Category: Benefits and Compensation

This topic provides guidance on how to handle compensation issues in a way that attracts and retains the best talent and advances the strategic goals of your business. You get news and tips on what’s going on nationally and in the states, and updates on changes in regulations, possible governmental action, and emerging compensation trends.

retirement

IRS Raises Several Annual Retirement Plan Limits for 2018

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raised several annual threshold and benefit levels for 2018 when it announced them on October 19. Employers and retirement plan administrators can apply the new rates as they prepare their plans for next year and conduct nondiscrimination testing. Notice 2017-64 outlined the latest changes to cost-of-living adjustments for employee benefit […]

HIPAA

HHS Withdraws Rules for Certifying Compliance with HIPAA Transaction Standards

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) withdrew a proposed rule that would have required health plans, including employer group health plans, to certify compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) transaction standards or face potentially stiff penalties.

401k

401(k) 101: A Benefit for Employers and Employees Alike

In this article, we’ll look at some of the key benefits 401(k)s provide to both employees and employers, as well as some important practical considerations. Many thanks to Arris Murphy, J.D., Contributing Editor to BLR’s The 401(k) Handbook, from which the material for this piece originated.

fired

Cheese Whizzes Who Made a Run for the Food Biz Awarded Unemployment

Employees of a cheese manufacturer decided to break into the food safety business while they were still employed by the company. The employer suspected cheese sabotage when it discovered its food safety and cheese-making manuals in the employees’ workspace and terminated their employment.

401k

IRS: Missed 401(K) Loan Repayments Can Be Made Up Without Being Taxed

An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Counsel Advice memo issued to assist counsel in one of the agency’s regional offices provides two ways missed 401(k) loan payments can be handled without taxing the participant in plans permitting a cure period for such skipped payments. The guidance—while neither a precedent or legally binding—may be beneficial for […]

Which States Pay Best—and Worst—for the Most Dangerous Jobs?

New research reveals the highest and lowest-paying states for dangerous occupations, including logging workers, fishers, aircraft pilots, roofers and garbage collectors.  The analysis of mean salaries in all 50 states for jobs with the highest industry rates revealed that only 15 states pay above the national average of $56,795 for these dangerous jobs.