The IRS, DOL, and EEOC take aim at Employers for misclassification of individuals as independent contractors, or as exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. The agencies have discovered an easy revenue source. The Agencies have adopted a policy of strict enforcement, and employers have to make changes to their employment practices or pay penalties… Read more »
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Employment Law Changes for 2014
Minimum Wage Increase and Resulting Salary Increase to Maintain Exempt-Employee Status (AB 10) The California minimum wage will increase to $9.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2014, and to $10.00 per hour effective January 1, 2016. A less-advertised consequence of this increase, however, is the impact it will have on the salary test for preserving… Read more »
Wage and Hour
The proliferation of wage and hour lawsuits is due in part to the attractive features of such cases to plaintiffs and, perhaps more importantly, their attorneys. First, prevailing plaintiffs in such cases are typically entitled to recover their attorneys’ fees and court costs. Second, a single lawsuit may include claims on behalf of numerous employees… Read more »
Top Ten Human Resources Issues 2014
Top Ten Human Resources Issues 2014 At about this time every year, HR professionals and Employment attorney’s publish a list of issues that employers should be audited for compliance in 2014. The big two are on the Department of Labor hit list are Misclassification of Non-Exempt and Independent contractor. Conducting an audit of how the… Read more »
IRS Announces 2014 Pension Plan Limitations.
IRS Announces 2014 Pension Plan Limitations; Taxpayers May Contribute up to $17,500 to their 401(k) plans in 2014 IR-2013-86, Oct. 31, 2013 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced cost‑of‑living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for the tax year 2014. Some pension limitations such as those governing 401(k)… Read more »
IRS Mileage Rate 2014 Posted
Standard Mileage Rates for 2013 R-2012-95, Nov. 21, 2012 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car… Read more »
Advice for keeping employee holiday parties lawsuit-free
With Christmas and New Year’s approaching, companies often treat their employees to parties to celebrate the holidays and honor employees’ hard work during the past year; however, no one wants these parties to turn into a human resources nightmare. “Plan your party carefully and have a committee develop the plans,” said Rick Rossignol, CEO of… Read more »
Employee Handbooks
Producing and distributing an employee handbook is one of the best ways to protect your business from employee lawsuits and clearly communicate your company policies. The absence of a formal employee handbook or company policy manual, or a poorly drafted handbook, put your company at risk for costly lawsuits and fines. All employers should have… Read more »