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.

payroll

HR Professionals: Got a Compensation Question?

For me, one of the neat things about being an editor here at BLR® is the opportunity to interact with HR and compensation professionals on a regular basis. As the comp editor, I’m asked about managing the compensation process and, for the most part, they’re pretty routine queries about things like how to market price […]

benefits

Meet Broker 2.0—From Benefits Sales Rep to Strategic Counsel

There are few certainties when it comes to today’s health insurance industry. More than ever, employers are seeking help when it comes to navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape and developing a benefits strategy that will be cost effective, compliant, and aligned with employee needs.

banking

Banking Industry Plans to Increase Hiring, Salaries in 2018

The labor market is tightening and turnover is increasing, but banks are planning to grow employment, according to data from the Crowe Horwath LLP 2017 Bank Compensation and Benefits Survey. Crowe, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm, conducts the annual survey, now in its 36th year. The survey, which compiled data from 375 banks, […]

Benefits

Benefits: 45% of Employers Report Not Offering Workplace Group Life Insurance

Some say the key to attracting and retaining top talent is through a robust benefits package. Benefits play a crucial role in both attracting and retaining employees. Innovative benefit packages are often what distinguishes an employer from the pack—and what you’re not offering potential employees stands out even more. One key benefit you can offer […]

Pension

11th Circuit: Employers Responsible for Extra Payments When Exiting Multiemployer Plan

Plan withdrawal liability has been in place for U.S. multiemployer plans since 1980. It includes a heavy penalty that requires employers leaving a multiemployer plan to pay their share of the plan’s vested benefits not yet covered by contributions and investment earnings. As a result, healthy companies often seek to leave multiemployer plans before their […]

small package

Good (Nontaxable) Things Come in Small Packages: The De Minimis Fringe Benefit Rule

Do you want to recognize an employee’s 20 years of service by giving a gift? Perhaps you want to refund local transportation costs or open a cafeteria so your employees can eat on-site. Maybe you just want to know how to handle those annual holiday turkeys you give to employees. All of these situations are […]

workers' comp

Some New Mexico Workers’ Benefits Will Take a Hit Under WCA Amendments

During the 2015 legislative session, and later in the 2017 regular legislative session, lawmakers started redrafting the sections of the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA) that seemed unfair and unworkable to many employers. The revisions became law on June 16, 2017. Now, when a worker is fired for cause unrelated to a workplace injury, the worker is no longer eligible for workers’ comp benefits beyond the basic impairment rating benefit.

Short- And Long-Term Reasons for Small Companies to Offer a 401(k)

If yours is a small company, you may feel envious about the fabulous employee benefits packages offered by the big guys. Just like them, you need to attract and retain key talent to move your business forward. But with their fancy dry cleaning pick up service and pet insurance, how can you compete with larger […]