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.

Reform Rule Broadens Plans Considered to Be Minimum Essential Coverage

Self-funded student health plans and state high-risk pool coverage will be considered minimum essential coverage for calendar year 2014, but they will have to get approved by a health insurance exchange to gain such consideration in 2015, under rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Carrying minimum essential coverage is required for an […]

High Court Advances Same-sex Marriage and Impacts Employers

As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage, employers throughout the United States will have to adjust their benefits plans, policies and documents to accommodate employees’ same-sex spouses for purposes of federal law and regulations. California employers will need to do the same for purposes of state law. On June 26, […]

College Graduate? Now Start Learning

Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered his advice to his son in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter: My first thought was that I had the order of those two things reversed—that I should be providing him advice on life first and career second. The most precious things in life aren’t “things” at all—they’re people. […]

Top 10: Compensation & Benefits Daily Advisor Review

10 Phrases Successful Managers Never Use Whether you’re making a formal request, pitching an applicant, or proposing an idea, there are ten phrases that can ruin your pitch, says author Darlene Price. Editor’s Choice: How To Handle Employee Pay During Winter Weather Closures: INFOGRAPHIC For this edition of the Compensation Daily Advisor, we present you […]

Are You ‘Cost of Sales’ or ‘Cost of Labor’?

DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force Effectiveness, at Sibson Consulting, clarified the difference between the two approaches during a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. “Cost of Sales” or “Cost of Labor” Philosophy? Approach Concept Example Market Cost of Sales Payouts are based on a percentage of volume or $ per […]

Feds Push to Publicize Exchanges in Wake of Unpreparedness Charges

More than a month after Max Baucus, D-Mont., an early proponent of health reform, said the implementation of state-based health insurance marketplaces was going so poorly that a “train wreck” would ensue, the Obama administration is now launching a public relations effort aimed at teaching consumers how to buy marketplace coverage. Marketplaces are supposed to […]

Small Retirement Plans Lead Adoption of In-plan Lifetime Income Guarantees

If your plan has been considering adding “in-plan guarantees” to the menu of retirement savings options you offer, new research finds an appetite for them among U.S. defined contribution plan participants. Although the actual market for these instruments in the United States is still limited, the guarantees, which give employees an opportunity while still working […]

How to Sell Engagement to Top Management

What Is Employee Engagement? “A heightened emotional and intellectual connection that an employee has for his/her job, organization, manager, or coworkers that, in turn, influences him/her to apply additional discretionary effort to his/her work.” —The Conference Board Branham, who is founder and principal of Keeping the People, Inc., offered his expertise at WorldatWork’s 2013 Total […]

RFPs More Popular for Selecting Plan Advisers; Eastern Plans Slower to Adopt

Requests for proposals are overtaking more informal referrals and industry networking as the most common way for retirement plan sponsors to select their advisers. But this increasing popularity is not universal — some plans on the East Coast still have not fully embraced RFPs, a new survey found. And cost wasn’t the main driver for […]

The 6 Universal Drivers of Engagement

Branham, who is founder and principal of Keeping the People, Inc., offered his expertise at WorldatWork’s 2013 Total Rewards Conference and Exhibition held recently in Philadelphia. Driver #1: Caring and Committed Senior Leaders Branham points to the following differences between low-scoring and high-scoring employers on engagement: Low-Scoring Employers: High-Scoring Employers: Isolated and self-interested management Servant […]