Editor’s Note

Local wage ordinances include a variety of implementation schedules, rates, possible exclusions, covered entities and employees, as well as different posting and notification requirements that create a minefield for employers. And, some local ordinances include mandatory sick leave requirements that go beyond California’s paid sick-leave law.

Employers Beware: California’s patchwork of local/city minimum wage ordinances

While California’s employee-friendly reputation is well known, many California cities and local governments have recently enacted local wage ordinances that exceed or differ from statewide requirements. Nearly two-dozen cities and counties in California adopted local wage ordinances with more to come.

HRIS and Payroll Excellence Advertisers: October 2016

Man Vs. Machine: Payroll mistakes outside of the cloud

If an employee is hired on the 9th of the month, for example, there is a risk that they’ll be paid for the full first two weeks on the 15th. In this case, an administrator would be forced to retroactively adjust the most recent payroll and then remember to account for the employee’s extra pay in the next payroll.

Keeping Up WithThe Times: Our shift to streamlined scalability

With companies like Liberty Mutual and applications startup Bottle Rocket emerging all over Dallas the last few years,both financial and tech industries are not only growing, but are also having to keep up with the times. Whether it is making sure employees have the latest technology or ensuring new security updates are in place, the days of paperwork and manual filing are soon to be gone.

Staff Leave Without Pay: The dark horse of Employee Benefits

Not long ago, a friend of mine at work seemed bit perturbed with the recently applied leave of absence without pay. On asking what was troubling her, she expressed that though the decision to attend her kids’ educational needs was a natural and happy one, she was tensed about the scenario when she returns to work – Would I be able to draw the same respect and authority? Would my benefits remain intact?

Payroll Fraud: How to find it and fight it

One of the biggest tips for small business owners is to become suspicious if a member of your payroll department never goes on leave, arrives early and leaves late. This should raise a red flag as this person may be taking steps to ensure that nobody else does their job and cannot discover their crime.

Mobile-First Design: A user-first HR technology experience

Fortunately, technologyis available thatautomates many human capital management tasks and makes HR data available online,both reducing the burden on HR managers and meeting employees’ expectations for instant access to information. In fact, research indicates that the overwhelming majority of employees would prefer to accomplish simple HR tasks such as viewing tax documents, requesting time off, and changing direct deposit information online rather than calling or visiting their HR representative in person.

The FLSA Overtime Changes: Impact on employee benefits

Most employers should be reviewing payroll budgets and job descriptions to ensure that changes to salaries and job classifications are all in order by the December 1 deadline based on the new overtime exempt salary threshold and other final rule changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Another area that will be impacted by these changes and needs review now is employee benefits.

Rules Of The Road: When does travel time become paid time?

It is alarming to see how many companies have inconsistent travel time policies for their non-exempt employees, or no travel time policy at all. These same companies have varying definitions of what is considered “worked” or “paid” time. How do you define compensable time in the following scenarios?