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Bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing, and other incentive programs are powerful tools for motivating employees and rewarding performance. But like those coveted golden rings, they come with rules attached. Mishandling...more
In a victory for employers, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently held that retention bonuses are not considered wages under the Massachusetts Wage Act and are not required to be paid to employees on the...more
Employers offering retention bonuses gained welcome clarity when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the state’s highest court, held in Nunez v. Syncsort Inc., 496 Mass. 706 (Oct. 22, 2025), that a bonus conditioned on...more
In a win for California automobile dealerships and other employers, the California Court of Appeal recently confirmed that paying service technicians by the hour, plus additional bonus compensation based on completed “flag...more
How much a law firm should pay an associate attorney is an age-old question that many law firms consider. Many law firms debate this question, making it difficult for them to develop a workable formula that works within their...more
In this episode of OK at Work, attorneys Sarah Sawyer and Russell Berger from Offit Kurman discuss the importance of thoughtfully structured bonus plans for employees and executives. The discussion covers the goals behind...more
California recently enacted Section 16608 of the California Business and Professions Code, which bans agreements that require employees to pay a “penalty, fee or cost” upon termination, effective January 1, 2026. Bonuses...more
As coquito season nears, Puerto Rico employers must remember another local tradition: Paying the Christmas Bonus. Under P.R. Law No. 148 of June 30, 1969, eligible (including former) employees must receive this statutory...more
Es ist wieder soweit: Zum Ende eines jeden Geschäftsjahres stehen nicht nur die strategische Planung für das kommende Geschäftsjahr, sondern auch die Zielvereinbarungen bzw....more
Retention bonuses – which are payments conditioned on continued employment through a fixed date – are not “wages” under the Massachusetts Wage Act, even when all contingencies have been met, according to the Massachusetts...more
Last year, the Appellate Division of the Massachusetts District Court held in Nunez v. Syncsort Incorporated—a decision that we addressed in an article published on October 28, 2024—that retention bonuses do not constitute...more
As a result of a new law effective January 1, 2026, California employers will be required to revisit their approach to agreements in which workers are required to repay relocation or signing bonuses, relocation expenses,...more
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) held in Nunez v. Syncsort Inc. on Oct. 22, 2025, that retention bonuses contingent on continued employment and performance are not "wages" under the Massachusetts Wage Act (the...more
In Nunez v. Syncsort Inc., the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed that the Massachusetts Wage Act does not apply to retention bonuses, provided that such bonuses are not given “solely in exchange for [an...more
On October 22, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) upheld the Appellate Division’s decision that employee retention bonuses are “outside the ambit of the Wage Act.”...more
On October 22, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (“SJC”) ruled that an employee’s agreed-to retention bonus did not constitute “wages” under the Wage Act, M.G.L. ch. 149, § 148. ...more
The UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have published joint policy statement PS21/25, setting out the final policy changes to the remuneration rules for dual-regulated firms....more
With the conclusion of California’s 2025 legislative session, businesses that operate in California should review and prepare for new employment laws that will take effect in 2026. What follows is a summary of the most...more
Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share by Email Share Back to top On October 22, 2025, the highest court in Massachusetts ruled that an employee’s retention bonuses were not subject to the Massachusetts Wage Act provision...more
On October 22, 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) issued an important decision clarifying the distinction between “wages” which are subject to the protections of the Massachusetts Wage Act and other forms...more
On October 22, 2025, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision in Nunez v. Syncsort Incorporated (SJC-13709, Oct. 22, 2025), in which it held that retention bonuses are not “wages” under the Massachusetts Wage Act....more
The PRA and FCA have finalised major reforms to the UK bankers’ remuneration regime, unlocking significant flexibility for banks from 16 October 2025, while reinforcing individual accountability....more
California has long had the nation’s most stringent laws against restrictive covenants. On September 15, 2025, the California legislature increased the potential scope of those laws, and whether by intention or mistake, set...more
Bonus plans are a cornerstone of total compensation and help retain top talent and drive productivity in the financial services industry. By linking bonuses directly to measurable goals such as growth, production, and...more
California is poised to sharply curtail “stay-or-pay” arrangements beginning in 2026, extending the state’s long-standing commitment to employee mobility. Assembly Bill 692 (AB 692), passed by the Legislature and expected to...more