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.

IRS Has Some Answers for Small Business Considering SHOP Subsidies

These questions and answers on the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit are adapted from the IRS web site for companies considering getting federal subsidies to help pay premiums for their workers to get health insurance.  The subsidies are authorized by health reform law. Q: Which companies qualify for a federal health care tax credit? A: […]

Here Comes EEOC 2013—Charges, Investigations, and Claims

Review of Charge Activity, Backlog, and Benefits Provided On November 19, 2012, the EEOC announced the publication of the FY 2012 Performance and Accountability Report. During FY 2012, the Commission again received nearly 100,000 charges, with the past 3 years involving a record number of charges in the Commission’s 47-year history. Since FY 2006, there […]

Is a 3% Merit Increase the ‘New Normal’?

Most companies are looking at around 3 percent for their merit budgets, says consultant Terry Pasteris, but they’re wishing they had 5 percent. In today’s Advisor, how she makes that (appear) to happen, plus an introduction to the all-comp-in-one-place website, Compensation.BLR.com. Salary Increase Budget Surveys Most employers are working with 3 percent for merit, as […]

More Pension Sponsors Considering Lump-sum Payouts

As defined benefit plan sponsors look harder for ways to cut expenses and lower exposure to market forces that challenge keeping their pension obligations funded, an obvious cost to evaluate is their commitment to lifetime retirement benefits for participants. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. employers with DB plans told Aon Hewitt in its recent 2013 […]

Small Employers May See Fewer Choices on SHOP in 2014, HHS Says

A health reform requirement that all insurers offer four levels of health coverage to small businesses would be delayed until 2015 under proposed rules scheduled to be published March 11 in the Federal Register. Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposal, small employers may get one choice of health coverage in 2014. […]

Littler’s EEOC Activity Report—No Relief for Employers

Why Pay Is an Easy-to-Litigate Issue Harassment (“He made me uncomfortable”) is vague and often tough to prove, and discrimination (“You didn’t hire me because I am a member of a protected class”) is also hard to prove. But with pay issues —it’s there in dollars and cents for the agency rep or a jury […]

Compensation 2013–Not Where We Wanted to Be

Unfortunately, there’s a place where we hoped to be in 2013, and that’s not where we are, but there are still strategies that will serve us well, says consultant Terry Pasteris. Where We’ve Been First of all, let’s look at where we’ve been, says Pasteris, who is president of TLMP Consulting Group. She offered her […]

Small Employers May See Fewer Choices on SHOP in 2014, HHS Says

A reform requirement that all insurers must offer four levels of health coverage to small businesses would be delayed until 2015 under proposed rules scheduled to be published March 11 in the Federal Register. Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposal, small employers may get one choice of health coverage in 2014. […]

People Are People, Not Human Resources

Oswald, CEO of BLR®, offered his thoughts on leadership and people in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. Elvis—only his first name is necessary—is still the second best-selling artist of all time (only behind The Beatles), and he’s been dead for more than 35 years! Somehow we elevate these people to godlike status, but […]

IRS Gives 403(b) Plans Audit Relief, Tips on Top 10 Errors

Now that the IRS has incorporated 403(b) plans into its Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, it is providing some plan sponsors with compliance relief, and is expanding upon some online tools it provides to help plan sponsors identify the steps they can take to help maintain their 403(b) plans. In January, the IRS issued Revenue […]