2019 Minimum Wage Schedule
Maine Minimum Wage Maine's minimum wage is increasing, effective January 1, 2019. Maine statute regarding salary workers is based on the state minimum wage and therefore will also see an increase. 2019 State Minimum Wage: $11.00* 2019 Minimum Direct...
Differences Between HSA and FSA Accounts
Is an HSA and FSA right for you? Explained by the IRS, a health savings account is a tax-exempt trust or custodial account used to "pay or reimburse certain medical expenses you incur; you must be an eligible individual to qualify for an HSA." Companies...
Decoding the ‘Group’ in Group Health Insurance
Group health insurance is a single health insurance policy issued to a group. Typically, this group is a business with employees. The employer purchases the policy on behalf of its employees, which is why group health insurance is also called...
Headcount Reporting: Why You Must Do It
A headcount is the total number of people employed by an organization, including full-time and part-time employees. A headcount report, created via a human resource information system (HRIS), lets you sort and categorize employees based on different...
Direct Deposit – Can it be Mandatory?
In 2016, the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) reported that 82 percent of U.S. employees are paid by direct deposit, jumping from 74 percent in 2011. Clearly, this trend is on the rise. But you may be surprised to learn that, according...
Do Employees Have Rights to Their Personnel Files?
An employee's personnel file contains important work-related information specific to him or her. This may include: Job description. Job application. Resume. Employment offer. W-4 form. Employee benefits forms. Emergency contacts. Employment contract....
Time off to vote?
HR Question: We have had a few employees ask if they can take time off to vote. Do we need to allow that? Answer from Kara JD, SPHR from our HR Support Center: Yes, you may need to allow employees time off to vote, and you may even need to pay them for it....
5 Tips for Grossing Up Severance Pay
An employee put in years of service with your company, or is an exemplary worker, but circumstances now lead to his or her departure. You have agreed to pay the employee severance, but you want him or her to receive the full amount, with no taxes taken...
How to Handle Supplemental Wages
Basically, supplemental wages include a variety of items paid in addition to regular wages. Whereas regular wages constitute straight-time hourly pay or fixed salary, supplemental wages include: Bonuses. Back pay. Commissions. Overtime pay. Lump-sum...
Financial Wellness Programs Gain Momentum
In 2017, CreditCards.com reported that 65 percent of Americans lose sleep because of financial stress, the highest figure since the Great Depression. Below are the top money worries keeping these people up at night: Health care costs. Saving for...