Month: November 2015

Men More Likely to Utilize Some Work/Life Benefits

Contrary to popular belief, work-life balance and work flexibility issues aren’t primarily women’s issues. In fact, for certain benefits, it is men who use them more frequently and are more likely to say that their work is interrupted for personal or family reasons, according to results of a new survey.

Ask the Expert: OK to Waive Benefits Waiting Period for New Hire?

As part of the negotiations for a new hire’s total compensation package, the candidate has asked the company to waive the health benefits eligibility period and start benefits immediately. Can the company agree to this for some new hires and not others? Would this put the company in jeopardy of potential discrimination claims?

The Straphanger’s Special: New Benefit for NYC Commuters

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed into law the Affordable Transit Act, which requires New York City companies with 20 or more full-time employees to offer pretax transit benefits. The bill encourages employers to take advantage of an existing federal tax benefit, which already allows businesses to offer its workers $130 a […]

Take a Proactive Approach to Workplace Mental Health

Fair warning: this may be an uncomfortable topic. However, it is important to bring it to light. Mental illness has touched everyone on some level, and it reaches into the workplace, too. Because May is Mental Health Awareness month, there is no time like the present to make this subject a priority at your place […]

More penalties under ACA? The cost of failure to file went up

by Jamie Brabston As employers prepare to comply with the upcoming information-reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which remain in place after the Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell, Congress snuck higher penalties for failing to meet those requirements into a trade bill. House Resolution (HR) 1295, known as the Trade Preferences […]

Grandfathered Plan and Patient Protection Guidance Finalized

How much a health plan may change before losing grandfathered plan status was addressed in a final Affordable Care Act rule issued on Nov. 13 by the three U.S. departments that administer ACA reform. The rule (which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2017) finalizes familiar pieces of agency guidance, many of them issued in 2010. The rule also addresses […]

No Coffee Breaks for You!

Could you imagine working at a place that doesn’t allow coffee breaks? The employees must be downright miserable! Which may be the case for three hospitals in England; they are banning coffee and tea breaks because it makes the employees look unproductive.

Making the Most of Recruiting Metrics

Yesterday’s Advisor began to explore some advice from Cathy Gray, JD, Senior Managing Editor of HR and Compensation here at BLR®, on recruiting metrics. Today, we’ll continue to explore how to make the most of your recruiting metrics. Quality of Hire When we look at quality of hire, we’re getting into metrics that look at […]

Leave Your Wellness Comfort Zone—More Tips for Employers

Yesterday’s Advisor presented the first two of five ways to invest in wellness from Dr. Gerard Malanga, MD, and Robert D. Woods Jr. Today, Malanga and Woods cover the final three. Malanga is the founder and partner of New Jersey Sports Medicine, LLC, and New Jersey Regenerative Institute in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. He also […]