Incentive Pay

You can’t shave employee’s bonus just because she took FMLA leave

12/01/2002

When the company Valerie Dierlam worked for was sold, the acquiring firm offered her a bonus of half her salary if she stayed for one year. She did, but the …

Don’t silence or punish workers who compare their pay

09/01/2002

A marketing director at one of Covenant Care’s nursing facilities attended a meeting of other marketing directors in the company. During the meeting, she joined other directors in a brief discussion …

Giving a bonus can cost you in discrimination case

10/01/2001

Lisa Russell was rated “excellent” and received a bonus of $807. So what’s her gripe? An African-American co-worker received a higher rating of “outstanding” and a bonus of $1,355. Russell, who …

Sweeten Deal to Retain Worker After Training

10/01/2001

Q. We just covered the entire cost for an employee to complete nurses’ aide training. We intended to draw up an agreement before the training so that this employee would be available to our business for six months before she could seek other employment, but we failed to discuss the agreement before the training. Can we have her sign such an agreement now? —C.E., Ohio

Beware OT Calculation When It Involves Bonus Pay

09/01/2001

Q. We have an add-on to wages of $100 if an employee who’s not scheduled to work gets called in within 72 hours. The employee gets paid for the hours worked at his normal wages, with time and a half if it adds up to overtime. The $100 is then added for the hours worked, and taxes are calculated on these earnings as usual. Is this a legal way of rewarding employees for coming in on short notice? –J.S., Oklahoma

Big overhaul of overtime and wage law may be coming

04/01/2001

That little old law that employers love to hate may be in for a shake-up, one that you just might enjoy. Political winds seem to be blowing strong enough, and …

You don’t have to ignore harmful effect of absences

03/01/2001

Calvin Keeler started as a senior vice president overseeing 85 employees. He earned bonuses exceeding $30,000 while enjoying a large office. Within a few years, he had been downgraded to a …

Overly broad noncompete deal gives you no protection at all

03/01/2001

Pinnacle Performance Inc. hired Lynn Hessing as an independent contractor for about four months to design a card shuffler for one of its client firms. Despite having signed a two-year agreement …

Craft bonuses carefully

12/01/2000

When a financial analyst changed jobs, he left behind $120,000 in bonuses. The bonus plan paid benefits in quarterly installments but was contingent on continued employment with the company. A New …

Specify if workers must stay to collect bonuses

06/01/2000

Q. Our company pays quarterly and annual bonuses (depending on the position). If an employee is here throughout the entire quarter/year, but leaves before the bonuses are paid out, is he still entitled to the bonus? Our company has no written documentation stating that you must be employed at the time the bonus is paid. —J.S., Colorado