Under current tax law, medical expenses can be deducted as an itemized deduction on your federal income tax return only to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI). This AGI threshold was in place for 2017 and 2018 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). And now it's been extended [...]
Most people agree that civic duties are important. The fact is, many responsibilities such as jury duty and voting have to be performed during traditional work hours. For employers, allowing staff members to take time extra time off can affect the smooth operation of their businesses. Do you have to set aside the immediate interests [...]
There is danger lurking in employee handbooks which are rarely or never updated. Employment laws change. New ones are added. New court decisions affect employment practices. And social changes also impact the workplace. So regularly, perhaps once a year, employers need to review the policies in the employee handbook. (It's wise to ask an HR [...]
What is the "regular rate of pay" for a nonexempt employee? The answer is needed when calculating hourly overtime wages, which must exceed base wages by 50%. New regulations from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that take effect January 15 update the definition of "regular rate of pay" to guide your overtime pay calculations. [...]
Payroll is one of the most complex administrative tasks employers face. And because of the tremendous importance of payroll to American households and the economy, there are many rules surrounding it. Here are answers to some payroll and employment questions you may have: Q. Is an employer required to provide employees with pay stubs? A. [...]
Create a win-win for both employees and your workplace leaders by helping both take more control in reducing stress in the workplace. Taking small measures to help reduce stress and give employees more job control will improve performance, motivation, employee health, satisfaction, and overall happiness. Maureen Garrity, HR director at Enterprise Record in Chico, CA, [...]
It is critical to keep your company's 401(k) plan in compliance with numerous federal laws and regulations. Plans that are found to be in violation risk expensive penalties and disqualification. The IRS recently issued this list of 11 potential errors: 1. Has your 401(k) plan document been updated within the past few years to reflect [...]
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act contains a number of favorable provisions that will help Americans save more for retirement. However, the new law also contains an unfavorable provision that will affect nonspouse IRA beneficiaries who inherit accounts with substantial balances. As a result, some carefully constructed estate plans will be [...]
A source of irritation for employees can be the issue of pay -- or no pay -- for time spent attending meetings and training sessions. Tell employees they have to attend a meeting or training program, and the employees may raise questions like these: Is attendance mandatory, or can we skip it? If we show [...]
Nearly 600,000 people will take on holiday seasonal jobs this year, predicts the National Retail Federation (NRF). The usual pressure to bring them in the door, compounded by today's low unemployment environment, could be a recipe for trouble. So, it's important to take the time to properly vet seasonal workers, just as you would your [...]
