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.

Which Occupations Have the Widest Gender Pay Gaps?

Yesterday’s Advisor featured questions and answers from a recent OFCCP-sponsored chat. Today, more answers from the agencies plus an introduction to a highly practical collection of prewritten, ready-to-use HR policies. Pat Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), was joined for the chat by Latifa Lyles, acting director of the Women’s […]

Most 401(k) Plan Participants Will Invest in TDFs by 2017, Vanguard Says

Target-date funds’ popularity over the last 10 years has soared, among both plan sponsors and participants, so odds are your plan offers these as an investment option. Their wide acceptance after being designated an eligible qualified default investment alternative for automatically enrolled new participants seems likely to guarantee their ultimate presence in most plans. A […]

OFCCP Pay Equality Chat–Teach Workers How to Negotiate for Fair Pay

Rob from the poor and give to the rich, says consultant Joseph DiMisa. That’s how to use limited Pat Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), opened the recent Equal Pay Chat by saying that “… we can and must do more—from updating our regulations and collecting better data to working […]

EBSA’s Lifetime Income Illustration: Some Question DOL Formula

The day after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration issued a proposal outlining rules it is considering for lifetime income illustrations in pension benefit statements, retirement industry professionals applauded DOL’s effort but expressed concern about how realistic the proposal’s formulas are. In the recently released advance notice of proposed rulemaking, EBSA is […]

Demonstrating ROI of Sales: 3 Practical Approaches

Yesterday’s Advisor covered consultant Joseph DiMisa’s take on comp design challenges for 2013. Today, how to sell comp by using concrete return-on-investment (ROI) measures, plus an introduction to the comprehensive comp website, Compensation.BLR.com®. DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force Effectiveness, at Sibson Consulting, outlined eight design challenges during a recent webinar sponsored by […]

Use the Reverse Robin Hood Technique for Top Performers

Rob from the poor and give to the rich, says consultant Joseph DiMisa. That’s how to use limited compensation dollars to give real rewards to top performers. bigger rewards to your top performers, says DiMisa. Rewarding performance is the first of his incentive design challenges for 2013. DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force […]

Decision Adds Weight to Presumption of Prudence for Retirement Plan Sponsors

A recent appeals court ruling may increase plan sponsors’ confidence about including and holding company stock in their retirement plans — especially those in the financial services industry. In White v. Marshall & Ilsley No. 11-2660, (7th Cir., April 19, 2013), the presumption-of-prudence defense again was upheld when retirement-plan participant plaintiffs appealed a 2011 district-court ruling, […]

EEOC Urged to Align Wellness Standards With HIPAA/ACA Rules

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s failure thus far to issue clear guidance on permissible wellness incentives threatens to undermine employers’ development of wellness programs at a time when their importance is growing, business groups warned the EEOC at a May 8 hearing. “We urge you to recognize the comprehensive regulatory framework that already exists” […]

Training & Development Survey Results–How Do You Compare?

Top compliance training topics for employees are new hire orientation (79%), sexual harassment (75%), and discrimination (69%). For professional development training for employees, job-related skills leads the list (73%), followed by communication (66%), customer service skills (59%), team building (49%), computer skills (46%), and time management (36%). The survey also covered: HR’s Role in Training […]

DOL Seeking Comments on Lifetime Income Proposal for Retirement Plans

Regulatory guidance is closer to fruition that may help 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors better educate plan participants on lifetime income options, and may allay their concerns about the expense and legal risk of doing so. On May 8, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking […]