Category: Compensation
New Form W-4, Tax Withholding Method
In December 2019, the IRS released its new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate for 2020. Prompted by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the…
2020 IRS Mileage Rates
On December 31, 2019 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finally issued the 2020 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile…
New DOL-Issued Final Rule Updates ‘Regular Rate’ of Pay
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a final rule that updates regulations governing the “regular rate” of pay under the Fair Labor Standards…
Contracting for Labor? Employers Cited for Subcontractor’s $1.6 Million in Wage Theft
The Labor Commissioner recently fined two California grocers and their subcontractor more than $1.6 million in wage theft violations. The subcontractor was cited for violations…
Examine Wage Practices: U.S. DOL Recovers Record Amount of Back Wages
In fiscal year (FY) 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recovered a record $322 million in wages for workers, up from $304 million in…
New 2020 Exempt Classification Rates
California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced rate changes for the computer software employee exemption and the licensed physician and surgeon exemption. The new rates take effect…
Don’t forget to ‘Fall Back’ on Sunday!
Although summer was officially over in September, our longer evenings come to an end this Sunday, November 3, when Daylight Saving Time (DST) concludes. While…
Canceling a Shift and Reporting Time Pay
How much notice must I give my employees that I’m canceling a shift in order to avoid paying reporting time? Anytime an employee reports to…
Social Security Announces 2020 Taxable Wage Base
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that the Social Security taxable wage base for 2020 will increase to $137,700 from $132,900. This is the maximum…
Franchisors Not Liable for Franchisee’s Labor Violations, Ninth Circuit Rules
Recently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an important wage and hour decision related to joint employment, particularly for franchisors (Salazar, et al. v….
