What to do when an employee takes an unpaid break?

[Guest MHerrick]

Assume an employee takes an unpaid break for a pay period then returns to work. There was zero pay, and a zero deduction. On the next paycheck should I deduct 100% of the money owed or can I spread it out? If I spread it out over payperiods, how far can I do that? Is there a difference if it is an employee plan being run through the POP? Thanks.

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[SLuskin]

Generally, the elections are annual elections and not per pay period elections. You have to make sure that you stay within the plan year. For example if the pay period missed was the last pay period of the year, you have a bigger problem. As far as whether you take it all out in the next pay period or prorate it throughout the year, you should develop a procedure and then be consistent.

[SLuskin]

Generally, the elections are annual elections and not per pay period elections. You have to make sure that you stay within the plan year. For example if the pay period missed was the last pay period of the year, you have a bigger problem. As far as whether you take it all out in the next pay period or prorate it throughout the year, you should develop a procedure and then be consistent.