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.

No HIPAA Exception for Cybersecurity Information Sharing, HHS Warns

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s (HIPAA’s) privacy rule does not exempt the sharing of information on cyber threat indicators, so HIPAA-covered entities and their business associates may not share protected health information (PHI) for this purpose unless HIPAA otherwise allows it, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) warned recently.

banking

COLA and CPI: What’s the Difference?

By Sharon McKnight, CCP, SPHR, BLR Senior Editor I can remember when a candy bar cost a nickel. Now, it’s a challenge to find one under a dollar. The cost of placating my sweet tooth, however, didn’t just leap from five cents to nearly a hundred pennies all at once. It crept up in itty-bitty […]

Infographic: How Do SMBs Evaluate their Current Payroll Systems?

Even though most payroll administrators at small and medium businesses (SMBs) indicate they are satisfied with their current provider, nearly 40% of those same managers say they are likely to switch payroll solutions within the next 12 months, according to a recent survey by Clutch, a leading B2B ratings and reviews site. Although 85% of […]

Stress Reduction Training Tips

In yesterday’s Advisor, we discussed how proper sleep (or a lack thereof) affects the working world. Today we have tips regarding another area of workplace wellness: stress reduction.

COBRA

Court Recasts ERISA/Tax Claim Under PHSA, Allowing COBRA Notice Case to Proceed

By Gwen Cofield Governmental employers and the benefit plans they sponsor are generally exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act’s (ERISA) Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) provisions but are still required to offer COBRA coverage to qualified beneficiaries under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA).

OCR to Take Closer Look at Smaller HIPAA Breaches

Most Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) enforcement has focused on the larger breaches of protected health information (PHI). But the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not forgotten those incidents that fall below the “major” threshold of 500 individuals.

New Survey Shows Working Parents Prefer Flexibility Over Salary

Want to retain working parents? According to a recent FlexJobs survey of nearly 1,200 parents with children 18 and younger living at home, work flexibility (84%) and work/life balance (80%) are the most important factors when parents consider a job opportunity. Parents placed these ahead of other factors, such as salary (75%), health insurance (42%), […]

Rise in Mental Health Parity Enforcement Calls for Review of Plan Documents, Practices

By David Slaughter, JD, Senior Legal Editor Enforcement of mental health parity requirements is on the upswing, so plan sponsors and administrators need to be reexamining their plan documents and claims review processes for signs that mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits are being handled differently from other coverage.

IRS Announces Special Per Diems, High-Cost Locales for FY 2017

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its special per diem rates for the transportation industry, incidental expenses, and the “high-low” substantiation method. These rates, announced September 26 in Notice 2016-58, apply to allowances paid to employees on or after October 1 for travel on or after that date.