What's the one thing companies need to have before they decide to part ways with an errant employee? If you’ve been in HR for more than a minute, you know the answer: Airtight documentation. There’s just no overstating the importance…
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Commission-based compensation is a powerful driver of performance, but when not carefully managed, it can expose organizations to significant legal and financial risk. Case in point: A lawsuit involving commission wages at tech company Oracle has been tentatively settled, with…
Age discrimination isn't always obvious; it can sometimes be subtle, such as when employees face pressure to retire earlier than planned. Even well-intentioned decisions can essentially result in forced retirement, leaving employers vulnerable to costly lawsuits and fines. This EEOC…
Employers should be aware the federal law that protects veterans and service members has been amended by a new law, making the stakes higher. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act was enacted early in…
A decision from a federal court in Pennsylvania demonstrates the importance of clarity in FMLA certifications provided by employees. The employer in this case was able to defeat a claim that it illegally retaliated against an employee because he took…
When employers mishandle pregnancy leave, the risks go beyond inconvenience – they can lead to legal trouble and financial penalties. A Maryland plant nursery just found that out, agreeing to pay $40,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit over pregnancy discrimination.…
After more than a year, the IRS has made changes to Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information, and Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation. While changes used to occur annually, now the forms are “continuous use,” meaning the IRS revises them only when needed.…
The cost of violating ADA rules about medical inquiries and exams can get potentially steep. It may include back pay – even if the employee never claimed to have a disability. That may seem counterintuitive, to say the least –…
Employers may need to reverify certain employees’ Form I-9 documents due to recent changes from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, DHS revised the temporary protected status (TPS) that it’d previously designated for two foreign countries. By way of…
A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court makes it easier for employees to revive a dismissed lawsuit in some situations. It’s important for employers to know when the ruling applies – and not to get too comfortable when an…
Learning that a Form W-2 contains errors is bad enough, but being assessed a penalty by the IRS is even worse. Errors can show up in many ways. For example, employers might enter incorrect information, such as the amount of…
New Jersey’s highest court has ruled that commissions are always wages under the state’s Wage Payment Law, reviving a sales employee’s chance for a potentially huge payout. The ruling cautions employers to carefully articulate for employees how non-salary compensation will…
When companies fail to enforce harassment policies, the cost isn’t just financial – it’s a hit to reputation, employee trust and legal standing. Walmart just learned this the hard way, agreeing to pay $415,112 to settle a lawsuit brought by…
A federal judge has denied SkyWest Airlines’ bid for a new trial and upheld an order that the company pay $300,000 in damages to a former parts worker who said she was sexually harassed. The ruling came after the EEOC…
Like good frontline employees, every good supervisor is unique. The best supervisors come with some common traits that make them succeed. Even better, they often have the ability and willingness to learn more and become better. And those are some…
A leaked spreadsheet helped secure a $28 million equal pay settlement. Here’s what happened, according to a press release from Gunn Coble LLP, a civil rights law firm in Los Angeles. Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle…
