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…
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The IRS has announced updated health savings account (HSA) contribution limits and high-deductible health plan (HDHP) parameters for 2026, reflecting standard inflation adjustments. 2026 HSA Contribution Limits For 2026, employees will be able to contribute slightly more to their HSAs.…
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…
A $40,000 payout over a leave policy breakdown shows how quickly compliance risk can turn into a financial problem that finance teams are left to manage. That’s what happened when a Maryland plant nursery told an employee attempting to return…
Employers should be aware the federal law that protects veterans and service members has been amended by a new law, making the stakes higher. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act was enacted early in…
After more than a year, the IRS has made changes to Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information, and Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation. While changes used to occur annually, now the forms are “continuous use,” meaning the IRS revises them only when needed.…
Back pay probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of ADA violations, especially if the employee never claimed to have a disability. But a recent federal appeals court decision shows how back pay liability can…
Employers may need to reverify certain employees’ Form I-9 documents due to recent changes from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, DHS revised the temporary protected status (TPS) that it’d previously designated for two foreign countries. By way of…
New Jersey’s highest court has ruled that commissions are always wages under the state’s Wage Payment Law, reviving a sales employee’s chance for a potentially huge payout. The ruling cautions employers to carefully articulate for employees how non-salary compensation will…
Enforcing workplace harassment policies goes beyond HR concerns – it directly impacts a company's financial well-being. Case in point: Walmart’s recent $415,112 settlement with the EEOC illustrates the high cost of inadequate policy enforcement, leading to legal, reputational and operational…
Learning that a Form W-2 contains errors is bad enough, but being assessed a penalty by the IRS is even worse. Errors can show up in many ways. For example, employers might enter incorrect information, such as the amount of…
