Sometimes, the payment of bonuses is at the discretion of the employer. But at other times, bonus payments are required under the terms of an applicable employment agreement. When that is the case – and the bonuses are not paid…
Employment Law
Intrusive, intimate questions. Unwanted physical contact. A senior official publicly engaging in inappropriate conduct at an office holiday party. That’s what happened at a county public defender’s office, according to a sexual harassment complaint submitted to the California Civil Rights…
Having trouble deciding whether an employee is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)? A ruling from a federal appeals court in a case from Texas provides some help. The court ruled that a highly compensated vice president of…
A California judge recently approved a $43.25 million settlement resolving a class-action lawsuit alleging that The Walt Disney Company violated equal pay laws -- a case that underscores how wage disputes can create material liabilities, force reserve adjustments, and disrupt…
Normally, an employee’s travel or commuting time is not compensable under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. However, when overnight travel is required, it can create additional overtime liability for employers. Here's what finance teams need to know. A federal…
The Department of Labor (DOL) has quietly issued a wage investigation policy change that could significantly reduce the financial impact of the agency's administrative investigations. It was released during a busy news cycle focused on the negotiations and passage of…
A recent appellate court decision in Ohio should catch the attention of any business leader managing workforce risk. In Shephard v. CrossCountry Mortgage, a jury awarded a former CPA $2.1 million after finding she was terminated due to age discrimination…
More employees feel left in the dark about pay than finance and business leaders might expect: 22% disagree and another 29% strongly disagree that their employer is transparent about compensation, according to Payscale’s 2025 Fair Pay Impact Report. Trust gaps…
A federal investigation forced a contractor to pay nearly $600,000 in back wages and damages after the Department of Labor uncovered systemic overtime violations tied to time rounding. This wasn’t a minor oversight – it exposed serious failures in payroll…
A Coast Guard reservist who is also a federal employee was entitled to differential pay while on active duty, the Supreme Court has ruled. In a 5-4 decision, the nation’s highest court rejected the Justice Department’s argument that a federal…
In April 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an updated version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Shortly thereafter, E-Verify and E-Verify+, which also fall under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), underwent minor changes…
When commission structures go wrong, the financial impact can be far-reaching. Oracle’s recent $15.5 million settlement highlights the hidden risks in commission wage practices and serves as a cautionary tale for finance leaders. What may seem like an administrative oversight…
