With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing major changes around where and how employees do their work, employers are altering their benefits to meet emerging needs and to ensure engagement with a scattered workforce.
Sending employees lunch for regularly scheduled video team meetings and get-togethers and offering free virtual sessions with personal trainers to replace the workplace gym may seem like nice perks during this time. However, depending on the value of those extras and their frequency, employers could have established taxable benefits for employees without realizing it. This is particularly true when employers offer benefits on an ad hoc basis.
