Tax withholding is a seemingly inevitable part of working, but there are exceptions, as shown by the following information about employees exempt from withholding. Student employees Generally, individuals employed by a school, college or university where they are also pursuing a course of study do not have...
Can we share employee vaccination status with managers so they can enforce any policies based on that information, such as masking and social distancing? Yes. Obviously, managers will need this information if they are expected to enforce vaccination-dependent policies, and employers should train them on how...
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "68.9% of the estimated 22.4 million illicit drug users, ages 18 or older, are employed full or part time." The chances of an employee having a substance abuse problem are higher in certain industries, such...
We have a non-exempt employee who has been working from home. Do we need to pay her for time spent traveling to the office? She’s been asked to drop off some files during her normally scheduled work hours. Yes, in this situation, it is recommended paying...
Have you ever worked in a company that was having a morale-boosting initiative? Remember the tense hush that fell in the conference room when it was announced? The meaning-laden glances the employees shot each other? They were all picturing the same things: Mandatory after-work happy...
We do not recommend having a policy that stipulates childcare is necessary. For one thing, in practice, it often isn’t necessary. Lots of employees are able to do their jobs just fine while supervising children in the home. Imposing this requirement (and a huge financial...
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-favored health plans that enable people to save money to pay for medically related expenses. Both FSAs and HSAs operate like a personal savings account. However, the money in these accounts can only be used for...
Can we still require that employees wear masks at work? You can, yes. While the CDC has announced that those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 may go without a mask in most places, private employers still have the right to enforce mask wearing policies in their...
Employees are spending a lot of time on their phones (scrolling social media, browsing the internet, listening to music or podcasts). Can we prohibit personal phone use during work hours? Yes, you can limit or prohibit use of personal devices during work hours. Employees can be...
Although many employees take advantage of their employer's 401(k) plan offerings, some do not. In a 2017 report, Pew Research cited the following reasons for lack of participation: more pressing financial needs, problems with eligibility, or saving for children's tuition or the down payment on...