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Compensation & Benefits

Fish farms net win in court: They’re not on the hook for FLSA overtime

10/26/2010

By law, the FLSA doesn’t apply to fishing activities when the work takes place on the water. However, the FLSA does cover work at fish-processing plants. That means that employees on fishing boats aren’t required to be paid overtime, while those who packaged the catch on land must. But what about fish farms?

4 steps for implementing a variable pay program

10/26/2010
Making variable pay work requires lots of interaction throughout the organization before, during and after implementation. As the business unit most likely in charge of implementation, it’s up to HR to make sure that happens. Here’s how to do it.

7 tips for reducing your workers’ comp costs

10/26/2010

Employers can significantly reduce the cost of their workers’ compensation premiums by following a program of accident prevention, better claims management and prevention of fraud and abuse. These seven tips point the way.

State-by-State Guide to Voting Leave Laws

10/26/2010

When polls open nationwide next Tuesday for the 2010 mid-term elections, chances are, some of your employees will want to take part of the day off to cast their ballots. Must you let them? In most states, yes. Here’s our state-by-state guide to voting leave laws.

Employees still worried about personal financial security

10/22/2010

Workers who participate in employer-sponsored benefits plans are more optimistic about the direction of the U.S. economy in general, but remain extremely concerned about their own situations, according to a new survey by the benefits consulting firm Mercer. Their anxiety shows in greater worry about keeping their jobs and the adequacy of their retirement benefits.

Parents at March of Dimes get extended benefits

10/21/2010

The March of Dimes devotes itself to promoting healthy babies—in the community and among its own employees. To that end, working moms can take 26 weeks off—six with full pay—with a guarantee that their jobs will be waiting for them when they return. They also get another week of paid sick leave. The organization also doubled its paternity benefit last year.

Jury duty for a week: Must we pay exempt worker?

10/21/2010
Q. One of our salaried employees was picked for a grand jury. She’ll be away about one week per month. Do we have to pay her during jury duty? She will be checking in via BlackBerry daily.

The DOL has issued model language for addressing health reform changes

10/20/2010
Use the DOL’s model language to tell employees about the most recent mandates of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For links to download the model language, see “The New Health Care Reform Law.”

IRS issues one-year delay for reporting health costs on W-2s

10/19/2010
The health care reform law signed in March includes a provision that requires your organization to report the value of the health insurance provided to an employee on the employee’s Form W-2. But the IRS said last month that it will delay the requirement for at least one year. We’ve got links to the IRS documents that explain the postponement.

New small-business law includes tax breaks, 401(k)-to-Roth conversions

10/19/2010
The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010—signed last month—offers a series of tax breaks and other provisions to prop up small firms. One new provision, sure to be of interest to your employees, allows participants in defined contribution retirement plans to roll over funds into tax-advantaged Roth 401(k)s. Get the details employees need to know.