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.

Wage and Hour Simple? The 10 Sins

Sin #1. Failure to pay the minimum wage We’ll pay you $5 an hour until you learn the ropes; then you move up to $7 an hour. Virtually all employees are entitled to receive at least the minimum wage (the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour; many states have higher minimum wages) for all […]

6 Reasons to Conduct an Employee Engagement Survey

Benowitz, who is the vice president of Growth and Development at The Employee Engagement Group, offered his expert tips on engagement surveys in a recent webcast offered by BLR. Six Reasons to Conduct an Employee Engagement Survey Demonstrate your concern about employee issues. Find out what’s stressing your workforce (gives you an opportunity to act). […]

Stop Measuring Satisfaction—Start Focusing on Engagement

Benowitz, who is the vice president of Growth and Development at The Employee Engagement Group, offered his expert tips on engagement surveys in a recent webcast offered by BLR. Engagement is about mutual commitment, says Benowitz. Companies help employees reach their potential and employees help their companies perform better. This combination results in engagement—“the capture […]

Perks—Do Yours Measure Up? Who’s Offering What?

Help us find out! Please participate in our brief survey and see how what you are doing stacks up against what other successful companies are doing. Who’s offering what perks out in the real world? Wellness Life, Accident, Pet Insurance? Flex, Child care, Telecommuting? Financial Planning, Legal Assistance, EAP? Tuition Reimbursement? What else? Participate in […]

Ruling on Reformation Opens More Adjustments of Plan Terms

A federal appeals court agreed with a retirement plan plaintiff that he did not have to show “actual harm” to seek a retirement plan reformation after alleged inadequate communication about a change in his former employer’s defined benefit plan. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Geoffrey Osberg and other plaintiffs in Osberg […]

Time and Attendance Automation=Efficiency + Engagement

What can be gained with technology and integration? In a word, efficiency and productivity, says Mansfield. An employee asks for a day off. The request is logged, and the manager is alerted and reviews the request. If approved, the information gets onto the schedule and to payroll. If necessary, qualified substitutes are found. Time Management […]

SIIA Chief Testifies on Pro-reform Threats to Self-funding

On Feb. 26, SIIA’s CEO and president Mike Ferguson testified before a House panel to make it clear that skirting the ACA is not the reason companies and institutions self-insure, contrary to what pro-reform elements in the federal government may believe. The decision whether to self-fund is based on risk tolerance, understanding of legal liability, […]

Automation—Best of Breed Out, Integration In

Best of Breed Out Most companies started out their transition to HR automation by going “best of breed”; that is, finding the best time tracking system, the best payroll system, and so on, but now that’s not the way to go, says Lombardi. Now employers want integration of all these processes plus integration with business […]

‘Thinking About Retirement?’—Danger or Diligence?

Can You Ask About Retirement Plans? Can you ask older employees about their retirement plans? Yes, if you are careful, says BLR® Senior Legal Editor Joan Farrell. But push too hard and it starts to look like age discrimination. If an employer has a legitimate reason, like workforce planning or succession planning, it’s not a […]

‘Thinking About Retirement?’—Danger or Diligence?

Can You Ask About Retirement Plans? Can you ask older employees about their retirement plans? Yes, if you are careful, says BLR® Senior Legal Editor Joan Farrell. But push too hard and it starts to look like age discrimination. If an employer has a legitimate reason, like workforce planning or succession planning, it’s not a […]