Tag: benefits

‘Strike Zone’ Payout Curve for Executive Incentives

Goal Setting Goal setting is the most important and challenging aspect of annual and long-term incentive design, says Harris, who is Managing Director at Frederic W. Cook & Co. Harris was joined by Ron Miller, Head of Global Rewards, Mobility, M&A, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, in a presentation at the WorldatWork Total […]

HHS Secretary Says Sorry Over Failed Launch of Health Care Reform Website

In apologizing for the failed launch of the healthcare.gov website, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius conceded to a House committee panel that accessing the site has been a “miserably frustrating experience for way too many Americans.” She expressed frustration regarding the flawed launch of the site, to be used to purchase affordable […]

Make Sure Your Handbook is NOT an Employment Contract

Your employee handbook can be interpreted as creating express or implied contracts, says Attorney Allan H. Weitzman; however, disclaimers and receipts can help prevent that from happening.   Employee Handbooks: Every Word Counts One important thing to remember when it comes to handbooks and whether they create contracts is that state law controls, so you […]

The Perfect Employee—And Cup of Coffee

Your dream has come true, HR professionals.  Your next “employee” may take no leave or vacation, need no benefits or discipline, do a perfect job every time—and make a perfect cup of coffee, too. Yes, new on-site “coffee kiosks” are manned, pardon the term, by robot baristas, reports NPR.  Hot and cold beverages are ordered […]

A Pension That Spans 3 Centuries!

When you are reviewing your retirement and dependent benefits or helping your employees who are veterans or on active duty or, you would never think that what you are doing could have ramifications centuries into the future—but they can! The Veterans Administration (VA) is still paying a pension to a dependent of a Civil War […]

Exec Comp 101—Philosophy, Base, Annual, LTI, Benefits

Harris, who is Managing Director at Frederic W. Cook & Co., was joined by Ron Miller, Head of Global Rewards, Mobility, M&A, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, in a presentation at the WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia. Elements of an Executive Compensation Program Element Importance Comment Compensation Strategy Medium Reflects […]

Some Self-funded Plans Could Escape Reform Reinsurance Fees

Self-funded plans that are also self-administered will be made exempt from paying reinsurance contributions under the health care reform law for the 2015 and 2016 benefit years, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services said in final program integrity rules. The promised relief will occur in future rulemaking, according to the preamble of the program […]

Retirement Plans with Auto-enrollment Found to Be Lowering Employer Matches

If your retirement plan committee is satisfied with the automatic enrollment policy in place but has expressed concerns about the rising cost of the employer match that a growing participant base can bring, new research may provide a window into how other employer plan sponsors are handling this dilemma.   Automatically enrolling employees in company retirement […]

Church Plans Sue HHS Over Contraceptive Mandate

The Southern Baptist Convention’s health and financial benefits entity has filed a putative class-action lawsuit against the health care reform law’s contraceptive mandate on behalf of church plans. The suit contends the religious liberty of the organizations covered by GuideStone Financial Resources (which arranges health coverage and retirement benefits for clergy and others) is violated […]

Performance Problem—Blame the Job Description?

Well-written and effectively developed job descriptions are communication tools that allow both employees and candidates to clearly understand the expectations of the role, its essential duties, competencies, and responsibilities, along with the required educational credentials and experience, says Kennedy. Kennedy is the principal consultant of MAKHR Consulting, LLC, and author of the career coaching book […]