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compensation

Ask the Expert: Are Cash Payments in Lieu of Benefits Part of Base Wage?

Question: We provide employees the option to take a lump sum cash payment ($1,000/yr) in lieu of accepting benefits, payable in increments over each pay period. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has indicated those payments should be included in the base wage for purposes of calculating overtime (see Flores v. City […]

Which three fictional characters best describe you?

This week’s Oswald Letter is a guest post from Elizabeth Petersen, Simplify Compliance’s executive vice president of strategy and revenue. by Elizabeth Petersen Dan Oswald has graciously allowed me to take over his blog again, and I thought we’d kick off our week by playing a game that’s been making the rounds on social media: […]

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Can Your Boss Do Your Job?

Think about all the aspects your role entails, and then ask yourself if your direct supervisor can perform your job. What’s the answer? If you said “no,”  chances are, you hate your job—at least that’s what Harvard Business Review (HBR) is implying with newly released research.

The Heart-Healthy Guide to Approaching Employee Wellness

February brings with it a number of holidays and observances, from Groundhog Day and President’s Day in the U.S. to Valentine’s Day throughout the world. But as we celebrate love, Washington’s birthday, and everyone’s favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, a national health observance goes unnoticed by most.

New York

Pay Me: New York Real Estate Company Uses Its Handbook as A Shield Against Liability

Employee handbooks are recommended for several reasons, including that they set forth key company policies. Well-written handbook policies state how compensation will be addressed and who has the power to bind the company. In a recent case, the Appellate Division, 1st Department, held that a company’s handbook was enough to defeat an employee’s claim to compensation based on oral promises.

End-to-End Benefits of Recruiting Talent with Secure Mobile Communications

by Galina Datskovsky, CEO of Vaporstream Identifying and recruiting new talent is a core responsibility of HR teams and hiring managers that requires extensive communication both internally and externally. Keeping the breadth of communication and the confidential details discussed private during recruiting creates a challenge for HR teams—as well as potential new hires.

Bringing HR into the 21st Century

By Morag Barrett Some of HR’s policies and practices (including training) seem a little dated by today’s standards. Today guest columnist Morag Barrett makes the case for why HR must be brought into the 21st century.