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.

Succession Planning 2012—All About the Brain Drain

We can’t avoid a simple fact—We’re dealing with an aging workforce. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over one-third of the civilian employees working for the federal government are eligible for retirement. The same situation exists, but to a somewhat lesser degree, in the workforce as a whole. Companies can’t duck the […]

IRS Opens Safe Harbors to Reform’s Play-or-Pay Rules

Employers may use look-back periods of up to 12 months, rather than a shorter period as initially established — to average out how many hours an employee works per week, which is a necessity when calculating an employer’s obligation under reform’s play-or-pay provisions. IRS Notice 2012-58 may help some employers escape erroneous shared-responsibility payments under health […]

5 Compensation Cost-Savers

Here’s a chart that will help with evaluating compa-ratios, says Carroll, who is Director of Professional Services & Education at PayScale, Inc. Internal Compensation Review: Compa-Ratios Job Title Grade Base Min Mid Max Compa -ratio Base> max? Team Leader-Administration 7 95,000 54,136 64,579 76,109 1.471 YES Team Leader-Operations 7 91,000 54,136 64,579 76,109 1.409 YES […]

Use Simple Charts to Pinpoint Your Compensation Problems

Check compa-ratios, check external equity, see who’s over the maximum—it’s not rocket science, but it’s necessary, says Carroll, who is Director of Professional Services & Education at PayScale, Inc. Quick Review: The Numbers that Matter Analysis begins with an assessment of internal compensation rates to identify any aberrations (via the compa-ratio) and external equity (via […]

Top 7 Compensation Daily Advisor Articles 2012: Wage & Hour Edition

Unauthorized Overtime–Must Be Paid Even if Forbidden Many employers have written policies prohibiting unauthorized overtime. Such policies are fine—but you still have to pay employees for all hours they work, even if they have repeatedly violated your policy by working the extra hours. Unannounced WHD Inspector on the Way to Your Office? If you’ve got […]

9 Superstar Qualities of ‘A’ Salespeople (and What to Pay)

Anderson, who offered five dangerous weaknesses of sales people in yesterday’s Advisor, is president of the Selling Skills Institute and developer of the proprietary Shift Thinking Selling Methodology. He asks, How many of those weaknesses are represented on your sales team? Look Only for ‘A’ Players “A” players are not a commodity, says Anderson; you’re […]

Court Staves Off Challenge to Reform’s Contraception Mandate

A Christian liberal arts college lost a bid to secure a court ruling that would both characterize the health reform’s contraceptive mandate as improper and enjoin the government from enforcing it. It’s one of 26 challenges to the mandate that health plans cover contraceptives without patient cost-sharing. On Aug. 24, the U.S. District Court for […]

Money Market Reform Proposal Put on Hold; FSOC Might Revive It

SEC efforts to tighten rules on the $2.56 trillion money market fund industry are on indefinite hold. Trade organizations representing the retirement plan and asset management industries wrote a joint letter to SEC Aug. 21 criticizing money market reforms on which the commission was slated to vote Aug. 29. The letter urged SEC not to […]

How to Spot People Who Can’t Sell

Here are five classic sales weaknesses to be on the lookout for, says Anderson, who is president of the Selling Skills Institute, and developer of the proprietary Shift Thinking Selling Methodology. Weakness #1—Unsupportive Buying Habits People tend to have buy cycles, and those of your candidates are an important indicator. People with short buy cycles […]

High-profile Supporters to Push SEC for Higher Fiduciary Standards in Sept. 11 Meeting

Twelve well-known U.S. financial services industry figures will meet Sept. 11 with the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission to discuss their “Fiduciary Declaration,” which will urge Congress and the agency to heighten protection for those receiving investment advice. The declaration, to be signed by Paul Volcker, John C. “Jack” Bogle, Sheila Bair and […]