The U.S. Supreme Court has finally agreed to resolve a matter that has perplexed payroll managers for years. In the case, involving a large retail chain, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that severance payments should not be treated

“What can I do to get an employee to improve her or her performance?” It’s a typical question asked by employers about a staff member whose performance has deteriorated over the past year. For a five-step approach to a solution,

The IRS recently issued proposed regulations fine-tuning the rules governing the healthcare tax credit available to certain small employers, beginning in 2014. The Affordable Care Act contains a credit of up to 50 percent of premiums for eligible employers. Keep

 Avoid Charges of Illegal Snooping…..What if an employer looks in an employee’s desk drawer? The employee learns of this and is upset. The incident raises questions such as: Do employees have a right to privacy? What does an employer need

Before you know it, the January 1, 2014 effective date for many of the controversial provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the ACA) will arrive. A recent report issued by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) examines the payroll

You don’t have to intentionally discriminate against employees and job applicants to get yourself in hot water with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Practices that have a discriminatory impact, or even hint at inadvertent discrimination, can drag you into

Two new surtaxes are kicking in on January 1, 2013 for some taxpayers. These taxes have nothing to do with the expiring tax breaks involved in the “fiscal cliff.” The first is a 3.8 percent Medicare tax on net investment

When it comes to social media, employers face a variety of land mines. To protect themselves, they are advised to have a policy covering social media but the factors involved are not as simple as they might seem. This article

Federal government agencies continue to release guidance about how employers must comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At the same time, employers remain confused about compliance. Many are wondering whether it will be beneficial to drop coverage

The subject of pay discrimination against women has gained fresh attention in the ongoing presidential election as both parties seek to woo women voters to their candidates. Pay discrimination —  real or merely perceived — can create costly problems for employers,