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Trump takes aim at ACA on first day in office

Following his inauguration on January 20, President Donald Trump signed his first round of Executive Orders, including one directing federal agencies to ease enforcement of some Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Trump told agencies to “waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of”ACA provisions that impose fees or other burdens on a range […]

Experts Explain Top 5 COBRA Implications of Reform’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage

One simple line requiring that group health plans and insurers describe “continuation of coverage provisions” in summaries of benefits and coverage (SBCs) actually raises several complex issues for COBRA administrators. The health care reform law requires that group health plans and insurers accurately describe in SBCs the benefits and coverage under the applicable plan or […]

Reap the Benefits of an Employee Benefits Survey

Unless you know what other companies like yours pay in benefits, you truly don’t know what to pay. Research like BLR’ s 2007 Survey of Employee Benefits will tell you. A recent Daily Advisor noted the cost of paid time off to business had risen to equal that of healthcare, and that each of these […]

Making time for what matters

The other night, I got a thoughtful, heartfelt message from a colleague reminding me and others to take time to tell our loved ones exactly how we feel about them. You see, days earlier, his mother had suffered a stroke, and he had spent the time since at her bedside. His message was that we […]

Employee Benefits: U.S. Supreme Court Says Individuals Can Recover Damages for Mishandling of Retirement Accounts; Self-Protection Options for Employers

In an important new development, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that when fiduciary misconduct diminishes the value of an individual account in a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), the harmed employee can sue for damages. In the past, courts have taken the contrary position that the federal employee benefits law only […]

Reverse Mentoring and Other Joys of Managing Gens X and Y

Having explained generational baggage in yesterday’s Advisor, n-gen People Performance Inc. consultant Giselle Kovary moves on to tips for getting, keeping, and growing employees of different generations. You have to be able to tell a story that’s appealing to all four generations, says Kovary. Analyze your current approach:  What is your unique selling proposition?  What […]

Internet Giving Workers the Upper Hand in Salary Negotiations

Web-based providers of salary information, such as Compensation.BLR.com, allow job seekers or workers lobbying for a raise to tell you “what I’m worth” even before you make an offer. Here’s what to do to counter the trend. It used to be that, when buying a car, the dealers held all the cards. They alone knew […]

Workers’ Compensation: Employee Gets Six Years to File Comp Claim Because Employer Didn’t Provide Notice of Rights

Thomas Davenport worked for Michael Faeth Cleaners (MFC) under its contract with Camp Pendleton to dry-clean military clothing. He lived in a hotel on the base and MFC paid for his room and board. One day, while Davenport was cooking in his hotel room, a grease fire started and Davenport was burned on his arms, […]

Hard-Core Approach to Intermittent FMLA Gets Results

It takes a lot of time and effort to deal with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues, especially intermittent leave, says HR Manager Barbara Dahlen. Her pragmatic approach works, although she says she’s "not the most popular person" in her workplace. Dahlen says she’s "not a lawyer and doesn’t play one on TV." But […]