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.

401(k) Plans’ Cost-effectiveness Becomes Clearer as Use Increases

Employers may find this new information useful for planning or justifying their retirement plan expenses: Contrary to the popular belief that defined benefit retirement plans are more costly for employers to administer, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that private-industry employers now spend more per employee hour worked for defined contribution plans. […]

The Truck Loaders’ Tale—Metrics and Management

We’ve shared Ahlrichs’ truck loader story before but it’s worth repeating as it clearly illustrates what can happen when different parts of the team are using different metrics. Ahlrich, who is owner of ExpertSpeaks, and a consultant and business developer for Gregory & Appel. offered his tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR and […]

Dramatic Improvement in Turnover

And going one step further—if we can do a good job of managing turnover among top producers, we’ll improve other key metrics like retention of customers, says Ahlrich, who is owner of ExpertSpeaks, and a consultant and business developer for Gregory & Appel. He offered his tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR and […]

Wage/Hour Litigation Bringing Down the Bottom Line?

[Go here for yesterday’s survey results] What is the amount of annual litigation expense (by company size) in the US? The trend of increased litigation expenditure has resumed. Last year marked the first drop in the percentage of companies spending $1000000 or more on litigation since 2007. This year, the increase resumed with just over […]

New IRS Rule Consolidates and Clarifies Guidance on Employer Play-or-pay Mandate

Employers trying to comply with health reform’s play-or-play mandate — and calculate their exposure to penalties — now have more insight based upon a new notice of proposed rulemaking and a new set of questions and answers from the IRS. Under reform, employers have to calculate full-time equivalent employees for one or more of the […]

2013: Are You an Eeyore or a Tigger? (Attitude Counts)

Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered his thoughts on attitude (and Eeyore and Tigger) in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. The chorus of Tritt’s song, which he recorded more than a decade ago, goes like this: And it’s a great day to be alive I know the sun’s still shinin’ when I close my […]

Counter Offer Concerns—For Both Employee vs. Employer

The Employer’s Concerns There are a number of concerns that management has when contemplating counteroffers: The offer as a precedent. What will be the effect on corporate compensation and benefits and perks programs. Will the counteroffer throw all those programs into disarray? Lack of privacy—transparency. Privacy is generally not an option—the work will get out. […]

Counter Offers–Effective or Comp Structure Killers?

It’s important to recognize that if you’re considering a counteroffer, it means that you missed the opportunity early on and head off Bob’s resignation. And it’s an indication you didn’t know this employee as well as you should have, says Csizmar, founder and principal of CMC Compensation Group. Other Players Are Watching One thing’s for […]

Ameriprise Suit Alleging 401(k) Fund Selection Favoritism Allowed to Advance

A recent U.S. district court decision is the latest ruling over plan fees and may give a legal foothold to participants seeking restitution for investment decisions they deem imprudent. Judge Susan Richard Nelson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ruled against Ameriprise Financial Inc. in a case concerning allegations that the […]