Say goodbye to Floppy A:

by Ted

Of course PayMaster has been able to create the MMREF / EFW2 format for years but this is a reminder to be sure you have an account at SSA.GOV as you won’t be able to send the feds a floppy this year. Beginning Dec. 1, 2008, filers of 250 or more Forms 1042-S, 1098, 1099, […]

Restaurants challenge minimum wage

by Ted

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/UPDATES03/80908036 A group of rural business owners is suing the state over its minimum wage law adopted by Colorado voters in 2006. The constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 42, adjusts the minimum wage annually as the cost of living goes up. In January, the minimum wage jumped to $7.02 for non-tipped workers, $4 for tipped […]

Pennsylvania smoking ban starts Thursday

by Ted

Full article HARRISBURG — It wasn’t an easy decision, but The Saloon, a tavern/eatery in Mt. Lebanon, is going non-smoking. The change will happen Thursday, when Pennsylvania’s new smoke-free workplace law goes into effect. “It was a tough choice, but we’re happy we’re going to be non-smoking,” said manager Keith Sheppard. “I’ve gotten a lot […]

The Dangers of Outsourcing Payroll

by Ted

The IRS is reminding employers that the decision to outsource their payroll is not an easy one. Many employers outsource some of their payroll and related tax duties to third-party payroll service providers. They can help assure filing deadlines and deposit requirements are met and greatly streamline business operations. Some of the services they provide […]

Happy National Payroll Week!

by Ted

It’s National Payroll Week! That means it’s time to celebrate payroll and you – the extraordinary payroll professionals who ensure America is always paid accurately and on time. Look for NPW in the national media this week!  The NPW message will appear on national television, in leading publications, on websites, and on National Public Radio.  Watch the new NPW TV commercial (MAC […]

Celebrate National Payroll Week — September 1-5, 2008

by Ted

National Payroll Week celebrates the hard work by America’s 156 million wage earners and the payroll professionals who pay them. Together, through the payroll withholding system, they contribute, collect, report and deposit approximately $1.7 trillion, or 64.2%, of the annual revenue of the U.S. Treasury. This special week celebrates many things important to each of […]

DOL Provides Guidance on Meal and Rest Period Rules

by Ted

The Department of Labor (DOL) has recently issued an opinion letter on whether an employer’s break and meal policy was in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) [Wage & Hour Opinion Letter FLSA2008-7NA]. The company has written policies regarding break and meal periods which provide: The company offers employees a 15-minute break during […]

Minimum Wage Raise Too Little, Too Late ?

by Ted

A nonpartisan coalition of more than 90 faith, community, labor and business organizations has launched an ambitious “$10 in 2010″ campaign to raise the federal minimum wage within two years. The Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign announced the crusade with support from various denominations, including American Baptist Churches USA, the Episcopal Church, Religious Action […]

California state computers can’t handle pay cut

by Ted

If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to issue minimum-wage checks to 200,000 state workers in less than a month, he may want to rehire any semi-retired computer programmers he terminated last week. Democratic state Controller John Chiang said Monday it would take at least six months to reconfigure the state’s payroll system to issue blanket checks […]

Presidential candidates discuss merits of increasing the Social Security tax

by Ted

With less than three months until the 2008 presidential election, both candidates have expressed their views about a possible Social Security tax increase. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) imposes two taxes on employers, employees, and self-employed workers — one for Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI; commonly known as the Social Security tax), […]