5
Sep
2017
Open enrollment season is rapidly approaching, and for many employers late summer and early fall is the time of year when benefit packages are reviewed for competitiveness. Fifth Third Bank has recently rolled out a new benefit specifically aimed at retaining employees that are new moms - a maternity concierge service.
29
Aug
22
Over the last several years organizations, especially in Silicon Valley, compete with each other by offering expanded parental leave benefits or unlimited PTO policies as a way to attract and retain talent. Over the last several months the newest growing trend in leave benefits is offering expanded time off for bereavement.
1
18
Jul
According to the Project: Time Off report, The State of the American Vacation 2017, it appears that Americans might finally be starting to use their vacation time. For years, vacation time usage has been on the decline in the U.S., but the 2017 report shows some optimistic results.
11
The US Department of Labor (DOL) is working toward rescinding its judicially enjoined overtime rules. These rules were published during the Obama Administration and dramatically increased the exemption salary level test from $433/week up to $913/week. It was intended to reduce the number of jobs that could be classified non-exempt by employers.
The salary history question has become quite controversial in recent months, and some cities and states have created laws around it. It used to be an expected question during the interview process, but there is debate over whether the question is a fair one and could cause pay inequality to prevail as women progress through their careers.
27
Jun
30
May
It has been long said that Americans do not take as much vacation time off as their European counterparts and appear to work more and leisure less. A recent survey sponsored by Glassdoor, an online job site that also provides information on company culture for employees, found that most American workers only used half (54%) of their accrued vacation/paid time off in the past 12 months.
23
Gender pay disparity and the many reasons for it, continues to be studied by researchers. A new study by researchers at Wellesley, Harvard, Boston College and the Institute for Social Research in Oslo, Sweden identifies motherhood as a big impediment to equal pay as women’s careers progress.
16
9
Under the Equal Pay Act (EPA), courts have generally allowed employers to prove that some “factor other than sex” justified the pay differentials. However, a recent Federal 8th Circuit of Appeals case narrowed the parameters that employers can use to defend EPA lawsuits and allowed broadening of testimony to show the employer is committing systemic discrimination.
2
Solely based on Federal law…yes. A federal court ruled last week that it is legal to pay female employees less than men if it is based on past salary history. This decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a previous ruling that stated that pay differences solely on past salary history were discriminatory, based on the Equal Pay Act.
25
Apr
Piecework pay is not a common pay practice today. In fact, ASE’s most recent Pay Administration Survey found no participants paid on a piece-rate in the Southeast Michigan area. However, in some industries this is still a pay practice.
It used to be that retirement plan administration was a routine affair. Not anymore. Excessive 401 or 403 fees are the hot new area of ERISA lawsuits. They can be costlier than wage and hour lawsuits and personally hit the retirement plan fiduciaries.
Do you worry about hiring the right people? Do you worry about retaining and engaging your current workforce? All in an effort to drive business performance? Maybe it is time to look at your organization’s pay equity.
21
Mar
With the introduction of and the quick movement out of committees in the House, the American Health Care Act (AHCA) may roll back several Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions. These may include the out of pocket expenses cap and the Premium Tax Credits that lower health care premiums between 2.5%-9.5% of household income for employees who are not provided health care or opt out of employer health care.
7
31
Jan
24
After a two-year government study on 6-hour work days that took place in Sweden, the results are in. While employees proved to be happier, employer costs were higher. Is the increase in cost worth it?
17
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