Dispute over whether payment was actually discretionary If a bonus is meant to be discretionary, it's key that its terms meet all the requirements set by the Department of Labor (DOL). Otherwise, employers could run into problems. One employer claimed it gave its workers a discretionary bonus, but the circumstances behind it suggested otherwise. Was [...]
Employers that make deductions from employees' wages for damaged or missing equipment must follow the law carefully to stay out of hot water. In Galleher v. Artisanal LLC, an employer ended up in court because of its practice of regularly deducting the cost of any broken property, such as dishes and glassware, from workers' paychecks. [...]
On June 18th the PayPlus office will be relocating to Nashua NH. Since all employees are working remotely, and will continue to do so, we no longer need the large office space and so we are downsizing. Starting June 18, please use 6 Columbine Drive, Nashua, 03063 for all USPS mail. The phone and fax [...]
Whether or not employees are still working remotely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Dept. of Labor (DOL) expects employers to comply with notice guidelines under federal law, though there is some flexibility. While employers must still post a printed, hard-copy notice on site to meet the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards [...]
A new final rule from the Department of Labor (DOL) makes it clear how employers should handle their workers' tips. The rule, which amends the Fair Labor Standards Act, specifically states that employers aren't allowed to keep these tips under any circumstances. Managers and supervisors aren't allowed to receive any portion of employees' tips, either. [...]
It's important to be cautious when making deductions directly from workers' pay, especially if they're nonexempt and deductions could potentially make their pay fall below the minimum wage. Many states have rules requiring written consent from employees before wage deductions can be made for any reason, even if it's to repay a loan or overpayment. [...]
Opinion letter from DOL lays out common scenarios During the pandemic, webinars have replaced many in-person training opportunities for employees, and this time may be compensable. The Dept. of Labor (DOL) offered guidance, in a recent opinion letter, on when attending webinars should be considered paid working time. Training guidelines Per the Fair Labor Standards [...]
Finance pros have seen their share of odd requests for expense reimbursement from workers. But COVID-19 created a whole new ball game. Employees who spent the bulk of the past year working at home have made several interesting (and expensive) requests for reimbursement. Here are some of the most outrageous requests of 2020, compiled by [...]
Many don’t understand withholding or the form Payroll pros have heard a lot about the recently revamped W-4 by now. But most of your employees aren’t in the same boat. In fact, the form might not even cross their minds. A new survey from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) confirms what you may already [...]
Opinion letter discusses scenarios when time is paid Knowing when you have to pay nonexempt workers for travel time can be confusing. The Department of Labor (DOL) has shed some light on that issue in a recent opinion letter. The letter asks whether nonexempt construction foremen and laborers have to be paid for the time [...]
