Month: January 2012

Not ‘Smoking Gun’ … But Nearly As Bad

The worst-case scenario in defending against discrimination claims is the “smoking gun.” (“Too old for this job” written on a candidate’s resume, for example.) In today’s CED, several of the less outrageous mistakes that can still shoot your defense to pieces.

How to Prevent or Fix Demoralizing Pay Compression Inequities

Don’t think you’re the only company that has a pay compression problem, says consultant David Wudyka. In fact, surveys suggest that as many as 75% of companies surveyed from pay compression. Don’t think you’re the only company that has a pay compression problem, says consultant David Wudyka. In fact, surveys suggest that as many as […]

Key Employee: If I Take FMLA, I’m Fired???

Special from the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas If you are a designated key employee, you may not be able to return to work after FMLA leave, but your leave can’t be denied, says attorney Stacie Caraway, who covered key FMLA topics atBLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently in Las Vegas. While you […]

IRS Further Clarifies Rules on Reporting Health Plan Costs on 2012 W-2 Forms

In its latest guidance on W-2 reporting of health benefits (Notice 2012-9, issued Jan. 5) the IRS has clarified that employers need not include the cost of coverage under an employee assistance program (EAP), health reimbursement accounts (HRA), wellness program or on site-medical clinic in the reportable amount if the employer does not charge a premium […]

Is a COBRA Notice ‘Postcard’ Too Far From the Edge of Compliance?

Postcards are designed to provide a brief message, but it will be interesting to learn if such brevity is sufficient to adequately notify an individual of COBRA continuation coverage rights — particularly when the law identifies at least 14 content requirements for COBRA election notices. In a recent court case, an employer/plan administrator faced with […]

How to Inspire, Motivate Employees in 2012

I had a conversation about Christmas the other day with my 15-year-old son, Oswald says. We were talking about the gifts he might like to get when our conversation turned to things he’d like to do. Might he prefer tickets to a concert or a ballgame instead of a new iPod or video game? The […]

Flight Crew Meals Exclusion Limited to 50 Percent

In a recently released legal memorandum, the IRS said that meals provided to airline crewmembers while they are on duty aboard an aircraft are not excluded from the employees’ gross income as a de minimis fringe benefit because they were not provided at “eating facilities.” Although the value of the meals would be excludable from […]

Sabotage!

Litigation value: Nothing in this episode, but Dwight is perilously close to civil and criminal liability for his computer activities. Jaclyn West wrote about this episode, Doomsday, two months ago when it originally aired. Her post discussed “motivation” and the inevitable sexual harassment of warehouse Val, either at the hands of Gabe or Darryl. Dwight’s […]