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.

Benefit Savings Available—Hold PBMs to a Higher Standard

Haas and his colleagues sought a way to get drug costs down for clients. They peered beneath the surface and didn’t like what they found. From Purely Transactional to Cost Management Pharmacy Benefits Management programs (PBMs) started out in a purely administrative role, Haas says, helping to process retail pharmacy transactions and manage prices of […]

Real-World Flex—DOL’s Report from the Field

You may access the website here: http://www.dol.gov/odep/workplaceflexibility/ How Does Your Organization Rate? Where does your organization sit on the “flex spectrum”? This Corporate Voices for Working Families graphic helps you see where you stand: The Flexibility Spectrum No Current Use of Flexibility No flexible work options currently being used ↓ Individual Accommodations Special arrangements or […]

Feds Loosen Contraceptive Coverage Rules in Response to Religious Objections

To further accommodate religious organizations outraged over a health care reform requirement mandating the coverage of contraceptive care, three federal agencies — Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services — jointly issued final regulations Feb. 1 that would exempt more group health plans and policies established or maintained by certain religious organizations from the requirement, […]

COBRA Penalties Not Needed When QB Got ‘Free’ Coverage, 8th Circuit Affirms

An employer/plan administrator that tried to make good on a COBRA administrative error got more reinforcement that its efforts greatly minimized its legal liability. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the fact that the aggrieved qualified beneficiary received two years of free health coverage effectively cancelled out any need to impose penalties for […]

Market Pricing—Comp Key in 2013

Daniels, Senior Consultant at Keating Advisors, LLC, offered her suggestions at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR and HR Hero. Getting Market Pricing Right Market Pricing is the process of analyzing external salary survey data to establish the worth of jobs as represented by market data, based upon the “scope” of the organization (geography, industry, […]

Stay Market Competitive, Retain Top Talent in 2013

Daniels, Senior Consultant at Keating Advisors, LLC, offered her suggestions at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR and HR Hero. How to Conduct a Base Pay Structure Review Daniels says a well-designed and effective base pay system should be: Supported by an agreed-upon organizational compensation philosophy Supported by clear compensation administration policies Driven by up-to-date […]

Use Wellness Training to Help Employees Keep Their Health Resolutions

This information is applicable for all employees and comes from one of BLR’s popular HR Training Presentations in PowerPoint on “Healthy Aging.” Discussion Points Use these discussion points for each question as you talk about each aspect of healthy aging with your employees. 1. Nutrition strategies to help ensure healthy aging include: Eating foods from […]

Better a Tigger than an Eeyore? Readers Not Sure

In the original article, Oswald, CEO of BLR and writer of the The Oswald Letter quoted Thomas Jefferson: “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” Specking about attitude, Oswald continued, “Who wants to follow an Eeyore […]

Are You Resolved to Give Wellness Training in 2013?

This exercise is applicable for all employees and comes from one of BLR’s popular HR Training Presentations in PowerPoint® sessions on “Healthy Aging.” The objective of the exercise is to find out how well trainees are meeting the requirements of healthy aging. Instructions: Have trainees complete the worksheet below. (Let them know that this is […]

Court OKs $1.3M Settlement in COBRA/ARRA Class Action

Although it admitted no wrongdoing, an employer and plan administrator agreed to pay a $1.3 million settlement to a group of former employees who alleged they never received COBRA election or premium subsidy information after their involuntary termination of employment in 2010. In addition to COBRA and premium subsidy notice claims, they also sued the […]