Are we required to pay summer interns?

Answer from Kyle, PHR: It depends on whether the worker is considered an employee. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has adopted the primary beneficiary test to determine whether a worker is an employee or an intern. If the worker primarily benefits from the...

Can an employee waive overtime pay with a signed letter?

Answer from Kim, SPHR, AAM, CPIW: No. An employee can’t waive their right to overtime pay, even if they want to. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits the waiver of an employee’s rights to overtime pay (and minimum wage) in nearly all...

An employee let us know their paycheck was short. Can we wait to pay the difference on their next check?

Answer from Kyle, PHR: Don’t wait. If the employee was underpaid, it is in your best interest to pay the employee the difference immediately. Wages are due on the regular payday for the pay period covered, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. State law may...

Massachusetts and Maine Minimum Wage and PFML Increases

The following changes to Massachusetts employment law take effect on January 1, 2022. Minimum Wage Massachusetts’s minimum wage will increase to $14.25 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped employees will increase to $6.15 per hour. Premium Pay The premium pay...

7 Reasons to Go Paperless with Your Payroll

As a business owner, you know that occasionally you need to adapt your business model in order to grow and remain successful. But with new trends in automation and digitization popping up in the business world, how do you know what’s right for your company? We suggest...

An employee worked unauthorized overtime. Do we have to pay them the time and a half for these hours?

Answer from Margaret, PHR, SHRM-CP: Yes. Any overtime worked by non-exempt employees must be compensated, regardless of whether the overtime was authorized. We recommend communicating with the employee about work expectations outside of their scheduled workday, making...