The IRS has announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008. Taxpayers may use the optional standard rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.
The Supreme Court this morning released a quartet of opinions that impact employers. Continuing this Court’s somewhat surprising trend, the employer came out on the winning end of only half of these cases.
Posted by Sam Kerch, CPA
April 4th 2008
This edition is more of a rant than a question and answer time. As an Arizona employer, we are permitted by statute to not withhold Arizona tax from employee checks during the month of December. There were two reasons for this bill. One: educate the employee on just how much tax they actually pay. Two: provide extra spending money for employees during the holiday season. Employers must submit a form A1-E by July 1st to opt-out of withholding for the current year.
June 2008
By:
Philip L. Gordon
Kate H. Bally
The National Labor and Employment Firm
With the State of Connecticut reeling from a series of massive security breaches that have exposed the personal information of hundreds of thousands of state residents, Connecticut’s Governor and General Assembly joined forces in mid-June to make Connecticut only the second state (after Michigan) to mandate that private employers publish a policy on the protection of employee Social Security numbers (SSNs). The new Connecticut law — entitled, “An Act Concerning the Confidentiality of Social Security Numbers” (the “Act”), and effective October 1, 2008 — also imposes on private employers a statutory duty to safeguard and properly dispose of “personal information,” which is now more broadly defined.
7/1/08 11:00 AM
By Desda Moss - HR Magazine
CHICAGO—When a new administration is elected in November, it will be the first time in more than 50 years that neither an incumbent president nor vice president has been a candidate. What effect will the new administration have on HR when it comes to labor relations, government regulations and laws affecting employers? Michael W. Fox with Ogletree Deakins in Austin, Texas, did some political prognosticating during a June 24 SHRM Annual Conference session held here on the impact (hidden and otherwise) of political change on HR.
Here is a site that will notify the employer on the requirements for federal workplace posters.
Great resource to find recordkeeping, reporting, posters and other notice requirements for Federal Laws impacting Employers.
The threat of personal liability has heated up over the years as several federal and state courts have reinforced that HR decisionmakers can be personally responsible for their employment actions. Protect yourself from exposure to lawsuits by following the six steps below.
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By James Vicini
June 20, 2008
The Supreme Court sided against MetLife Inc. Thursday, ruling that insurance companies or employers have a conflict of interest when they both decide claims under employee benefit plans and pay the benefits.
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Supreme Court ruling favors older workers
Published: June 20, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas seen in this March 2008 file photo. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) WASHINGTON, June 20 (UPI) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled an employer must show that a decision to lay off older workers is based on factors other than age.