Wages & Hours

Report: Tip pool rule could stiff servers out of $6 billion

02/06/2018

The Department of Labor suppressed results of internal research showing that a new proposed tip pooling rule could deprive restaurant servers of $5.8 billion in tip income every year, according to a report by Bloomberg Law.

Amish builder nailed for OT and child labor violations

01/26/2018

Stoltzfus Structures—an Amish-owned light construction company in Chester County—will pay $188,572 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 47 employees.

When offering part-time job, clearly explain: Hours may vary from time to time

01/18/2018

When you are offering an applicant a part-time position with variable hours, be sure you make the terms clear. If you create an expectation and then reduce her hours, she may be able to quit and file a claim for unemployment compensation benefits.

DOL makes it easier to offer unpaid internships: New test vs. the old test

01/12/2018

Good news for employers: The U.S. Department of Labor has abandoned its inflexible, six-part test for determining whether interns qualify as employees (see old test in box below). Those rules from 2010 said internships at for-profit companies “will most often be viewed as employment.” In its place, the DOL in January 2018 issued a new, […]

REPORT: The 2017 Tax Reform Law: What HR, Payroll & Employers Need to Know

12/20/2017

In December 2017, Congress passed the first major overhaul of the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years. The law, colloquially known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, will have a far-reaching impact on both employers and employees. Specifically, employers confront an altered landscape when it comes to certain fringe benefits and pay […]

New York proposes rules on paying for unpredictable schedules

12/13/2017

Employers in New York will be subject to new “call-in” pay and scheduling requirements under recently proposed state regulations. The issue is “just-in-time” or “on-demand” scheduling of workers.

Beware automatic deductions for meal times

11/09/2017

Take note if you automatically deduct meal periods from your hourly employees’ total hours worked: Although those deductions don’t violate the Fair Labor Standards Act, they can be dangerous.

Half of Americans earn $18 per hour or less

08/29/2017

Half of American jobs pay less than $18 per hour, an inflation-adjusted rate that has barely budged in 17 years.

Salaries steady in ’18; variable pay rising

08/24/2017

Even as the economy strengthens and the job market remains tight, U.S. employers are holding the lid on salary increases—and they plan to do the same in 2018.

Consider paying a little extra on termination

08/21/2017

Do you think you may have slightly underpaid an employee who is being terminated? Paying her a little extra as she heads out the door may fix that problem without penalty, based on California wage payment rules.