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.

Please Sue Me—2014 edition

Lott showcases several “Please Sue Me” actions, and then talks about how to avoid these expensive situations. ‘Distressed Babies’ Comment Draws Apology from AOL Chief AOL’s CEO defended a policy change (awarding 401(k) matches annually instead of monthly) that he said was needed to counterbalance healthcare expenses such as those caused by two pregnancies where […]

Soft Stuff (Like Rubber Chickens) Gets Results

Novak is the author of New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling book, TAKING PEOPLE WITH YOU: the Only Way to Make BIG Things Happen. He offered his thoughts on leadership at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition, held recently in Orlando. No Recognition for 47 Years Novak tells the story of a visit […]

Pros and Cons of Opt-Out Employee 401(k) Plans

Retirement saving rightfully gets a lot of press, since it affects all of us. One of the most widely talked about retirement vehicles is the 401(k) plan, in which employees can make tax-deferred contributions to plans administered through their employer. It’s become the default retirement savings scheme for most people, replacing pensions, and there are […]

Failure to Pay Correctly—#6 on the List of Lawsuit Magnets

[Go here for failures 1 to 5.] 6. Failure to Pay Correctly Yes, it’s the pay thing. Zandy’s danger zones are: Misclassification (exempt vs. nonexempt) Timesheets (in & out) Meetings (mandatory and unpaid?) Off-the-clock (off-duty helping on-duty) Travel Bonuses (discretionary vs. nondiscretionary) The good news is plaintiffs’ lawyers are unlikely to take a case if […]

EEOC Files First ADA Lawsuit Against Employee Wellness Program

The first direct federal challenge to an employee wellness program’s legality under the Americans with Disabilities Act was filed Aug. 20 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The employer’s program did not qualify as “voluntary” under the ADA because the one employee who refused to participate was forced to bear the entire cost of […]

The 10 Most Costly Management Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them

“It’s a case of perception vs. reality. The plaintiff perceives he (she) was disciplined, retaliated against, and harassed.  The reality is different. He (she) was terminated for a legitimate, non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory reason by a professional, well-trained manager with supportive documentation.” Jurors are never on the side of the employers, says Zandy, who is with the […]

Total Rewards Program Doing Its Job?

Your total rewards package affects your company’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain top talent. Is your program doing all that it could be? Consultant Jennifer Barton shows how to evaluate and improve your program. Barton, Chief Operating Officer, Willis North America Human Capital Practice, made her suggestions at the recent SHRM Annual Conference and […]

The 4 Leadership Lessons I Learned from ‘Dead Poets Society’

Keating encourages the boys to embrace their individualism, think independently, and pursue their passions. This leads them on a path of self-discovery that clashes with the rigid culture of the conservative institution they attend. Keating’s methods ultimately cost him his job, but they win him the respect and affection of his students. In watching the […]

Matching Your Total Rewards to Your Talent

Start by taking a talent inventory, says Barton, who is chief operating officer of Willis North America Human Capital Practice. She made her suggestions at the recent SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition in Orlando. You might start by populating a chart such as this, she says: Then think about what you can offer to each […]