Category: Benefits and Compensation

This topic provides guidance on how to handle compensation issues in a way that attracts and retains the best talent and advances the strategic goals of your business. You get news and tips on what’s going on nationally and in the states, and updates on changes in regulations, possible governmental action, and emerging compensation trends.

healthcare

Court Considers EEOC Claims that Wellness Program Was Involuntary, Employee Fired for Nonparticipation

In EEOC v. Orion Energy Systems, Inc., a federal district court considered a challenge to an employer’s wellness incentive program. As explained in part 1 of this article, the court rejected the company’s contention that the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) safe harbor for benefits administration should apply.

hiring

How ‘Matchmaking’ Brought in a New Classification of Worker

by Tami Simon, JD, managing director, Xerox HR Services A matchmakers’ business model centers on making connections. In the days of “Fiddler on the Roof,” the connection was made by an old woman named Yenta. Today, many matchmaking sites promote “uniquely designed” computer programs that promise to find a person’s perfect match (e.g., match.com, zoosk, […]

Small Businesses Are Feeling Charitable This Year—Employees Reap the Benefits

More than 60% of small business owners will offer a holiday or year-end bonus to employees this year, according to the most recent SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard®. It’s a spike from 2 years ago when SurePayroll surveyed business owners about bonuses, and only 52% were providing additional pay. This year, 64% will give a bonus. […]

A Compensation Hot Potato

My day job puts me in contact with a lot of HR and compensation professionals. Some need help with finding salary data for a job or with setting up job grades. Sometimes, though, they just need an ear to listen.

Ask the Expert: Holiday Pay for Probationary Employees?

Question: Our company has a probationary period of 90 days for all new hires (both exempt and non-exempt) that does not allow holiday pay until after the probationary period is met. I read under DOL that FLSA does not require private employers to provide holiday pay. Are we violating any rules?

health

CDHP 101

What is a Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP)? And how does a CDHP impact employers?

Do You Encourage Employees to Use Up Vacation Time?

While it is not legally mandated for companies in the United States to provide vacation time for employees, many organizations still choose to do so. Yet, the statistics seem to show that U.S. employees rarely take all of the vacation time employers have promised, despite the fact that the average number of days provided is […]

Wellness Lawsuit AARP Versus EEOC: A Quick Recap

Did you know that the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has initiated a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)? If you’re not already in the know about this, it may seem like an unlikely event, given that the two organizations are typically on the same side in matters related to employee rights. […]