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.

healthcare

As Open Enrollment Approaches, Employees Express Concerns

Over six out of 10 (63%) employees with employer-sponsored insurance say they are concerned this open enrollment season about their plans’ out-of-pocket medical costs increasing in 2018, according to a new survey.  The research also gleaned employees’ attitudes towards the enrollment process.

market price

A Practical Guide to Market Pricing

Compensation planning can be a very time consuming task. It’s vital to attracting and retaining qualified talent, but can be a bit less cumbersome when managed with a practical approach.

Pensions

PBGC Launches Mediation Pilot for Termination Liability, ‘Early Warning Program’ Cases

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) on October 16 announced a pilot program to offer mediation in some Termination Liability Collection and Early Warning Program (EWP) cases. PBGC’s Pilot Mediation Project will allow parties to resolve cases with the assistance of an independent dispute resolution professional.

gender gap

Going Against the Grain: Worker Fired After Unequal Pay Complaint

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota—recently reversed an Arkansas district court’s dismissal of a former employee’s retaliation claim against a grain company under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act (EPA), and the Arkansas Civil Rights Act.

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.