The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a directive changing the required fall protection systems for residential construction. This directive, effective June 16, 2011, requires the use of conventional fall protection systems in residential construction activities six...

While federal law sets minimum wage requirements, many states require higher payments. For example, the federal minimum hourly rate is $7.25, but Ohio requires payment of $7.40/hour, Oregon requires $8.50/hour, and the state of Washington requires payment of $8.67/hour.

The HR professionals at...

Maintaining accurate employee records and legal compliance is critical for all employers. Failure to do so can result in hefty penalties, as demonstrated by a Texas company that failed to maintain accurate time and payroll accounts and did not properly pay employees for overtime hours worked. As a...

The owners of a concrete company in California have been charged with 15 felony charges of payroll tax evasion and workers' compensation insurance fraud. The charges are based on allegations that the company intentionally under reported wages by disguising the funds as payments made to independent...

Many employers reimburse their employees for mileage driven in an employee’s personal vehicle for business purposes. For 2010, the business mileage reimbursement rate set by the Internal Revenue Service is 50 cents per mile. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, however, these rates for the use of a car, van,...

• Payroll and employee benefits administration. Management 2000’s employee benefits advisors can make sure companies comply with employment laws regulating payroll and benefits, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

• Recruiting and retention. The HR...

There can be no doubt that job satisfaction is linked to whether or not employees believe they are compensated appropriately.  Employee morale can be negatively affected when pay is below industry standards or where there is a disparity in pay between employees in similar positions.  This can result...

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, “outside sales” employees are exempt from the overtime provisions in the Act.  It would seem reasonable to assume, therefore, that pharmaceutical sales representatives who call on physicians would fall into this exempt category.  The United States Department of...

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has issued a new interpretation of compensable time for workers changing into or out of protective clothing. This changes the prior interpretation that time employees spend donning and doffing protective clothing was not compensable under the...

Although the economy may be showing signs of improvement, employers remain focused on increasing efficiency and holding down costs.  This may include downsizing, eliminating pay raises, and even cutting pay for employees.  While these actions can be justified, employers must be careful.  Top...

Payroll errors can be costly. Last month, a petroleum company in New Jersey entered into a settlement agreement under which it will pay $4 million in overtime pay, damages, interest, and penalties to more than 700 current and former employees. According to the Department of Labor, the company and...

• Benefits Plan design
• Employee Benefits...

Employers are generally free to establish HR procedures and policies and impose reasonable penalties on employees who violate those rules. In terms of company property that has been damaged, stolen, or lost by employees, however, employers may run into problems. Employers who want to deduct money...

On March 18, President Obama signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, which provides employers with a tax credit and a Social Security payroll tax exemption for certain new hires. These new hires must begin employment between Feb. 4 and Dec. 31, 2010, and attest to being...

When an employee leaves a company and owes the employer (i.e for uniforms, borrowed vacation or sick time, etc.), what’s an employer to do? Unfortunately, many employers believe they can simply withhold the amount owed from the employee’s final paycheck. In most states, however, that type of...

In addition to helping our clients deal with specific employee relations matters, Management 2000 provides a broad range of services related to day-to-day operations. Just a few of these services include:

 
Benefits:

• Multiple programs for medical, dental, vision and supplemental insurance products;
• COBRA...

Halloween is October 31 – Employers must ensure that any type of celebration respects the diverse opinions of employees about the holiday and that no one feels pressured to participate.

Daylight-Saving Time Ends November 1 – Employers with shift workers need to be sure to pay for all hours worked and...