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Compensation & Benefits

Special analysis: Free lunch or employer heartburn?

01/17/2019
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s extension of the 50% corporate deduction limit to convenience meals shines a new light on these meals and has allowed the IRS to refine its previous guidance.

Avoid the tax fraud trap when filing Forms 1099-MISC

01/17/2019
Workers are using a civil damages statute to claim they are employees.

2019 standard mileage rate increases 3.5¢ a mile

01/17/2019
The IRS’ standard mileage rate, which you can use to reimburse employees who drive their own cars on business, or to value employees’ personal use of company vehicles first made available to employees this year, increases to 58¢ a mile for 2019, up 3.5¢ from the 2018 rate.

California weighs 6 months’ paid parent leave

01/17/2019
In a recent study, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco concluded that expanding paid parental leave and subsidizing child care would enable as many as five million working-age mothers to reenter the workforce after having children.

Help staff cope with annual deductible reset

01/15/2019
Tracy Watts, senior partner in the Mercer consulting firm’s health insurance practice, recommends offering tips to help employees better manage their out-of-pocket expenses.

Employees with HDHPs more engaged in their care

01/08/2019
Employees enrolled in high-deductible health plans are significantly more engaged in their health care than employees who have lower deductibles.

Docking pay for snow-day absences: When is it legal?

01/04/2019
The snow’s coming down pretty good and an exempt employee calls to say she can’t make it in today because her car is stuck. Can you deduct a full day’s pay from her salary for that missed day? What if she’s non-exempt? What if you close work because of bad weather? Here’s guidance—and a handy flowchart—to help you make the call.

New Year brings minimum wage changes for Minnesota employers

01/02/2019
Now is the time to review labor and employment laws that will affect Minnesota employers in 2019. The minimum wage has been raised by the state of Minnesota and in the Twin Cities.

Court: ACA requires plans to cover gender reassignment

01/02/2019
A recent decision by the federal court in charge of Minnesota cases has ruled that health plans that exclude gender reassignment coverage violate the Affordable Care Act.

Advise unemployment authorities if you are still paying commissions to former employee

01/02/2019
If a former employee is collecting on your unemployment account, be sure to let the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development know, so it can adjust the benefit amount.