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.

Agencies Would Broaden Exceptions to Required Benefits

Employee assistance programs and certain “limited wraparound coverage” would be added to the set of “limited excepted benefits” exempt from most of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, under proposed rules in the Dec. 24 Federal Register (78 Fed. Reg. 77632). The proposal also would make it easier for dental and vision benefits to […]

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s New Year ‘Tips’ for HR Managers

The act that gained her the most notoriety was her rule that all employees must report to work at the physical office—no more telecommuting. The move was met with disapproval in many quarters (although Donald Trump reportedly approved). Some called it a step backwards for flexibility in the workplace, especially for women, who often count […]

Infographic on Health Care Costs 2014

This infographic via Mercer shows that although US health benefit cost growth slowed again in 2013, employers expect the rate of growth in per-employee cost of coverage to increase in 2014. “The good news is that employers have already taken decisive action to slow cost growth so they will be in a better position to […]

Mercer Infographic Shows Global Pay Increases for 2014

The latest Global Compensation Planning Report from Mercer highlights increases across most regions of the 100 countries studied. View the image below for a summary of the findings. “Employers will remain cautious with pay raises in 2014, but employees, nevertheless, will benefit from a gradually improving relationship between economic growth and inflation,” says Niklaus Kobel, […]

Health Benefit Costs: Calm Before the Storm?

According to the annual National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans by Mercer employers expect the rate of growth in the per-employee cost of coverage to rebound in 2014. View the infographic below for a summary of the findings.

’Tis the Season … to Do Right by Employees and Customers

Among other things, having a manager who cares about them as people is part of being happy at work. So when I heard about Liberty Bottleworks, I figured it must have a pretty satisfied workforce. Here’s the story, from a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. It seems that over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the […]

4 Reasons Your Top Talent Is Thinking About Leaving

Chou, who is senior practice leader, compensation, at WorldatWork, offered his tips at WorldatWork’s Total Rewards 2013 Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia. Why Key Talent Leaves Employers are always concerned about retaining top talent, says Chou, and most are getting a little more concerned as the economy brightens. However, the truth is that the job […]

Learn How New IRS Guidance on Windsor Affects Cafeteria Plans, FSAs, HSAs

On Dec. 16, the IRS issued clarifications on how the U.S. v. Windsor ruling on same-gender marriage affects the administration of cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts. IRS Notice 2014-1 is in the form of 10 questions and answers regarding midyear election changes, FSA reimbursements and contribution limits for HSAs and dependent […]

Worksite Privacy from Social Networking to Social Security

Happy Holidays to all our readers from the Advisor Team: Amanda, Chelsea, Kate, Rafael, and Steve! [Go here for privacy issues 1 to 4.] 5. Social Networking Sites Employees have increasingly been utilizing social networking sites for a variety of uses, both personal and professional. Although these sites can be beneficial, their use can also […]