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.

High-deductible and Health-FSA Participation Grows

Participation in high-deductible health plans and health flexible spending accounts grew at a strong pace, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The findings in “Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, January–March 2013” suggest that employees’ interests in consumer-directed health plans is growing, information employers may find useful in […]

Tennessee Rule Restricting ACA Navigators Blocked

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance from enforcing part of emergency rules designed to block health law navigators who had not been vetted by the state. As a result, churches, unions and social service organizations can set up computer stations to help the uninsured sign […]

Reward Next Practices—What’s Happening to Total Rewards?

The bad news is that many still find it hard to maintain an effective rewards system. McMullen is Reward Practice Leader for Hay Group in Chicago. He was joined by Dow Scott, Professor of Human Resources in the Quinlan School of Business Administration at Loyola University Chicago and president of Performance Development International, a management […]

Mariano Rivera—Nothing but Class

Dan Oswald, CEO of BLR®, offered his thoughts on what leaders can learn from Mariano Rivera in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter . Here are his thoughts. Either you love the New York Yankees or you hate them. I’m a hater. I grew up hating them. They were the antithesis of my beloved […]

Taking COBRA or Exchange Coverage: Impact on the Health Care Reform Subsidy

Earlier this month, health insurance exchanges (also known as marketplaces) under the Affordable Care Act were launched, giving consumers — including COBRA qualified beneficiaries — new coverage options. Because qualified beneficiaries may come to employers with questions about enrolling in COBRA versus exchange coverage, here are some key issues to keep in mind. The key […]

Creating a Sales Compensation Philosophy

Sales compensation philosophies should be in alignment with company objectives while still motivating the sales team—all without going over budget. This can be a challenge, but there are some tips to help employers get it right. The 5 ‘Rights’ of Sales Compensation “When we’re talking about sales compensation objectives, we define them as the 5 […]

Mitigating Measures—Heads Employee Wins … Tails Employer Loses

What’s a Mitigating Measure? According to the Job Accommodation Network, a mitigating measure is a treatment, therapy, or device that eliminates or reduces the limitations of a disability. Medications, including widely prescribed depression and anxiety medications Medical supplies, equipment, or appliances, low-vision devices (defined as devices that magnify, enhance, or otherwise augment a visual image, […]

As Wellness Rule Deadline Approaches, Questions Remain

As the 2014 plan year nears, plan sponsors are still sifting through the recently finalized changes to HIPAA’s nondiscrimination rules on wellness programs. The rules, issued June 3 (78 Fed. Reg. 33158), legally took effect Aug. 2 and must be met for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014. Along with raising the […]

Same-Sex Marriages Legally Recognized: How Do Healthcare Benefits Change?

With the DOMA ban on same-sex marriage being ruled unconstitutional, what does this mean for healthcare benefits—will a same-sex marriage be recognized in the same way as other marriages, thus allowing the same-sex partner to receive spousal healthcare benefits paid for at the pre-tax rate? This is just one of the many questions employers are […]

Danger Zone—Myths and Assumptions Around Accommodation for Mental Disabilities

HR needs to be alert to the attitudes of supervisors and coworkers, says Eyres, who is managing partner of the Eyres Law Group LLP in Irvin, California. Here’s what your managers and supervisors are thinking: We only have to consider reasonable accommodations when the injury or illness is work-related. No, says Eyres, the source of […]