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Compensation & Benefits

Above and beyond: Top 10 ‘cushiest’ benefits offered by ‘Best Companies’

04/13/2011
A Fortune magazine report on the “Best 100 Companies to Work For” cited these employers for offering some of the better perks packages:

Health care reform: Will employers keep offering coverage?

04/12/2011
While some politicians continue to call for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act health care reform law, employers (and HR pros) must proceed as if that won’t happen, says a noted health policy expert. Will companies take advantage of a relative lull in reform implementation to plan ahead? Or will they decide to scrap health benefits, banking on reform to insure their employees?

How to ensure your employee handbook supports FMLA compliance

04/12/2011
Employers are free to develop their own policies, but many laws have an absolute mandate—you must ensure employees receive proper notice of your policies. That’s why the FMLA section of your handbook is so important. Here’s your roadmap to full compliance with the FMLA’s notification requirements.

Planning to offer bigger raises this year?

04/12/2011
More employers are planning to offer bigger raises this year, now that business has started to rebound. A survey by Towers Watson found that companies are optimistic and budgeting for merit increases of 3% this year, up from 2.7% in 2010.

Alaska Air pays 9% bonus to everyone on payroll

04/11/2011

Every employee of Alaska Air Group pocketed an extra month’s pay in February when the organization paid record annual bonuses totaling $72 million. The 9% bonuses came after the airline’s 12,600 employees helped the organization exceed its 2010 operational and financial goals.

Do we have to pay for smoking breaks?

04/07/2011
Q. We give employees a one-hour unpaid lunch break. We don’t provide additional paid breaks during the day. If an hourly employee also chooses to take short smoke breaks (less than 20 minutes) in the morning and afternoon, do we have to pay her for the breaks?

2011’s biggest wage-and-hour issues–and what to do about them

04/06/2011

This year is shaping up to be a tough one for organizations worried about employment law issues. So far, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided three big employment law cases—and every time, ruled in favor of employees. The latest expanded employer retaliation liability under the FLSA. But that’s not this year’s only press­ing wage-and-hour problem. Pay atten­tion to these other issues:

Amityville Fire Department settles age bias lawsuit

04/06/2011
A group of volunteer firefighters for the Amityville Fire Department will share $209,280 after they settled a lawsuit alleging discrimination in the way cash bonuses were handed out.

Overtime suit takes big slice out of pizzeria

04/06/2011

Mama’s Pizzeria in Copiage will be serving up $780,000 in back pay and liquidated damages to its 40 employees to settle a federal lawsuit. An investigation by Wage and Hour officials found that many of Mama’s employees were forced to work 70 to 80 hours a week without receiving overtime pay.

Offer FMLA, but still enforce attendance rules

04/06/2011

Employees occasionally have to step in on short notice to help care for a family member and may legitimately need FMLA leave to handle those responsibilities. Go ahead and suggest FMLA time off. However, until the employee takes you up on the offer, you can hold her to your regular attendance policy.