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...

• 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...

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...

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...

This is the final week for those who have failed to file their 2008 tax return before now.  If you are an employer, you may have employees suddenly appearing in your office lamenting the loss of that W-2 you provided back in January.  If only you had an HR department to handle these interuptions!....

Hello, my name is Joe Kremer. I am the HR Director for Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization that caters to the HR needs of small to medium size businesses. I have been in the HR field for 28 years and have worked in retail, manufacturing and the service industry in both union and...