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.

CBO Says Health Reform Delays Will Cost Feds $12 Billion; 1M Fewer People to Have Coverage

The government’s costs to implement health care reform is expected to rise by $12 billion as a result of the recently announced delay in the employer mandate and information reporting requirements, according to a July 30 letter by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation. In addition, the letter to the House […]

Job Sharing—The Advantages and Disadvantages

Job sharing is a special type of part-time employment in which two or more employees share the duties of a single, full-time position. Job sharers may each work part of a day or work alternate days or weeks. Here’s how it may benefit the employer: Improve recruiting by attracting qualified employees who don’t want to […]

Part-Timers Have Rights? I Don’t Think So

For guidance, we turned to Compensation.BLR.com®. What Is Considered ‘Part-Time’ Employment? There is no federal law that defines the term “part time” or specifies the number of hours an employee must work per week to be considered part-time as opposed to full-time. Many employers classify part-time employees as those who regularly work fewer than 30 […]

Same-gender Marriage Debate Continues in the States

Employers still have to contend with plenty of uncertainty regarding employees’ same-gender spouses, regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Windsor (No. 12-307, June 26, 2013). That decision may have declared Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, but it was a narrow ruling that left divergent state laws […]

HR Trends Survey Results in–How Do You Compare?

Over 300 HR practitioners participated in the survey. Other findings include: More than  two-thirds use social media for recruiting at least some of the time (Respondents offered 25 other ways their HR departments are using social media.). 41 percent say the top HR person is a full member of the executive (C-suite) team. 54 percent […]

BLR’s 2013–2014 Pay Budget Survey Data: How Do You Compare?

What’s in the Survey Report? Here’s what you’ll find in the full survey report below: 2013 Data 2014 Data Breakdowns by Geography and Industry Criteria Used to Determine Rate Range Adjustments Pay Practices Factors That Affect Salary Increases How the Salary Range for a New Position Is Determined Sources of Salary Data HR’s Role in […]

HR Mythbuster Takes on 4 More

Beachboard made his remarks at SHRM’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, held recently in Chicago. He is a shareholder in the Los Angeles and Torrance, California, offices of law firm Ogletree Deakins. [Go here for urban legends 1 to 9.] Urban Legend #10 They are the staffing firm’s employee, so we don’t have to worry about […]

When Can a Workers’ Comp Claimant be Disciplined?

“You will find that pretty much every workers’ comp law in the country does have anti-retaliation provisions. And so, just the act of filing a workers’ comp claim gives somebody protected status that’s somewhat analogous to somebody filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or filing a complaint under one of the wage/hour […]

5 Components of an Effective Pay-for-Performance Program

5 Components of an Effective Pay-for-Performance Program There are 5 major components of an effective pay-for-performance program: Evaluation forms. These can be differentiated by employee groups if necessary. The evaluation form should clearly show the rating options for each category or goal and overall ratings. The form should clearly define what constitutes each performance or […]

Beachboard Debunks 13 Urban Legends of HR

Beachboard made his remarks at SHRM’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, held recently in Chicago. He is a shareholder in the Los Angeles and Torrance, California, offices of law firm Ogletree Deakins. Urban Legend #1  Assistants and secretaries need to have BlackBerries to better support those they work for—and they understand that (and don’t expect to […]