates on changes in regulations, possible governmental action, and emerging compensation trends.

What Leaders Should Know About Chicago’s New Paid and Sick Leave

Effective July 1, 2024, Chicago employers will need to comply with the city of Chicago’s paid leave and paid sick and safe leave ordinance. The ordinance requires Chicago employers and employers with Chicago-based remote workers to provide up to 40 hours per year of paid leave and 40 hours per year of paid sick leave […]

HSAs Are Evolving: Here’s What to Know Beyond the Basics

Medical care is very personal, and so are the expenses that go along with it. Many eligible individuals choose to manage their medical care costs with a health savings account (HSA). According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, there were approximately 36 million HSAs active in 2023, and these accounts collectively held more than $116 […]

The Positive Impact of Family-Forming Benefits on Employees and Employers

Companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of offering comprehensive health benefits, including family-forming solutions such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Integrating family-forming benefits, such as IVF support, into employee health plans is a strategic initiative that offers significant advantages. These benefits alleviate financial burdens, boost employee retention, and enhance workplace productivity, providing substantial value to […]

Know When a New Hire’s Work Is Considered Compensable Under FLSA

Hiring a new employee takes time—for example, time completing paperwork before the start date, as well as time reviewing policies and procedures and completing training. But how much of that time is considered compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)? Orientation and Onboarding The FLSA generally counts a new hire’s time spent in orientation […]

U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Key Exemption Issue

On June 14, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide an important Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) question—namely, whether an employer claiming an exemption from overtime needs to prove it by “clear and convincing” evidence (a very high standard) or by a preponderance of the evidence (a lower, easier standard to meet). The decision is […]

The Rise of Quiet Vacationing: How Managers Can Encourage PTO Without Losing Productivity

In the modern workplace, the concept of “quiet quitting” has taken on a new form: “quiet vacationing.” A recent Harris Poll highlights that more than half of Gen Z and millennials quietly took time off without formally requesting PTO during the July Fourth holiday week. As this trend gains traction, it’s clear that employees are […]

Finding Your Balance Amid Surge of Pay Transparency Laws

The 2023 and 2024 legislative landscape witnessed a surge in states and cities implementing diverse pay transparency requirements. Despite the progress in recent years in reducing the wage gap, gender pay disparities persist, with current studies indicating that women—particularly women of color—earn only 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. Pay transparency laws aim […]

Ask the Expert: When Does FMLA Allow for Intermittent Parental Leave?

Question: If an employee takes Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA) leave to bond with his new child, would he be able to take additional bonding time later the same year if he still had FMLA time available? Answer: The FMLA has some restrictions on when an employee can take leave for birth or bonding […]

NCAA Settlement Roils College Athletics . . . and Union Organizing

A landmark $2.8 billion settlement announced by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in an antitrust class action filed by former college athletes reportedly sets a path for schools to share revenue with players. Although many of the details of the settlement haven’t been made public and the judge has yet to approve it, many […]

3 Ways Employers Should Be Up-Leveling Their Health and Wellbeing Programs  

Despite the increased attention on self-care, people struggle to find the time and resources to make this practice part of their lives. At the same time, alarm bells are ringing about the global mental health crisis, the rise in obesity and diabetes, and the rise in cancer diagnoses among younger individuals. If ever there was […]