2007 - 1998 ARCHIVES

2006

2005

2004

Sept.-October	As I begin preparing our 2007 EEO-1 report, I notice some changes to the race/ethnic reporting categories and the job categories. What are they?
July-August 2007	I've heard that there are hazardous occupations prohibited for minors by New York State labor law. What are some of them?
May-June 2007	Can a former employee get and 11 month COBRA extension if disable?
April 2007	Must employees being recalled from layoff or seasonal staff be reported as new hires as part of the New York State Taxation and Finance "New Hire Reporting"?
January 2007	I have federal W-4 withholding forms on file from each of my employees. Must I also have a New York State withholding form on file from each of my employees?
2006
December 2006	If we typically pay our non-exempt employees for upcoming holidays buy they don't work, must we include that in calculating overtime pay during that workweek?
November 2006	What are the IRS standard mileage rates for the upcoming year?
October 2006	What is the EEO-1 report and am I required to complete it?
September 2006	When is the final pay check due after an employee leaves my company?
July/August 2006	Where do we stand on New York’s minimum wage?
June 2006	Last month's newsletter mentioned hazardous occupations prohibited for minors in NYS. What are some of them?
May 2006	We plan to hire several minors for the summer. Since they are minors, do we have any special administrative requirements?
April 2006	When I ask employees for medical documentation of their Family Medical Leave, I usually get a variety of doctor's notes, not necessarily easy to understand and usually lacking key leave information. Is there a simpler way of obtaining this important medical leave information?
March 2006	I have an employee on family medical leave for 9 weeks who has told us she is ready to return. While out on leave, I had others assume the duties of her job. Must I bring her back?
February 2006	As an employer, how do I know if I am subject the the federal Family Medical Leave Act requirements?
January 2006	Is the Minimum salary level for exempt employees under New York State labor law different from the $455 per week federal level?
2005
December	What are some of the specific employee compliance thresholds for employers in New York State that I should be concerned about?
November	How long after a qualifying event do I have to notify and employee about COBRA coverage and when do they have to get back to me?
October	How should I pay an exempt white-collar employee who is on jury duty?
September	As an employer, am I required to provide coffee breaks and a meal period?
June	Is there a difference in working papers between a minor who is still in school and a minor who has finished school or has dropped out of school?
May	Is there a difference in working papers between a minor who is still in school and a minor who has finished school or has dropped out of school?
April	I have federal W-4 withholding forms on file from each of my employees. Must I also have a New York State withholding form on file from each of my employees?
March	Is there a revised Form I-9 available for employer use? The one I'm using is from 1991.
February	We offer several medical plans to our employees. What plan(s) must be offered under federal COBRA?
2004
December	If an employee works overtime in a week containing a holiday, is overtime pay due to that employee?
November	If an employee returns from a disability absence and then goes out again because of the same disability condition, do we continue the old disability claim or start a new one?
October	Can I still submit an H1-B visa application for an employee who I wish to sponsor?
September	Sometimes non-exempt employees at our company must travel in the course of their workday and occasionally even overnight. Is this travel time considered hours worked?
July-August	Is there a new poster required by the state Human Rights Division that prohibits discrimination based on military status and sexual orientation?
June	What steps can I take to handle employee performance or attendance issues fairly?
May	Can a former employee get an 11 month COBRA extension if disabled?
April	Is there a difference in working papers between a minor who is still in school and a minor who has finished school or has dropped out of school?
March	For employers of less than 20 employees who are required to provide continued group medical insurance coverage under New York State Continuation rather than federal COBRA, is there a "gross misconduct" exception?
February	Has the IRS changed the standard auto mileage rate for 2004?
2003
December 2003	If an employee works overtime in a week containing a holiday, is overtime pay due to that employee?
November 2003	How much do companies generally reimburse their employees for business use of the employees personal car?
October 2003	Is there an employment of minors poster that employers must display in the workplace?
September 2003	As an employer, I pay the full premium cost of my employee’s medical insurance coverage. However, several employees have told me that they have better coverage through their spouse’s employer’s coverage and don’t need the coverage that I provide. Can they sign a waiver and not participate in my medical plan?
July/August 2003	We heard that under the new tougher workplace smoking restrictions effective on July 24, 2003, employees smoking outside near building entrances would have to move at least twenty feet from the doorway entrance so people entering would not have to walk through second-hand smoke. Is this part of the new smoking law?
June 2003	Under the federal family and medical leave act, is there a requirement that employees give employers prior notice of the need for leave time?
May 2003	We are entering a slow time for our industry and are thinking about a temporary layoff of several departments. We'd like to avoid this, if possible, and wanted to know if there are any programs that could assist us.
April 2003	I've noticed that OSHA has a new employer poster available. Must we replace the old one currently posted?
March 2003	An employee has been recently activated for the reserves and there is some confusion about pay. Must we pay him while on military leave?
February 2003	One of our employees is being activated for duty in the National Guard. How do we handle his medical insurance benefits?
January 2003	How should the 12 month FMLA eligibility requirement be calculated for returning military service members?
November 2002	How should the 12 month FMLA eligibility requirement be calculated for returning military service members?
October 2002	What are the state's smoking restrictions in the workplace?
September 2002	We know that care for a newly adopted child is covered under the federal Family Medical Leave Act. What about time for the activities prior to the actual adoption, such as time for the extensive meetings and interviews?
July/August 2002	We are entering a slow time for our industry and are thinking about a temporary lay-off of several departments. We’d like to avoid this, if possible, and wanted to know if there are any programs that could assist us.
June 2002	Besides obtaining working papers from our summer students who are minors, are there other administrative requirements?
May 2002	An employee who was supposed to take unpaid lunch worked instead. We want to deduct a half hour's pay to cover this time that should have been unpaid lunch. Can we do this?
April 2002	We pay for the first $50,000 in group life insurance for our employees and then allow them to purchase, on a pre-tax basis, up to a $100,000 more. How do we treat their pretax purchase when figuring their imputed income?
February 2002	Are we permitted to round off time recorded on punch cards used with our time clocks?
January 2002	As an employer, are we responsible for making sure that a minor working for us obtains "working papers?"

2001

2000

1999

1998