Do we need to write a termination letter?
Do we need to write a termination letter? There is no federal requirement for churches to provide written notice about why someone is being terminated, but we do recommend providing written notice as best practice. This reduces the likelihood of the terminated employee spinning up their own (possibly illegal) reason for the termination and then…
Impropriety Policies
Impropriety Policies A true story that is every church leader’s worst nightmare: It was a weekday, and the police had just left the church office. The officers showed up unannounced and informed the staff that their visit was for the purpose of investigating an allegation of abuse in a children’s classroom from the previous Sunday….
Can I limit W-4 changes?
Can I limit the number of times an employee makes changes to their W-4? No. IRS guidance states that an employee has the right to make changes to their Form W-4 as often as they would like, and you, as the employer, need to make those changes, even if they’re frequent. The only exceptions are…
Can I reclassify an employee from exempt to nonexempt status?
We would like to reclassify an employee from exempt to nonexempt status. Is it okay to do this? What do we need to do to change their status? Yes, it’s possible to make this change. Any employee can be classified as a nonexempt employee, although we generally recommend that all employees in the same role…
ICHRA Requirements for Reimbursement
ICHRA Requirements for Reimbursement There are no limits to how much a church can offer for reimbursement under ICHRA. This is a big difference from QSEHRA which has rather restrictive limits. With ICHRA, churches can offer as much or as little as they’d like as long as it’s offered fairly to each class. In addition, employers can choose…
Can a church have different PTO policies for job categories?
Can a church have different PTO policies for job categories? Employers can generally offer different PTO benefits to different employees as long as there is a valid and non-discriminatory business reason for doing so. We would recommend mentioning your policy variations in your employee handbook to be clear on the subject. With that said, it…
Can a part-time employee be exempt?
Can a part-time employee be exempt? Yes, a part-time employee may be classified as exempt. The minimum salary and duties requirements must still be met, of course. And the minimum salary cannot be prorated when an exempt employee works part-time. In other words, the federal requirement to pay $684 per week (or the higher state minimum salary) will…
Should we have a COVID section in our employee handbook?
Should we have a COVID section in our employee handbook? While COVID will continue to affect our workplaces for some time, we generally recommend not adding COVID policies directly to your handbook. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to evolve, and federal and state laws related to the pandemic will…
Do managers need to be classified as exempt?
Do office managers need to be classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act? No, it’s fine to classify office managers as nonexempt. You are under no obligation to classify any employees as exempt, even if they meet the criteria under the Fair Labor Standards Act. You could have an entire workforce of nonexempt…
What is an exit interview?
What is an exit interview? An exit interview is a conversation with a departing employee about their time at the church and the reason for their departure. It’s completely optional, but some employers conduct them to learn about workplace issues they may want to address. Exit interviews can be a good opportunity to get the…
