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DOMA Decision Creates Retirement Plan Challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court issued two highly anticipated rulings related to same-sex marriage on June 26 that essentially placed matters of marriage back with the states.  This has a direct impact on retirement plans. First, the Court held that Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional based on the equal protection […]

Hurricane Irene Is Over, So Barring Locusts, Business Recovery and Clean Up Can Begin

In just a few days, the East Coast was struck by an earthquake and Hurricane Irene. As one colleague put it: What’s next, a swarm of locusts? Hopefully, all that is next for businesses adversely impacted by these events is cleaning-up and recovering so that normal operations can resume as quickly as possible. Companies should […]

IRS Form Amended to Collect Health Outcomes Research Tax

Starting July 31, 2013, the IRS will start collecting, and employers will start paying, a new excise tax authorized by the health reform law. This annual fee will be imposed on most insured and self-insured group health plans for the next seven years.   The feds have amended the April 2013 IRS Form 720 (Quarterly Federal […]

Short Takes: Harassment Training for Temps

I have a question about sexual harassment training. We have 35 full-time regular employees and usually about 40 or 50 temporaries. The temps work for months at a time, but we release them during slow periods. I think the law says you have to provide harassment training if you have 50 or more employees. Do we […]

If You’re Just Complying, You Get a “D”

By Clark PhinneyJust My E-pinion “Just meeting the regulatory requirements is like asking your kids to only get a ‘D’ in school,” says compliance expert Clark Phinney. It’s a simple observation he heard a few years ago that seems to say it all about attitudes toward compliance. “…like asking your kids to get a D.” […]

Compensation: Workers Think Execs Are Overpaid

Thirty-nine percent of workers say senior executives earn more than they should, according to a survey by the staffing firm Hudson. The survey, which included 10,000 respondents, found that while 64 percent of workers said executive pay should be tied to company performance, just 38 percent of employees say the practice is applied at their […]

Maryland Takes Step Toward $15 Minimum Wage

In a widely expected move, the Maryland General Assembly has approved a significant increase in the state’s minimum wage by voting for legislation aimed at increasing the current rate of $10.10 per hour to $15 by 2025.

Bulletin Item: DOL Releases Long-Awaited Overtime Exemption Rules

On April 20, the U.S. Department of Labor released the final and long-awaited changes to the white-collar overtime exemption rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final version, which takes effect in late July 2004, contains some big changes from the earlier proposed version, including expanding the pool of employees eligible to receive […]