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.

Set Boundaries to Make PTO Work

Marques, an associate in the New York office of Holland & Knight LLP, offered her PTO tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. Make sure that all parts of the company are on the same page. Payroll, posted policies, and employment handbooks should all agree, says Marques. Make sure the payroll […]

PTO Policy OK? 11 Questions You Need to Answer

Unfortunately, to complicate matters, many state laws (and some city laws) cover sick time and/or vacation time, so proceed with caution, says Marques, an associate in the New York office of Holland & Knight LLP. She offered her tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. PTO Policy Decisions Are Important Policy […]

Diverse Product Mix? Flat Growth? Here Are Effective Incentives

Cichelli, senior vice president at the Alexander Group, offered his tips at WorldatWork’s Total Rewards 2013 Conference and Exhibition. Diverse Product Mix Here are the diverse product mix conditions that suggest the approaches below: Many product divisions, one sales force Balanced outcomes required Varying incentive value due to varying volumes Degree of sales difficulty differs […]

32 (Inexpensive) Steps You Can Take to Improve Engagement and Retention

Yesterday’s Advisor alerted readers to the coming “Turnover Armageddon.” Today, nearly 3 dozen ideas of things you can do now—beyond offering more money—to retain your best workers, plus an introduction to the new total training system for supervisors and managers, TrainingToday. Most experts believe that engagement is not all about money. There are actions you […]

Reform Proposal Explains Monitoring of Exchanges and Refines Employer Plan Provisions

How health insurance exchange money is spent, which private insurance products may be offered on exchanges, who advises exchange consumers on plan choices and how well exchanges handle personal data will be under federal scrutiny, as explained in proposed program integrity rules issued by CMS on June 17. The rules also propose tweaks to existing regulatory language […]

3 Levels of Sales Jobs—3 Levels of Incentives

Cichelli, senior vice president at the Alexander Group, offered his tips at WorldatWork’s Total Rewards 2013 Conference and Exhibition. Here’s how he describes the three types of sales jobs: Job Level→ Factor↓ Territory Rep Account Manager Key Account Manager Customers Many/Existing and Potential Several (20–30)/ Existing Few (3–4) /Existing Orders Many/Small Average/Average Few/Large Sales Cycle […]

Is ‘Turnover Armageddon’ Heading Your Way?

If the economy continues to improve, employers may be headed to what the most pessimistic call “Turnover Armageddon.” What can you do to prepare? If your organization is like most, workers have been patient about compensation for several years of low or no raises. They understood that their organizations were squeezed by economic pressures, and […]

Performance Management Survey Results in; How Do You Compare?

Some other highlights of the 2013 Performance Management Survey: Employee self-evaluation is part of the process for 58% of respondents and peer evaluation is a best practice for 11%. 22% believe that the employees in their organization are pleased with their individual pay-for-performance program. 13% impose financial penalties on managers and supervisors who do not […]

Skinny Plans: Adhering to the Letter (But Not the Sprit) of Health Reform

An increasing number of employers are examining providing a low-benefits health plan that covers only preventive health services but not high-price major medical claims. Offering this type of low cost or “skinny” plan is allowed under the health reform law. The question is: Will skinny plans trigger a large-employer exodus to de minimis coverage, and if so, […]

Employers Can Write PCORI Fees Off Their Federal Taxes

Health reform fees that health insurers and self-funded plans must pay in order to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute are “ordinary and necessary business expenses,” and therefore qualify as deductible from federal taxes, a recent IRS memo states. Insurers and health plans will pay the $1 (soon to become $2) per covered life fee […]