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.

FMLA

Q&A: Determining Whether Elective Surgeries Are Covered Under FMLA

Q: An employee is having an elective surgery that won’t require an overnight hospital stay, but she will be off work for two weeks to recover and will possibly have some restrictions afterward. Will her surgery and time off be covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? A: Under the FMLA, an eligible […]

money balance

7th Circuit Sends Sex-Based Salary Comments Back to the 1950s

As any high schooler with a smartphone will tell you, your words can haunt you long after you utter them. One high school recently learned the same is true for its employees, thanks to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Read on to see why the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose decisions apply […]

employee benefits

3 Reasons Why Small and Midsize Businesses Are Investing in Care Benefits

What will the post-pandemic future of work look like for small and midsize businesses (SMBs)?  As companies design their return-to-work policies, SMBs are facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink their employee benefits strategies. After all, employee benefits play a critical role in how companies of all sizes attract and retain top talent. While SMBs might […]

student loan

Contributions Now Tax-Free, Student Loan Debt Repayment Programs Gain Traction

A growing number of organizations are adding student loan repayment solutions to their benefits lineup. While expanded tax benefits for both employers and employees are a big part of the allure, HR leaders also understand the broader implications. The tax advantages are one thing. But instituting these programs can also help correct the productivity drain […]

benefits

Recruiting with a Well-Balanced Benefit Offering

When job candidates consider which position is best for them, benefits can be the factor that tips them from one company to another. As an indirect form of compensation, benefits fuel their quality of life. The responsibility of any good company is to provide fair, competitive, and livable benefit options. Therefore, it’s crucial that companies […]

Vaccine PTO Credit

As the vaccine rollout continues across the United States, employers are figuring out their employees’ needs. Some employers have opted to offer incentives for employees to get vaccinated, noting that having a vaccinated workforce can help reduce risks of COVID spread and absences as a result. Others have taken a hands-off approach and are allowing […]

Employee Benefit Considerations From ARPA: All Things COBRA

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) became law in March. The $1.9 trillion stimulus package contains a mix of benefits, tax credits, programs, and subsidies in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Among the ARPA’s provisions are several related to COBRA. Let’s take a closer look.

Legal Protections for Domestic Violence Survivors

What legal protections exist at the federal level for the survivors of domestic violence? The answer: surprisingly few. The reason this is surprising is because domestic violence has a direct impact on the workplace. People dealing with domestic violence are likely to need to take time away from work for things like medical treatment, obtaining […]

equity

DEI and Employee Benefits

A new survey from Willis Towers Watson points to some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) impacts that can be driven by something many organizations may not have considered: their benefit packages. The Emerging Trends in Health Care Survey, which is based on input from 446 employers and was conducted between February 23 and March 12 […]

Time

Tips for Correctly Paying People Who Work from Home

It’s hard to believe many of us have been working from home because of the COVID-19 outbreak for more than a year. In addition, many teleworkers have been operating on flexible schedules. The consistent question for employers is: How do we pay nonexempt employees working flexible schedules from home? Here is the answer (at least […]