Plain-English guides to take-home pay, overtime, minimum wage, severance, garnishment, per diem and other questions that come up in a US job.
What GSA per diem rates cover, how they vary by destination, and how to calculate a total trip allowance once you know your rate.
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What you're actually paid for jury duty, how it varies between federal and state courts, and whether your employer has to keep paying you too.
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Is severance pay required when you lose a job? How it's typically calculated, and what to check for in a severance agreement.
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How much of your paycheck can legally be garnished, the federal limits that protect you, and how state laws can offer additional protection.
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Is two weeks' notice actually required? What happens to your PTO, benefits, and final paycheck when you resign -- a practical guide.
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What COBRA actually costs when you lose employer health coverage, why it's so much more expensive than what you paid as an employee, and your alternatives.
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How federal overtime rules actually work under the FLSA -- the 40-hour threshold, the 1.5x rate, and the states with additional daily overtime rules.
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A state-by-state look at US minimum wage in 2026 -- which states use the federal floor, which have their own higher rates, and how to find yours.
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A step-by-step walkthrough of how your gross salary becomes your actual take-home pay -- federal tax, FICA, and the deductions that come out first.
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