Vow of Poverty in Civil and Canon Law

The vow of poverty has many dimensions: spirituality, simplicity, solidarity, work, sustainability, interdependence. The vow of poverty binds members to one another in a common economic unit. Our actions affect one another, for better or for worse. The vow also has raises legal issues under both Civil and Canon Law. Canon 600 gives a theological [...]

Volunteers Afforded Title VII Protection

A federal District Court in Illinois has allowed a female volunteer for two nonprofit emergency ambulance services to sue for sexual harassment and discrimination under the employee protection provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Read more...

Effect of Sequestration on Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Federal budget sequestration has resulted in required cuts to certain credits and awards, effective March 1. These required cuts include a reduction to the refundable portion of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for certain small tax-exempt employers

Payroll Tax Cut Extended

Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, enacted February 23, 2012, workers will continue to receive larger paychecks for the rest of this year based on a lower social security tax withholding rate of 4.2 percent, which is two percentage points less than the 6.2 percent rate in effect prior to 2011. This reduced rate, originally in effect for all of 2011, was extended through the end of February by the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011, enacted Dec. 23.

FAQs on New Payment Card Reporting Requirements

The Internal Revenue Service is providing special transitional relief to banks and other payment settlement entities required to begin reporting payment card and third-party network transactions to the IRS on new Form 1099-K. The IRS gave new guidance on independent contractors. Read more....

Expanded Minsiterial Exception Case

On Jan. 11, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in a significant church employment dispute, giving religious organizations wide latitude in hiring and firing clergy and other employees who perform religious duties. In its unanimous decision, the high court explicitly recognized a legal doctrine known as the “ministerial exception.”
The case, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, involved the dismissal of a teacher at a Lutheran school in Michigan who performed both secular and religious duties. The teacher argued that she had been fired in violation of laws protecting people with disabilities. Specifically, she claimed that the religious school had retaliated against her for asserting her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But the high court ruled that the ministerial exception trumps anti-discrimination laws. “The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important,” Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote for the court. “But so too is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith, and carry out their mission.” Read more....

Reporting employer health care coverage on Form W-2

An Oct. 31 webinar will explain the Affordable Care Act provision that requires some employers to report health care coverage on Form W-2.
Related links:

• IR-2011-31, IRS Issues Interim Guidance on Informational Reporting of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage
• Employer-Provided Health Coverage Informational Reporting Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions

Federal Minimum Wage Increase

The federal minimum wage for covered non-exempt employees rises from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour July 24.

New Employment Law Resource

The U.S. Department of Labor new FirstStep Recordkeeping, Reporting and Notices Advisor helps employers determine which of the department's recordkeeping, reporting, and notice requirements (including posters) apply to them.