Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Most managers think overtime calculation is simple—1½ times the hourly rate. That’s one of the most common wage and hour misconceptions—and violations. Overtime is 1½ times the “regular rate,” which is often not the same as the hourly rate. The regular rate must include the reasonable cost of meals, lodging, and other facilities provided to […]
As the federal minimum wage debate heats up, the real challenge for employers could be at the state level, if a dozen pending measures to increase state minimum wages gain traction. The proposals share DNA with federal measures being pushed by President Obama and congressional Democrats — to raise the minimum wages and in many […]
You have to lower incentive payments to poor performers to liberate funds to give bigger rewards to your top performers, says DiMisa. Rewarding performance is the first of his incentive design challenges for 2013. DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force Effectiveness at Sibson Consulting, outlined eight design challenges during a recent webinar sponsored […]
For 2013, it’s likely that the risks of noncompliance with employment-related laws are just going to get higher, BLR editors agreed. First of all, DOL and other agencies are focusing on enforcement. They have more attorneys; they have additional statisticians, inspectors, and investigators; and they have the budget for more staffing. Although the number of […]
To prevent the consequences from imprecise employee handbook language, employers should regularly review their handbooks and written policies. Since wage and hour lawsuits make up a significant part of litigation, W&H provisions can make a difference as you draft or review your employee handbook. Wage-and-hour related provisions should include pay details, safe harbor and state […]
It’s all part of NLRB’s new expansive view of its role. For insights about the overly aggressive NLRB and the recent court decision concerning the legitimacy of President Obama’s recess appointments, we spoke with Patricia Trainor, BLR’s senior managing editor, HR. “There’s a very interesting situation at the NLRB now: A court has ruled that […]
Your organization may be at risk of losing top talent and may face future recruiting challenges as employees weigh their employment options more carefully in a recovering economy, says Daniels, who is senior consultant at Keating Advisors, LLC. Hiring Is Heating Up Recent BLS data, says Daniels, show that there is an increase in hiring. […]
For companies that have cut back on pay for a few years (who hasn’t?), it’s time to take a look at your status, says Daniels, who is senior consultant at Keating Advisors, LLC. You may well have fallen behind or your structure may no longer align with your strategies. Review Your Current Base Pay Structure […]
The Final FMLA rule makes four changes (or clarifications) to the listed qualifying exigencies, says Schoenfeld, Senior Legal Editor on BLR’s human resources team. Clarifies that, for the purposes of leave for childcare and school activities, the child must be the military member’s child or a child for whom the military member stands in loco […]
We are an accounting firm that frequently hires area college students to intern for short periods throughout the year. We recently received a few outstanding applications from foreign students attending the local college. Can we hire foreign students as interns? The short answer is that yes, foreign students are eligible for paid employment off campus, […]