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Can I Do a Mid-Year Election Change to my Section 125 Plan?
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: I just went through open enrollment and now I want to change my election. Can I? Answer: This question, or some similar variation, is all too common for employers to hear after the open enrollment period has ended. A response is not always a quick yes or no – per Section 125, which provides […]
What Are the Benefits of Total Compensation Statements?
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: What are total compensation statements and why should I consider them for my employees? Answer: Most of the time, an employee’s pay and benefits spread far beyond the base pay. A total compensation statement can be anything from a simple, computer-generated spreadsheet to an elaborate, in-depth analysis with charts or graphs. Providing total compensation […]
Do you know if you need to pay an intern or not?
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: I read a notice that there are new requirements that must be met to consider someone an unpaid intern. What are the requirements and how do I make sure our company needs to pay an intern or not? Answer: This month, the Department of Labor (DOL) adopted a new test for determining if a […]
FMLA Expiration and COBRA
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation, HR Compliance
Question: We have an employee who is on FMLA to receive an organ donation and the leave is expiring soon. At what point do we offer the employee COBRA, and for how long? Answer: It is generally required by employers to offer health care coverage under COBRA law when the employee is: No longer eligible […]
Work-Life Balance Has Become Work-Life Integration
Last Updatedin Employee Relations
Let’s begin with the understanding that some people are going to hate this idea. Work-life integration? Work seeping into all areas of your life at all hours of the day sounds awful, right? Isn’t it already happening? It is likely that most of you thought about an upcoming deadline, had a great idea on that […]
Are Employee Gift Cards Considered Taxable Benefits?
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation, HR Compliance
HR Question: To thank my employees for their extra efforts, I have provided them with a $50 gift card. Accounting is telling me I have to report the value of the gift cards as taxable benefits. Is that true? HR Answer: Yes, it’s true! According to the IRS, cash, gift certificates, and gift cards are […]
Is It Okay To Use Personality Tests Prior To An Interview?
Last Updatedin HR Compliance, Recruitment
HR Question: Is it okay to ask candidates to take online personality profile tests before they interview with anyone from our company? Only those candidates who “pass” the profile will move forward in the process. I’m concerned that using such a test to screen candidates could be legally questionable. HR Answer: Generally speaking, it is […]