The General Services Administration updated the maximum per diem rates for travel after September 30, 2008 and before October 1, 2009. For destinations or counties not specifically listed, the lodging per diem is $70 and the meals and incidental expenses per diem is...
Question of the Week: Can I Change My Pay Frequency to Bi-weekly?
This week’s question comes from Harold, a business owner. I own a business in Massachusetts. Can I switch from a weekly to a bi-weekly pay period? Answer: Under Massachusetts law it is allowable to change to a bi-weekly pay period as long as employees are provided...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for September 6, 2008
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending September 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 445,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 451,000. The 4-week moving average was 440,000, an increase...
Tip of the Week: Reduce Paperwork with Per Diem Reimbursements
Do you reimburse employees for travel and meal expenses? Reduce paperwork and substantiation requirements through the use of a per diem reimbursement. By using a per diem that does not exceed the applicable federal per diem rate for the area of travel, the amount of...
Oregon Supreme Court Rules Directors’ Fees Not Subject to State Unemployment Tax
The Oregon Supreme Court recently ruled in Necanicum Investment Co. v. Employment Department, SC S055231, July 24, 2008, that directors’ fees paid to a company’s board of directors are not wages for unemployment tax purposes, since the “directors are not ‘employed by’...
New California Law Clarifies Temporary Agency Wage Payment Frequency
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed into law SB 940 which clarifies when temporary agencies must pay their employees. Under the law employees of temporary agencies must generally be paid on a weekly basis. If the temporary employees are assigned...
US District Court Rules Lifeguards Not Eligible for Overtime
The US District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgment to the defendants in a lawsuit by two lifeguards seeking overtime pay. In Miroslav Ivanov, et.al., v. Sunset Pools Management, Inc., et.al., DDC, 07cv410 RJL, July 29, 2008, the two...
Question of the Week: How Long Does It Take to Activate an Employee’s Direct Deposit?
This week’s question comes from Crystal, an office manager. I have an employee who wants to have his paycheck direct deposited into his account. How long will it take for the direct deposit to become active? Answer: Vision Payroll will prenote all Automated Clearing...
Unemployment Rate Rose to 6.1% in August
The unemployment rate rose from 5.7 to 6.1 percent in August, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down (-84,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. In August, employment fell in manufacturing and employment...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for August 30, 2008
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending August 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 429,000. The 4-week moving average was 438,000, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: Save 10% on LifeLock Today
Identity theft is a problem that’s not going away. At Vision Payroll, we offer and pay for LifeLock protection for all our employees. And while no one can offer 100% protection against identity theft, LifeLock also helps prevent the problems that arise if someone...
New York City Garment Contractor Cited for Minimum Wage, Overtime Violations
A New York City garment contractor was cited by the New York Department of Labor with wage and hour violations that resulted in underpayment of almost $3 million to more than 100 workers. Jin Shun Incorporated, which was reported to have produced women’s garments for...
Alaska Governor Palin Signs Unemployment Benefits Increase into Law
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin recently signed Senate Bill 120 into law. Under the new law, for new unemployment insurance benefit years beginning after December 31, 2008, the maximum weekly benefit will increase from $248 to $370 and the qualifying amount for...
IRS Says No Dollar Limit on de Minimis Fringe Benefits
Responding to a request from Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the IRS stated that there is no dollar limit imposed by law on de minimis fringe benefits. A constituent had written to Shelby and stated that the constituent’s employer required all non-cash gifts valued...
New Jersey Wage Base to Increase to $28,900 for 2009
The wage base for New Jersey unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, and family leave insurance will increase from $27,700 to $28,900 for 2009. Contact Vision Payroll if you have any question on this increase.
Question of the Week: Can I Stop My Employee’s Direct Deposit One Time Only?
This week’s question comes from George, a business owner. We’re planning an end-of-summer party with bonuses for our employees. I’d rather give them live checks for their bonuses. Can I stop an employee’s direct deposit one time only? Answer: You can easily stop...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for August 23, 2008
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending August 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 425,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 435,000. The 4-week moving average was 440,250, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: Improve Security, Save Time with Self-seal Checks
Are you wasting time stuffing checks into envelopes and sealing them? Do you worry that employee pay data is not safe from prying eyes? Have employee paychecks delivered in pre-sealed checks with tamper-evident seals and you can save time and improve security too....
Discretion and Independent Judgment Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees must be paid a minimum hourly wage and an overtime premium of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of forty per week. This is the one of a continuing series that discusses FLSA...
Directly Related to Management or General Business Operations Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees must be paid a minimum hourly wage and an overtime premium of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of forty per week. This is the one of a continuing series that discusses FLSA...
Administrative Exemption Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees must be paid a minimum hourly wage and an overtime premium of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of forty per week. This is the one of a continuing series that discusses FLSA...
Concurrent Duties Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees must be paid a minimum hourly wage and an overtime premium of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of forty per week. This is the one of a continuing series that discusses FLSA...
Question of the Week: Why Did My State Income Tax Withholding Change?
This week’s question comes from Mark, owner of an import company. I receive the same salary every week. All year, my Massachusetts income tax withholding has been the same. Now it’s gone up two weeks in a row. Why did this happen? Answer: In Massachusetts, a deduction...
Particular Weight Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees must be paid a minimum hourly wage and an overtime premium of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of forty per week. This is the one of a continuing series that discusses FLSA...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for August 16, 2008
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending August 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 432,000, an decrease of 13,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 445,000. The 4-week moving average was 445,750, an increase...
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