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Is My Local Salary Survey an Anti-Trust Violation?

If I call colleagues in other companies to see what they are paying, am I creating a Sherman Anti-Trust Act violation? It’s likely, but there are safe harbor provisions, says Bottos, Vice President of Compensation at data provider Kenexa. Her suggestions came at a recent webinar sponsored by the company. What’s the Practice in the […]

Enforcement of Pay Discrimination Claims Still High

Last year, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced a number of settlements in enforcement cases against federal government contractors demonstrating a continued emphasis on pursuing systemic hiring and pay discrimination claims.

Wage/Hour Litigation Bringing Down the Bottom Line?

[Go here for yesterday’s survey results] What is the amount of annual litigation expense (by company size) in the US? The trend of increased litigation expenditure has resumed. Last year marked the first drop in the percentage of companies spending $1000000 or more on litigation since 2007. This year, the increase resumed with just over […]

Back to Normal: Ending COVID-19 Tolling of COBRA Deadlines

Getting “back to normal” as the COVID-19 pandemic has eased has not been simple for anyone. In terms of plan administration, the continued tolling of employee benefit plan deadlines, including those related to continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), has kept plan administrators firmly planted in a “COVID-19 world,” even as […]

Guns at Work: Keeping Employees Safe in Troubling Times

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly two million American workers report experiencing some type of workplace violence annually. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), homicide accounted for nearly 9% of all on-the-job fatalities in 2023 (the most recent data available). Suicide accounted for another 5%. With civil […]

Disasters: Payroll, Benefits, and Alternative Worksites

Exempt Employees and Disasters Exempt employees are generally paid their normal amount if the workday is shortened. Docking, or reducing pay of exempt employees who are scheduled to work, but who do not because of an emergency, may affect the employees’ status of being exempt from overtime, because, by docking, you are treating them like […]

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Mistakes in Wage Statements Can Cost California Employers Under PAGA

In an unfavorable opinion for California employers, a California Court of Appeal recently ruled that (1) employees seeking damages in an action arising under Section 226(a) of the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) needn’t sustain any injury to bring the action, (2) the employer’s violations need not be “knowing and intentional” to subject it […]

Survey Illustrates Toxic Workplace Culture in Tech

When many Americans think about a tech career, the first thing that comes to mind is often the potential for jaw-dropping salaries and bonuses. Perhaps a bit farther down on the list is the reputation the tech industry has for toxic or even hostile workplace cultures and high levels of stress. Perhaps it’s that impressive […]