Tag: benefits

Adviser Identifies Ways Plan Sponsors Can Manage Fiduciary Risk

Although defined benefit pension plan sponsors have engaged investment managers for years, it’s only recently that defined contribution plan sponsors have begun exploring this option to limit liability risk for their fiduciary role. “Because employers want to avoid litigation, which could result in personal liability for investment committee members, many plan sponsors are seeking ways […]

CMS: Subsidy-seekers’ Income Will Be Verified

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services responded to doubts over whether health insurance exchanges (now formally referred to as “marketplaces”) would verify incomes consumers applying for health-insurance subsidies, which come in the form of: (1) advances on tax credits for premiums; and (2) reduced cost-sharing. Marketplaces will always use data from tax filings and […]

Do Your Employees Go to Dr. Summeroff?

The line got a huge laugh from the audience, but it was a rueful laugh—it seemed that every HR manager in the audience had an employee who was a patient of Dr. Summeroff. I thought it was a great lesson in real-world HR—not compliance, not policy, but dealing with Dr. Summeroff. Compensation.BLR.com, now thoroughly reved […]

Retirement Plans Advised Not to Push Loan Access

Defined contribution plan participants who take out plan loans are more likely saving at a lower contribution rate than most, and are not likely to repay the loan when they leave their employer. This according to a new report based on research from New York Life Retirement Plan Services’ DC data. With those factors in […]

When You Should NOT Negotiate and Other Expert Tips

McCabe, who is professor of management at the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, offered his negotiating tips at the BLR® HR Strategic Summit, held recently in Scottsdale, Arizona. When NOT to Negotiate When you have not done your research or are ill-prepared When there is a locus-of-authority issue—that is, when the other party sitting […]

DOL Lets Retirement Plan Sponsors Reset Timing for Participant Fee Disclosure Charts

The U.S. Department of Labor on July 22 announced temporary relief for retirement plan administrators from some participant fee disclosure deadlines approaching in August. In Field Assistance Bulletin 2013-02, DOL said it would allow a one-time “reset” of the requirement that administrators “at least annually” provide to participants detailed comparative charts of plan investment options. […]

GOP Emphasizes Job-hindering Aspects of Health Reform Mandates; Feds Clarify Employer Guidance

In spite of its one-year suspension of the employer mandate under health care reform, the government added implementation and compliance materials for employers to government websites. Meanwhile Republican legislators attacked not only reform’s revenue and penalty collection functions, but also its definition of full-time employees as 30 hours per week, saying it must become 40 hours a […]

8 Steps to Stopping Intermittent/Reduced Leave Abuse

Alexis, who offered his intermittent leave tips during BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently in Las Vegas, is with the Kinaga Law Firm in Los Angeles. 1. Insist on Complete Certs Make sure the medical certification is fully completed, urges Alexis. As the employer, you are entitled to a complete and sufficient certification document. […]

The 4 Ways to Challenge FMLA Certs

Alexis, who offered his intermittent leave tips during the recent Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Las Vegas, is with the Kinaga Law Firm in Los Angeles. The certification process is set up to allow you to get the facts that establish the medical necessity or qualifying exigency that qualify employees for leave. If you doubt […]