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Compensation & Benefits

Do you work for a state agency? Know FMLA’s limitations on leave for self-care

11/30/2010
Because of a bedrock Constitutional principle, a court has ruled that the FMLA does not cover state government employees who want to take time off due to their own illness. Based on this decision, state employees can only use FMLA leave to care for others.

Check pay policies for massive lawsuit threat–simple underpayment can quickly balloon

11/30/2010

Make a small mistake in how you pay hourly employees, and the stakes can be quite high. Individually, a wage-and-hour claim may amount to just a few hundred dollars. But multiply an underpayment as small as $350 by 1,000 employees and now you’re looking at a $700,000 tab–that’s because courts routinely double unpaid wage awards in FLSA cases.

Higher workers’ comp fees next year for N.C. employers

11/30/2010
North Carolina employers will see their workers’ compensation premiums rise this coming spring when new rates take effect on April 1. The voluntary market rates will rise 0.6%, while the assigned risk pool will see a 4.1% increase.

Employee ‘buddies’ shed pounds in challenge

11/30/2010
Employees of Parkersburg, W.Va.-based Simonton Windows gave up cheeseburgers and late-night snacks during a six-week wellness challenge that helped more than 300 people lose a combined 1,470 pounds over the summer. Competitors used the “buddy system” to keep each other on track and also met with professional wellness coaches.

Teacher took 5-year leave to go embezzling

11/26/2010
State law allows teachers with five years on the job and 10 years’ experience to take up to five years of unpaid leave if the school board approves it. For one former Minnesota teacher and athletic coach, that was a deal too good to pass up.

Bonus for exempt workers: What’s the best way?

11/25/2010
Q. Everyone has been working extra hard this year, especially our exempt salaried employees. We want to reward them with extra pay. Can we pay them overtime if they put in more than, say, 50 hours in a week? Or is it better to offer a one-time bonus? I don’t want to affect their exempt status.

Can we deduct wages to cover unpaid-for employee purchases following termination?

11/24/2010
Q. Our company allows employees to purchase products on an installment basis. When employees leave and haven’t repaid the full amount, can we deduct the remainder due from their last paycheck?

Are meal breaks mandatory?

11/24/2010
Q. Is it mandatory for a nonexempt employee to take at least a 20-minute meal break?

How should we handle a termination when both the FMLA and short-term disability are in play?

11/24/2010
Q. We run FMLA and short-term disability (STD) concurrently. FMLA is for 12 weeks of job-protected leave. STD is for 26 weeks, with proper medical documentation. At what point can we terminate an employee?

Can a small employer deny leave to an employee whose spouse is seriously ill?

11/24/2010
Q. One of our full-time employees took time off when her husband had a heart attack. We’re a small company with 30 employees. Management was very upset and wouldn’t let her take any paid time off and wouldn’t guarantee her position. She had accumulated several weeks of paid leave. Is it legal to keep her from taking paid time off to care for her husband?