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Staying compliant with federal payroll laws is a crucial HR responsibility. If you find this intimidating, read on to learn the basics and what to watch out for.
What Are Federal Payroll Laws?
There are hundreds of federal and state laws related to employment that govern workplace activities for both employees and employers. These federal laws determine everything related to employment, including wages, hours, paid time off, benefits, etc., and protect employees from workplace discrimination. These federal laws are called employment laws, and laws that govern how employees are paid are known as federal payroll laws. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, there are around 180 federal laws that pertain to payroll.
Why Are Federal Payroll Laws Important?
Federal payroll laws protect the rights of both employees and employers.
- Preventing wage discrimination. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) states that all employees who perform the same job should have equal pay irrespective of their sex.
- Wage protection. The Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) ensures that employees should be paid minimum wage and regulates overtime pay. The state law for minimum wage differs from state to state, but the federal minimum wage remains the same.
- Unemployment benefits. The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) offers a temporary source of income to employees who have lost their jobs due to no fault on their part.
- Social security. The Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) provides a system of Social Security benefits to provide financial safety to retired and disabled Americans. Financed through contributions from both employees and employers, FICA taxes include OASDI, the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.
Federal Payroll Laws Companies Should Know
Of the estimated 180 federal employment laws, five stand out as the most common and important for every organization to know.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
According to the US Department of Labor,“The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. This law also regulates child labor, record keeping, and limitations of how many hours an employee may work in a given period.
Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)
The EPA states that all the employees performing the same task at the same workplace should be paid equally, irrespective of their sex.
Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA)
FUTA is also known as unemployment benefits. This payroll tax, along with state unemployment programs, helps to provide temporary relief to employees who have lost their job due to no fault of theirs. This tax is paid by the employer, not the employee.
Federal Insurance Contributions Acts (FICA)
FICA provides Social Security and Medicare benefits. This tax is deducted from every paycheck and consists of contributions from both employees and employers.
Davis-Bacon Act
The Davis-Bacon Act states that businesses working on federal and state projects should pay prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics working on public works projects.
How to Ensure You’re Following Federal Payroll Laws
It is very important for a business to ensure that they are in compliance with federal employment laws and federal payroll laws. Make sure that your organization meets these criteria.
- All wages, including overtime, are calculated correctly and accurately.
- All payroll taxes withheld from employee paychecks are correct according to the current rates of each payroll tax.
- All payroll taxes are paid on time to their respective federal, state and local agencies.
- Audit pay rates annually to ensure that wages are in compliance with federal payroll law.
- Thoroughly document all payroll decisions.
- Compensation should be clearly visible and defined in your organization.
The classification of employees as full-time, part-time, temporary, intern or seasonal, as well as exempt/non-exempt, should be done correctly so that wages are paid according to the payroll law.
Topics
Pammi Rani
Pammi is a Human Resource Professional with around eight years experience. Pammi specializes in Human Resource field and responsible for all aspects of the HR, i.e. recruiting, employees relations, wage claims, training etc. Pammi has a very positive attitude and tireless energy, which makes her a great employee at her workplace. Pammi is inspired daily by her husband and a cute little boy. In her free time Pammi likes reading books and running.
Frequently asked questions
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Eddy’s HR Mavericks Encyclopedia
Staying compliant with federal payroll laws is a crucial HR responsibility. If you find this intimidating, read on to learn the basics and what to watch out for.
What Are Federal Payroll Laws?
There are hundreds of federal and state laws related to employment that govern workplace activities for both employees and employers. These federal laws determine everything related to employment, including wages, hours, paid time off, benefits, etc., and protect employees from workplace discrimination. These federal laws are called employment laws, and laws that govern how employees are paid are known as federal payroll laws. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, there are around 180 federal laws that pertain to payroll.
Why Are Federal Payroll Laws Important?
Federal payroll laws protect the rights of both employees and employers.
- Preventing wage discrimination. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) states that all employees who perform the same job should have equal pay irrespective of their sex.
- Wage protection. The Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) ensures that employees should be paid minimum wage and regulates overtime pay. The state law for minimum wage differs from state to state, but the federal minimum wage remains the same.
- Unemployment benefits. The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) offers a temporary source of income to employees who have lost their jobs due to no fault on their part.
- Social security. The Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) provides a system of Social Security benefits to provide financial safety to retired and disabled Americans. Financed through contributions from both employees and employers, FICA taxes include OASDI, the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.
Federal Payroll Laws Companies Should Know
Of the estimated 180 federal employment laws, five stand out as the most common and important for every organization to know.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
According to the US Department of Labor,“The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. This law also regulates child labor, record keeping, and limitations of how many hours an employee may work in a given period.
Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)
The EPA states that all the employees performing the same task at the same workplace should be paid equally, irrespective of their sex.
Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA)
FUTA is also known as unemployment benefits. This payroll tax, along with state unemployment programs, helps to provide temporary relief to employees who have lost their job due to no fault of theirs. This tax is paid by the employer, not the employee.
Federal Insurance Contributions Acts (FICA)
FICA provides Social Security and Medicare benefits. This tax is deducted from every paycheck and consists of contributions from both employees and employers.
Davis-Bacon Act
The Davis-Bacon Act states that businesses working on federal and state projects should pay prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics working on public works projects.
How to Ensure You’re Following Federal Payroll Laws
It is very important for a business to ensure that they are in compliance with federal employment laws and federal payroll laws. Make sure that your organization meets these criteria.
- All wages, including overtime, are calculated correctly and accurately.
- All payroll taxes withheld from employee paychecks are correct according to the current rates of each payroll tax.
- All payroll taxes are paid on time to their respective federal, state and local agencies.
- Audit pay rates annually to ensure that wages are in compliance with federal payroll law.
- Thoroughly document all payroll decisions.
- Compensation should be clearly visible and defined in your organization.
The classification of employees as full-time, part-time, temporary, intern or seasonal, as well as exempt/non-exempt, should be done correctly so that wages are paid according to the payroll law.
Topics
Pammi Rani
Pammi is a Human Resource Professional with around eight years experience. Pammi specializes in Human Resource field and responsible for all aspects of the HR, i.e. recruiting, employees relations, wage claims, training etc. Pammi has a very positive attitude and tireless energy, which makes her a great employee at her workplace. Pammi is inspired daily by her husband and a cute little boy. In her free time Pammi likes reading books and running.
Frequently asked questions
Other Related Terms
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