Bottom Line Human Resources Issues Winter 2020

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Read on for important updates about the new W-4, FMLA and Parental Leave, Calculating pay correctly for missed meal periods and rest breaks, Silvers HR updates, 2020 Training calendar and don't forget to order your 2020 posters and pamphlets

A W-4 Makeover for 2020 Free of Charge… By Stacey Sommerhauser, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gave the W-4 a makeover for 2020. This is the first major redesign of the form since 1987. The 2020 W-4 will look very different from previous versions to you and your employees, as the IRS has omitted the “allowances” which had been used to calculate withholdings. Previously your allowances were tied to your number of personal exemptions; however due to changes in the law, you will no longer claim personal exemptions or dependency exemptions.   Continue reading

Are Parent-Teacher Conferences FMLA eligible? By Laurie Nooren, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) states that eligible employees* are allowed time off from work to care for a child with a “serious health condition,” which includes both physical and psychological care as well as making arrangements for changes in their care.   The Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued an opinion letter regarding an employee whose two children had qualifying serious health conditions that required speech, occupational and physical therapy.   Continue Reading

Good News (for now) California Court of Appeal Clarifies Meal and Rest Period Premium Pay Calculation By Jennifer L. Lippi, SPHR, PHRca On October 9, 2019, the California Court of Appeal in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC, issued a decision clarifying the rate of pay at which an employer must pay meal and rest period premiums.   As you likely know, if an employee is unable to take a compliant meal or rest period, then California law requires the employer to pay the employee a premium of one hour’s wages. In the Ferra lawsuit, the employee alleged that her employer calculated her pay rate for missed meal periods and rest breaks improperly. The employer paid missed meal periods and rest breaks at the base hourly rate of pay instead of at the employee’s regular rate of pay. (Regular rate of pay must be calculated for overtime purposes and is calculated by adding all compensation (i.e., hourly wages, commission, bonuses, etc.) for the workweek and then dividing by the hours worked the workweek.) Unlike an employee’s base hourly rate, the regular rate of pay may change each pay period.   Continue Reading

We have a new SPHR in the house! Congratulations to our HR Consultant, Laurie Nooren, who recently passed the exhaustive Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) exam.  The SPHR exam reflects an increased emphasis on a senior HR professional’s responsibility for developing workforce strategies that are aligned with desired business outcomes. Its five functional areas are Leadership and Strategy , Talent Planning and Acquisition , Learning and Development , Total Rewards , and Employee Relations and Engagement .   SPHR exam content provides a mirror of the changes in HR practice over time, including the impact of new legislation, the emergence of new business practices, technological innovation and social factors. HR Certification Institute ® (HRCI ® ) is a premier credentialing organization for the human resources profession. An independent nonprofit organization, HRCI is dedicated to advancing the HR profession by developing and administering best-in-class accredited certifications. Congratulations, Laurie!

2020 Training Calendar

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