DOL Issues 2020 Form W-4

Employers Must Begin Using the New Form Jan. 1 On Dec. 5, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service released an updated version of its W-4 form, also known as the “Employee’s Withholding Certificate.” Employers use IRS Form W-4 to determine each employee’s federal tax withholdings. The new form is intended to harmonize tax withholding declarations with…

Plan Ahead for Holiday Payrolls!

SIMA will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1 in observance of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Your payroll must be processed a day earlier than normal by 12:00 pm to ensure timely processing. Is your pay date on Wednesday, December 25 or Wednesday, January 1? There will be no direct…

FINAL RULING: New Overtime Rule Effective 1/1/20

On September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The final rule updates the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, and allows employers…

DOL: Employees May Use FMLA Leave for IEP Meetings

Opinion Issued in Case with Doctor’s Certification Employees may take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to attend their child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, according to a recent opinion letter from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Although DOL opinion letters are specific to the facts presented, employers can look…

Five Ways to Prevent Workplace Harassment

Every employer should make preventing workplace harassment a top priority Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that may violate federal laws such Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a list of best practices…