American Society of Employers

EverythingPeople This Week!

Does Your Company Offer Volunteer Time Off?

28 March 2023

Does Your Company Offer Volunteer Time Off?

Author: Linda Olejniczak

Are your employees passionate about a cause or do they want to volunteer at their kids’ reading day for an hour?  Then it’s time you look at offering VTO – Volunteer Time Off.  It is proven to improve employee engagement and productivity.  It is also great for your brand.

Does Military Leave Have to be Paid?

21 March 2023

Does Military Leave Have to be Paid?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

If an employee goes off on military leave, is the leave paid or unpaid?  It depends on how the company covers other comparable leaves for non-military reasons.

Dealing with Intermittent FMLA

14 March 2023

Dealing with Intermittent FMLA

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Intermittent FMLA is one of the most difficult issues for HR professionals.  It can be difficult to manage, and personal liability could attach if they interfere with FMLA leave.  Therefore, a conservative approach is recommended.  However, a recent Federal 6th Circuit of Appeals case (which covers Michigan) may provide some helpful guidance.

Triumph of the 4-Day Work Week: UK and U.S. Studies Suggest Overwhelming Success

28 February 2023

Triumph of the 4-Day Work Week: UK and U.S. Studies Suggest Overwhelming Success

Author: Kevin Marrs

Just as companies have adapted to remote work, a new development in workplace flexibility may be on the horizon: the four-day work week. In fact, two recent studies have shown that this work arrangement could offer significant benefits for both employers and employees.

SCOTUS Rules Highly Paid Job Is Due Overtime Pay

28 February 2023

SCOTUS Rules Highly Paid Job Is Due Overtime Pay

Author: Michael Burns

As previously reported in EPTW, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) was considering whether an oil rig worker that could earn over $200,000 per year could be classified as exempt from overtime pay. Last week SCOTUS ruled that because the job’s compensation was based upon a day rate and not a bona fide salary under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the job could not be classified as exempt and therefore must be paid overtime for any hours worked over 40 in a week.
Understanding Paid v. Unpaid Internship Rules

21 February 2023

Understanding Paid v. Unpaid Internship Rules

Author: Michael Burns

As college students end their school year, their attention may turn to internships and co-op programs. ASE’s 2023 Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey reports that 75% of respondents employ co-ops and/or interns.

How to Attract and Retain Employees When Pay Isn’t Enough

21 February 2023

How to Attract and Retain Employees When Pay Isn’t Enough

Author: Heather Nezich

In a world where the labor participation shortage is not going away, employers are looking for real ways to drive productivity, performance, retention of talent, and new strategies for attracting incoming generations. Just paying employees more is not driving major improvements and may not be financially sustainable over time. What else can be done?

Do Pay Transparency Requirements Reduce Inequalities?

14 February 2023

Do Pay Transparency Requirements Reduce Inequalities?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Pay transparency is a rock rolling downhill that is picking up steam.  A number of jurisdictions have pay transparency laws with Illinois the latest state to require it.  The findings of a recent survey by Talent.com of 2,000 employees shows that 98% of job seekers in New York City want to know a position’s salary before they apply. A Monster research project had similar findings, and 53% said they wouldn’t apply for a job without pay transparency upfront. 

Record Wage Hikes for Employees

3 January 2023

Record Wage Hikes for Employees

Author: Kevin Marrs

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta reports that wages for workers who remained at their employment increased 5.5% in November compared to a year earlier. 

Organizational Trust is the Main Driver of Employee Perceptions of Pay Equity

3 January 2023

Organizational Trust is the Main Driver of Employee Perceptions of Pay Equity

Author: Heather Nezich

Less than one-third of employees feel they are paid fairly, while just 34% of employees believe their pay is equitable, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.                                   

Trends in Performance Management and Pay Programs

20 December 2022

Trends in Performance Management and Pay Programs

Author: Heather Nezich

U.S. employers are reshaping their performance management efforts and pay-for-performance programs to give them a much-needed boost, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey found just one in four employers (26%) reported being effective at both managing and paying for performance. The current way of doing things is broken.

Michigan Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Law – Steps to Take Now

13 December 2022

Michigan Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Law – Steps to Take Now

Author: Linda Olejniczak

With February 20, 2023, nearing and uncertainty of the appeal, consider preparing now for the Michigan Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Law by taking the following three steps:

Should Time Worked Include Computer Boot-Up Time?

13 December 2022

Should Time Worked Include Computer Boot-Up Time?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

A recent U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals case addressed this very question.  In Cadena et al. v. Customer Connexx LLC et al., No. 21-16522 (9th Cir. Oct. 24, 2022), the court had to determine when computer boot-up time is compensable.

Michigan Appeals Court Overturns Municipality’s Attempt to Establish Prevailing Wage “Guideline”

13 December 2022

Michigan Appeals Court Overturns Municipality’s Attempt to Establish Prevailing Wage “Guideline”

Author: Michael Burns

Michigan repealed its prevailing wage law back in 2018. Previous to that, the prevailing wage law required businesses (primarily construction) doing work for the state, counties, or local municipalities to pay their workers at wage and fringe benefits rates determined by certain entities such as counties, the National Prevailing Wage Center, or other legitimate source.

Employers Should Prepare for Greater Pay Transparency

6 December 2022

Employers Should Prepare for Greater Pay Transparency

Author: Emily Fioravante

Like it or not, employers should start to prepare for pay transparency.  Pay transparency is when employers are open about the salary they offer to both present and potential employees.  Some employers are being forced to share more due to recently enacted legislation.

Inadequate Total Compensation is the Most Common Driver of Turnover

29 November 2022

Inadequate Total Compensation is the Most Common Driver of Turnover

Author: Heather Nezich

The SHRM Better Workplaces on a Budget Recommendations report reveals the top drivers of employee turnover and offers specific strategies for addressing each of them. Many of these recommendations can be implemented with little to no additional budget.

Michigan Circuit Court Reminds Employers About Voluntary Quitting and UI Benefit Qualification

22 November 2022

Michigan Circuit Court Reminds Employers About Voluntary Quitting and UI Benefit Qualification

Author: Michael Burns

Many human resources professionals have experienced the worker that for one reason or another gets fed up and just walks off the job. It’s unfortunate and disrupting but also sets the machinations of employment policy and law in motion. A recent Michigan Court of Appeals case affirms that employees that walk off the job not only voluntarily quit, but also disqualify themselves from unemployment compensation benefits.

Appeals Court Decision Reminds Employers that FLSA Requires Pay for ALL Hours Worked

25 October 2022

Appeals Court Decision Reminds Employers that FLSA Requires Pay for ALL Hours Worked

Author: Michael Burns

Employers often ask ASE about breaks for non-exempt salaried or hourly employees and whether they must be paid. Generally, they should be paid if the break is less than 20 minutes in duration (Sec. 785.18 Rest). Meal periods of at least 30 minutes can be unpaid (Sec. 785.19 Meal).

Post Dobbs – Dealing with the Travel Issue

25 October 2022

Post Dobbs – Dealing with the Travel Issue

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that abortion and access to abortion is not a constitutional right and reverted back to state laws for determining the legality of the procedure.  In other words, only states have the power to regulate abortion and access to it. 

Employer Provided Student Loan Repayment Programs Growing in Popularity

25 October 2022

Employer Provided Student Loan Repayment Programs Growing in Popularity

Author: Emily Fioravante

While not a widely offered benefit, student loan repayment programs may be growing in popularity.  According to Forbes, there are approximately 44 million individuals that have student loan debt. 

New California Pay Transparency Law

20 September 2022

New California Pay Transparency Law

Author: Anthony Kaylin

California legislature passed S.B. 1162 and is currently waiting for the Governor’s signature, creating new obligations for California employers by amending the earlier pay reporting requirements. 

Ins and Outs of Perfect Attendance Awards

13 September 2022

Ins and Outs of Perfect Attendance Awards

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Does your organization award perfect attendance?  Is it done on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis?  And what does perfect attendance mean exactly?  Perfect attendance needs to also take into account the variety of days that should still be counted towards perfect attendance without penalizing the employee for taking them.

2023 Open Enrollment Checklist

6 September 2022

2023 Open Enrollment Checklist

Author: Linda Olejniczak

To prepare for open enrollment, group health plan sponsors should be aware of the legal changes affecting the design and administration of their plans for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023. Employers should review their plan documents to confirm that they include these required changes.

Is Wage Growth Driving Inflation?

6 September 2022

Is Wage Growth Driving Inflation?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

As the great resignation continues and employees who leave get generally 6% growth in salary than those who stay, a lot of people have argued that wage growth is the key driver of inflation.  However, not yet as many economists say the same.  

OFCCP Updates Compensation Compliance Directive

30 August 2022

OFCCP Updates Compensation Compliance Directive

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Earlier this year, the OFCCP released Directive 2022-01: Advancing Pay Equity Through Compensation Analysis.  There was a lot of controversy over the directive, both with respect to expected analysis and analysis to be submitted when a compliance officer requested it.  For the latter, the agency generated discord in the compliance sector, because it was seemingly saying attorney/client privilege can be overturned by the agency. 

RSS

Filter:

Filter by Authors

Position your organization to THRIVE.

Become a Member Today