The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $259 million in back wages for nearly 177,000 employees in fiscal year 2025, the most since 2019. The lion’s share – more than $184 million – involved violations of…
Compensation
Mid-year minimum wage increases catch more payroll teams off guard than January changes do. Several state, local and industry-specific minimum wage changes take effect on July 1, 2026, including in Alaska, Washington, D.C., Oregon and several local jurisdictions. Minimum Wage…
The Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized a technical amendment restoring the 2019 overtime salary threshold to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) following two federal court decisions that invalidated the 2024 rule. For HR and payroll teams, the amendment…
You'd think a near-400 % pay increase for a group of women in the spotlight would finally ease the tension over pay disparity. But the "transformational" WNBA collective bargaining agreement might not spill over into corporate America as easily as…
Equal Pay Day on March 26 carries new weight for employers this year. It’s a day to bring awareness and legitimacy to the ongoing issue of pay inequity and the gender wage gap in the U.S., and a moment for…
As finance and HR leaders develop 2026 salary budgets, errors in payroll execution can quickly undermine the impact of planned pay raises. Employees rely on their pay to cover rising costs and navigate an uncertain economy – and payroll mistakes…
The IRS has finalized the tax year 2026 Form W-2, solidifying more of the reporting requirements established by federal legislation passed last year. Plus, the final version of General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 was released shortly after the…
A $6.2 million California paid sick leave settlement is prompting a closer look at how paid sick leave notices, payroll practices, and labor costs connect. The agreement closes out claims tied to labor practices during the height of the pandemic,…
FMLA eligibility usually looks straightforward: Employees need 1,250 hours of service in the prior 12 months. But the calculation isn’t always that simple, especially when bonus pay or shift differentials enter the picture. This well-established Sixth Circuit precedent – Mutchler…
A new opinion letter looked at whether one company needed to add bonuses into its overtime calculations under federal law. The answer from the Department of Labor (DOL)? Yes. That meant the company dropped the ball and had to either…
IRS has released 2026 mileage rates and other updates impacting employees who drive personal vehicles for work or employer-provided vehicles. First, IRS said in a recent notice that the business standard mileage rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile.…
The IRS has revised Form W-4 for 2026, making the newly revised form available to employers during mid-December 2025. The updated form incorporates several of the income tax provisions contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and it…
Wage bases for 2026 are rolling out. You can ensure you’re accurately withholding for state unemployment insurance (UI) tax. Here's the latest info. While most states with changes have increased their wage bases for UI tax purposes, four states —…
Thinking about adding tips and overtime compensation to box 14 of Form W-2 for TY 2025? Two recent IRS notices have provided insight. The IRS issued its latest notice covering the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on November 21,…
The IRS recently announced changes to retirement plan numbers for next year, putting your year-end prep in high gear. The 401(k) plan salary deferral limit will bump up to $24,500 (currently $23,500). How about the salary deferral limit for 403(b)…
Is your company a joint employer, subject to trickier overtime compliance issues? If you don't ask that question, employees might do it for you. Case in point: An employee recently contacted the Department of Labor (DOL), asking for guidance on…
