Equal Pay Day on March 26 carries new weight for employers this year. It’s a day to bring awareness and legitimacy to the ongoing issue of pay inequity and the gender wage gap in the U.S., and a moment for…
Compensation
The IRS has finalized the tax year 2026 Form W-2, solidifying more of the reporting requirements established by federal legislation passed last year. Plus, the final version of General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 was released shortly after the…
A $6.2 million California paid sick leave settlement is prompting a closer look at how paid sick leave notices, payroll practices, and labor costs connect. The agreement closes out claims tied to labor practices during the height of the pandemic,…
FMLA eligibility usually looks straightforward: Employees need 1,250 hours of service in the prior 12 months. But the calculation isn’t always that simple, especially when bonus pay or shift differentials enter the picture. This well-established Sixth Circuit precedent – Mutchler…
A new opinion letter looked at whether one company needed to add bonuses into its overtime calculations under federal law. The answer from the Department of Labor (DOL)? Yes. That meant the company dropped the ball and had to either…
IRS has released 2026 mileage rates and other updates impacting employees who drive personal vehicles for work or employer-provided vehicles. First, IRS said in a recent notice that the business standard mileage rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile.…
Many states increased their minimum wage rates on January 1, 2026. Did you catch the changes needed to pay employees accurately? When it comes to compliance, minimum wage is just one of many areas where you'll find differences among states,…
The IRS has revised Form W-4 for 2026, making the newly revised form available to employers during mid-December 2025. The updated form incorporates several of the income tax provisions contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and it…
Wage bases for 2026 are rolling out. You can ensure you’re accurately withholding for state unemployment insurance (UI) tax. Here's the latest info. While most states with changes have increased their wage bases for UI tax purposes, four states —…
Thinking about adding tips and overtime compensation to box 14 of Form W-2 for TY 2025? Two recent IRS notices have provided insight. The IRS issued its latest notice covering the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on November 21,…
The IRS recently announced changes to retirement plan numbers for next year, putting your year-end prep in high gear. The 401(k) plan salary deferral limit will bump up to $24,500 (currently $23,500). How about the salary deferral limit for 403(b)…
Is your company a joint employer, subject to trickier overtime compliance issues? If you don't ask that question, employees might do it for you. Case in point: An employee recently contacted the Department of Labor (DOL), asking for guidance on…
The amounts you can exclude from an employee’s gross income for certain fringe benefits will increase for 2026, IRS announced. As you know, fringe benefits are generally subject to income tax withholding as well as Social Security and Medicare taxes,…
In our interactive instructor-led 60-minute event, discover how to navigate the growing challenges of compensation management amid rising financial stress and shifting employee expectations. As workers demand fairness, transparency, and real value from their compensation, HR leaders must rethink outdated…
Ever since the Secure 2.0 Act laid out changes for workplace retirement plans, employers have been waiting for final regs from the IRS. Now, the regs are here. The 2022 law established new requirements, impacting 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans…
The IRS has released proposed regulations, giving businesses needed details about tracking and reporting income based on tips. The One Big Beatiful Bill Act (OBBBA) had set October 2, 2025, as the deadline for publishing a list of occupations related…
