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.

3 Reasons Companies Should Donate to Youth Mental Health this Holiday Season

Children and teens across the country continue to struggle with mental illness. Experts agree that we are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis. In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on kids’ and teens’ mental health, and they are reaching a breaking point. Being stuck at home during lockdowns, […]

Arizona and Flagstaff Minimum Wage Rises Again on January 1, 2023

On January 1, 2022, Arizona’s minimum wage increased to $12.80 per hour, making it the sixth highest among the 50 states (according to the minimum wages posted on laborlawcenter.com). While we continue to see an increase in state and local minimum wage statutes, according to minimum-wage.org, 21 states either had no minimum wage laws or had adopted […]

Giving the Gift of Well-Being: How Gift Cards Can Incentivize Wellness in the Workplace

A little treat for employees can go a long way. Gift cards, for example, can play a powerful part in improving wellness, especially when woven into company wellness plans. Since the pandemic, there’s been an uptick in using gift cards to motivate all kinds of positive behavior, including getting vaccines, quitting smoking, getting sober, and […]

Employers Make Employee Mental Health Care and Well-Being a Top Priority

Mental health has declined through the pandemic; three times as many Americans report major symptoms of anxiety or depression compared with 2019. To address these concerns, two out of three U.S. employers (67%) plan to make employee mental health and emotional well-being programs and solutions one of their top three health priorities over the next […]

How Employers Can Address Domestic Violence

Every workplace is at risk of encountering instances of domestic violence. However, being proactive in addressing this difficult issue can have a big impact on both the individuals affected and the organization as a whole. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity for HR professionals and their organizations to consider how to take action […]

Walking the Talk on Employee Mental Well-Being

Salary alone is no longer enough to attract and retain talent. Employees are now seeking holistic benefits packages that include programs and resources that also support their mental well-being. A holistic benefits package goes beyond health insurance and should be comprehensive enough that all employees can see themselves and their families benefiting from it throughout […]

Why is Salary Transparency So Important to Job Seekers in Today’s Economy?

Salary transparency is very important to jobseekers because it offers reassurance that they are being offered the same pay as other candidates and employees who have a similar set of skills and experiences. Additionally, salary transparency helps reduce bias in the workplace, and jobseekers today want businesses to provide an even playing field for both […]

Pay Equity Audits: On the Rise and Becoming Essential

More companies are adding at least one pay equity audit to their annual planning. Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) research from 2021 shows that 58% of organizations have reviewed their pay structures and decisions, with enterprise-level businesses taking the lead. More than 8 out of 10 said they adjust salaries to account for inequities. These statistics […]

4th Circuit Clarifies What Qualifies as Similar Jobs Under EPA

In an unpublished opinion, a unanimous panel from the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to employers in South Carolina, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia) provided some great insight into possible defenses against an Equal Pay Act (EPA) claim. Because this is just an unpublished opinion, it’s not binding precedent.

OFCCP Issues Revised Directive for Compensation Analysis

Covered federal contractors have been tasked by the federal government with preventing disparities in pay for their employees based on race, gender, and ethnicity. To prevent such disparities, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) under the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) requires federal contractors to annually conduct an in-depth compensation analysis.