How would you like to save 5% per year on your employee labor costs by doing one simple thing? The American Payroll Association estimates that “buddy punching” accounts for up to 5% of gross payroll costs each year. For a company with a yearly labor cost of $300,000,...
North Carolina Reforms Unemployment Insurance Law
The state of North Carolina legislature, over the veto of Governor Beverly Perdue, enacted Senate Bill (SB) 532, “An Act to Reform the Employment Security Laws of North Carolina by Creating the Division of Employment Security Within the Department of Commerce,...
Question of the Week: What Is a Qualifying Person for a Dependent Care FSA Reimbursement?
This week’s question comes from Eileen, an office manager. I read that one of the tests for an expense to qualify for reimbursement by a dependent care flexible spending arrangement (FSA) is that the care must be for one or more qualifying persons. What is a...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for July 23, 2011
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 398,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 422,000. The 4-week moving average was 413,750, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: How to Protect Against Wage and Hour Retaliation Claims
Employers must ensure that any adverse employment actions are completely unrelated to claims an employee might make in terms of wage and hour issues. Learn about steps to avoid disastrous wage and hour class actions. Six Steps You Can Take Today to Minimize Your...
IRS Announces Intention to Discontinue High-Low Substantiation Method
In Announcement 2011-42, Discontinuance of High-Low Method for Substantiating Travel Expenses, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced its intention to discontinue authorizing the high-low substantiation method. No Comments Received on Proposed Change In Rev....
US Department of Labor Provides Funding to Assist Workers in Spearfish, South Dakota
The US Department of Labor today announced a $379,500 National Emergency Grant to provide training and employment services to about 200 workers affected by the closure of the Premier Bankcard call center in Spearfish, SD. The company announced in May that it would be...
New Jersey Unemployment Wage Base to Increase To $30,300
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has announced the wage base for New Jersey unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, and family leave insurance will increase from $29,600 for 2011 to $30,300 for 2012. 2012 Rate Year Rates...
US Department of Labor Provides Funding to Assist Workers in Rochester, New Hampshire
The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a $248,878 National Emergency Grant to provide training and re-employment services for about 60 workers affected by layoffs at Thompson/Center Arms in Rochester, NH, which began in January and will continue through...
Question of the Week: What Are the Tests for Reimbursement of Expenses by a Dependent Care FSA?
This week’s question comes from Brent, an HR Director. I read about employees being reimbursed through a dependent care flexible spending arrangement (FSA) for summer camp costs and need more information. What are the tests for reimbursement of expenses by a dependent...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for July 16, 2011
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 418,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 408,000. The 4-week moving average was 421,250, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: Twelve FAQs About the New York Interest Assessment Surcharge
As previously announced, New York has assessed most employers an Interest Assessment Surcharge (IAS). The New York Department of Labor has posted the following twelve FAQs about the IAS. 1. Why is the IAS being assessed? Due to the high rate of unemployment, New York,...
New York Assesses Interest Assessment Surcharge for 2011
The state of New York has announced the assessment of an Interest Assessment Surcharge (IAS) for 2011. The surcharge will be used to pay approximately $95 million in interest on loans to the federal government by September 30, 2011. New York Must Pay Interest on More...
Rhode Island Changes 2012 Unemployment Taxable Wage Base Calculation
As part of the recently enacted fiscal-year 2012 state budget (article 4), Rhode Island changed the way in which the unemployment taxable wage base is calculated in §28-43-7 of the General Laws in C. 28-43. 2012 Will Be the First Year the New Formula Is Used Beginning...
NJ Lowers Unemployment Tax Rates for 2012 Rate Year
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently signed into law A-3819 (S-2730), which reduces the unemployment tax rates that employers would have otherwise had to pay during the 2012 rate year (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012). The rates will increase, however, from...
Marin County Employers May Request 60-Day Extension
According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), employers in the county of Marin directly affected by the severe rainstorms may request up to a 60-day extension of time from EDD to file their State payroll reports and/or deposit State payroll...
Question of the Week: What Is the Impact of Not Providing a Tip Credit Notice?
This week’s question comes from Tony, a restaurant owner. I read that restaurants should obtain a signed tip credit notice from all tipped employees. What is the impact of not providing a tip credit notice? Answer: Employers who do not provide a tip credit notice are...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for July 9, 2011
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 405,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 427,000. The 4-week moving average was 423,250, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: Restaurants Should Obtain a Signed Tip Credit Notice from All Tipped Employees
On April 5, 2011, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule that affects employers who have tipped employees. The rule amended a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulation. All employers are required to provide certain required information to all tipped...
June 2011 Disability Employment Statistics Released
According to statistics released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in June 2011, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.3, up from 21.1 in May. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was...
Prince George’s County Public Schools Agrees to Pay $4.2 Million in Back Wages
The US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has obtained an agreement for Maryland’s Prince George’s County Public Schools system (PGCPS) to pay $4,222,146 in back wages due 1,044 workers to resolve violations of the H-1B temporary foreign worker program....
Farmers Insurance Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million in Back Wages
Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance Inc. (Farmers) has agreed to pay $1,520,705 in overtime back wages to 3,459 employees following an investigation by the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division that disclosed significant and systemic violations of the...
Unemployment Rate Rose To 9.2 Percent in June
Nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged in June (+18,000), and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.2%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported recently. Employment in most major private-sector industries changed little over the month....
Question of the Week: Can Camp Costs Be Reimbursed Under a Dependent Care FSA?
This week’s question comes from Casey, an HR director. We have a dependent care flexible spending arrangement (FSA) and one of our employees has asked to be reimbursed for camp costs paid for her son. Can camp costs be reimbursed under a dependent care FSA? Answer:...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for July 2, 2011
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 418,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 432,000. The 4-week moving average was 424,750, a decrease of...
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