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 [...]
IRS announces 2021 standard mileage rates The IRS has just released the new standard mileage rates for 2021, and for the second year in a row, the standard rate for business travelers is lower than last year’s rate. Starting January 1, 2021, the standard business mileage rate for employees who are driving cars vans, panel [...]
Missed paydays were quickly corrected, but it didn't matter The timely pay requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are clear: Workers must receive their pay as scheduled or else employers are liable--even if delays are due to factors beyond the employer's control. A district court confirmed this in Fleming vs. Elliot Security Solutions [...]
These days most people are spending more time at home and a lot more time online. Whether people are online for work, school, a virtual gathering or shopping, online security is more important than ever. Everyone should be mindful of risks they may encounter when they share devices, shop online and interact on social media. Taxpayers might find [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. People have experienced financial hardship, additional challenges with childcare and school cancellations, job loss, reduced hours, sickness, and grief. The future is uncertain, and the present is extra stressful. And to make matters worse, many of the networks and practices that people use to [...]
"Reasonable diligence" expected from employers You know it's important to accurately track and report the hours people work, even if they're teleworking. The Dept. of Labor (DOL) confirms this in Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-5. The bulletin discusses employers' responsibility to pay employees for time worked when they're remote and what's considered "reasonable diligence" under [...]
