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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.
Although the economy is slowly on the mend, it’s still noticeable that many employees near or past traditional retirement age have opted to stay working longer. Often, this is to bolster a nest egg that took a hit during the recession. Sometimes, it’s because they don’t feel the desire to leave the workforce just yet, […]
Business Shutdowns and Furloughs It should be no surprise that many employers have sought creative work arrangements in order to weather bleak times without resorting to morale-killing layoffs. Furloughs, temporary shutdowns, and reduced-hour schedules are common workplace solutions. However, the intricacies of the FLSA make these solutions tricky. The salary basis test is not satisfied […]
IRS on April 4 said rules that do not distinguish between same- and opposite-gender married couples in tax and federal retirement plan provisions will be in effect retroactive to June 26, 2013. This date is when the U.S. Supreme Court held in U.S. v. Windsor, S. Ct. 2675 (2013) that the lack of recognition of […]
Generally, payment on a salaried basis means that employees receive a predetermined amount of pay that can’t be reduced due to variations in the quality or quantity of their work. Employees must be paid their full salary for any week in which they: bzc cb Perform any work, regardless of the number of hours or […]
Congress removed health care reform’s $2,000/$4,000 deductible limits as part of the annual Medicare physician payment bill that President Obama signed on April 1. Section 213 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 removes deductible limits for small-business health insurance policies from the reform law. Under the original law, small employer health plans […]
A pharmacy chain is being sued over its requirement that employees undergo a “wellness exam” or pay a $600 surcharge on their health plan contribution. The lawsuit, filed in California state court as a class action, characterizes the surcharge as an illegal “wage deduction,” and contends that employees who did take the exam should have […]
Changes Contemplated Our survey shows that 9.8% of employers plan to add or make changes to their 2015 retirement benefits package, 64.9% of employers have no additions or changes planned, and 25.3% are not certain at this point in time. For those that are planning to add or make changes to their retirement benefits, 27.4% […]
86.6% of the employers responding to our 2014 survey offer either a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings plan to employees. 60.3% of the employers responding to our survey that offer a 401(k) or 403(b) plan to their employees also provide a matching contribution. 41.4% of employers match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar. 31.3% go 50 cents on […]
Vesting of Commissions One particularly difficult sticking point with commission agreements is failing to define what is supposed to happen if a sale is canceled or the terms need to be renegotiated. One solution that eliminates many problems is to state that a draw or advance becomes a vested commission only after all conditions on […]
Selecting the right people is so basic to success, yet many managers do it poorly, due to either haste or ignorance. Here are seven critical mistakes for recruiters and hiring managers to avoid. 1. Failing to Clarify What You Are Looking For Everyone’s in a hurry to fill a vacant position. But filling a job […]