Big Business Launches healthcare lobby group
With healthcare reform shaping up to be a major issue in the 2008 presidential race, employers want to make sure they had a seat at the table of legislative efforts.
Your job perk is to help the planet
UK's Guardian reports that going green is just one of the benefits that are now on offer.
Workers Gripe About High Fees, Limited Choice at Some 401(k)s
As workers are being forced to fund their own retirement, many are up in arms about workplace savings plans that are expensive and narrowly focused.
No Cure for Healthcare Costs?
Healthcare is often the most expensive employee benefit and it only makes sense that trying to control its cost is a practical business tool.
More Employers Provide Illness-Management Help
A growing number of employers are offering disease-management programs to chronically or seriously ill workers to decrease health-care costs.
Thinking ahead on retirement plans
BaltimoreSun.com reports that employees are looking at the reality of their retirement goals five to 10 years in advance.
Employee Health Promotion: Who Benefits?
The public is re-examining company health and wellness programs as a solution to the growing problem of an obese workforce.
Entrepreneur prospers, even with top benefits package
The Corridor Group exemplifies small-business owners who are determined to prosper while offering best-in-class benefits packages, despite spiraling costs.
Ideal workplace
Malaysia's Star argues that a happy and productive staff are essential to a conducive work environment.
Employee compensation averages $27.82 per hour
This Reliable Plant article provides the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor on compensation and health benefits in private industry.
Same-sex benefits changing
The Detroit Free Press reports that universities in Michigan are looking for ways to adhere to a new state law that pertains to same-sex benefits.
Companies helping employees fund their futures
"Everything Michigan" website mlive.com reports that while the company pension plan is a vanishing species, other types of retirement plans remain valued benefits.
Companies Grab the Reigns Of Their Employees' 401(k)s
Recent regulatory changes and a growing awareness that many Americans aren't saving enough for retirement are prompting more employers to call the shots.
With inadequate savings, too many of us live in retirement fantasyland
A newspaper columnist says the three-fourths of Americans who believe they'll be fine in retirement even though they've saved very little or nothing need to wake up.
States' Health Plans May Aid Small Firms
As states look to shrink the ranks of those without health insurance, the test for one approach gaining favor with policy makers is likely to be its impact on small business.
The Future of Health Care in the United States
insurance newsnet reprints Thomas Elwood's managed care article from the Journal of Allied Health.
Alternative HR Benefits: Housing, Free Preventive Medications Lead the Way
As companies compete for talent, housing assistance and free medications head a list of alternatives to traditional benefits.
Labor Dept. scores win for 401(k) plan
A Maitland, Fla.-based civil engineering firm and Gregory S. Mundy, fiduciary of the firm's 401(k) profit sharing plan, must to restore more than $102,000 to the plan.
Americans Spend Less Time Reviewing Employee Benefits Than Managing Their Taxes and Preparing for the Holidays
A study by The Guardian Life Insurance finds that inadequate preparation contributes to consumer over-confidence and widespread confusion about workplace coverage.
Some Employers Are Offering Free Drugs
Convinced that their pennywise approach does not always reduce long-term costs, some are now giving away drugs to help workers manage chronic conditions.
Leveling The Bargaining Table
The chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee argues that companies routinely deny workers the ability to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits.
Health care costs to see sharp rise
A relatively stable few years of single-digit increases in health insurance premiums may be nearing an end for some employers.
Inside the Minds of Your Employees
Employers and employees have widely divergent views on the appeal of a whole range of benefits, and the differences are wider now than they have been in years.
Bush's health insurance plan could hurt UAW
His proposal for making basic health insurance available to more people could face tough opposition as it seeks to tax workers who have so-called generous benefits.
Calculus of workplace benefits shifts
Few businesses are actually replacing employer-paid benefits with so-called voluntary benefits, including life-insurance policies and medical and dental coverage.
California Plan for Health Care Would Cover All
The New York Times reports on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "sweeping" plan to provide the state's 36 million residents with health care coverage.
Vacation not an automatic benefit
A recent State Attorney General's opinion takes the position that an employee is not necessarily entitled to unused vacation pay when he or she terminates employment.
So you think your 401(k) money is safe
No federally backed insurance plan exists for 401(k)s, even though they are rapidly replacing pensions as the financial backbone of retirement for most Americans.
More vacation time comes at a price
Xerox Corp. recently offered its employees a deal where they could buy an extra week's vacation in 2007 by having a week's pay deducted during the year.
Workers' suit highlights secrecy over 401(k) fees
Employees at 10 of the nation's largest companies recently shook the 401(k) world by suing their employers over their plans' fees.
Businesses Urged to Use Purchasing Power to Help Control Medical Costs
HHS says employers must work to create a health care marketplace that's sensitive to price and quality, or rising costs will imperil American business.
Workers Get a Double Jolt on Pension Benefits
Some teachers and other government employees find themselves penalized by two provisions of Social Security.
Visions of the golden years dim as pension promises fade
Since last year, dozens of corporations either froze pension benefits for current workers, eliminated pension plans for new ones or both.
US companies offer more practical benefits: survey
Companies that recently enhanced employee benefits tended to offer improved health care, more vacation days and flexible work hours, according to a new survey.
Pension Bill Will Bring Big Changes to 401(k)s
The 401(k) retirement plan, one of the most important savings tools available to Americans, is about to get a makeover.
Employers Expand Elder-Care Benefits
As more Americans care for elderly relatives, companies are increasingly helping employees by adding workplace benefits similar to those that have been offered for child dependents.
How to Make the Most Of Your Benefits Package
An article in The Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal offers suggestions on how to make the right choices when it comes to employee benefits.
U.S.-Style Pay Packages Are All the Rage in Europe
For decades, Europeans were far more restrained than Americans when it came to rewarding the boss. Now, executives overseas are less inhibited about asking for American-style compensation.
Financial Impact of Paid Family and Medical Leave
A Newswise article discusses the impact of a proposed family and medical leave insurance program for Massachusetts that would cost the state $120 per worker, according to one study.
Rising Health Care Premiums Lead To Lower Wages And More Part-Time Employment
A Medical News Today articles cites a forthcoming study that demonstrates that the rise in health insurance premiums may increase the ranks of the uninsured and the unemployed by as many as 7 million workers.
American Workers Unsupported by Their Employer as More Take Ownership of Retirement Funds
A PR Newswire article points to a recent Edward Jones study, which shows that 80 million American workers are not getting the necessary support in the workplace to fund their retirement.
Emergency notification a hot idea for employers
Offering information to help save employee's lives may be a tool for retention.
Mental illness exacts a high financial, human toll
The combination of mental illness and drug problems among workers cost companies billions annually. Learn how mental health benefits help your bottom line.
Better Medicine May Mean More Insurance Costs
How critical illness insurance may help reduce health care costs should the unthinkable happen.
Don't Like Your 401(k)? Speak Up
How to talk to your employer and change retirement plans.
It takes a village: Employers have key role in supporting employees with special-needs children
Key points for helping those with special needs.
Employer-based smoking cessation programs give smokers extra power to kick the habit
How to help smoking employees who want to quit.
Retiree health care may be next crisis
With many pension plans underfunded or in default, healthcare for retirees is increasingly worrisome.
New Year resolutions for the benefits professional
How benefits professionals can make understanding benefits easier for every employee.
Health costs will cause more strikes
Why strikes in major industries are inevitable and what you can do to avoid them.
Health-benefit cuts loom for retirees
Why benefits promised will be scarce.
End-of-Life Care: The Struggle to Provide Quality Care while Containing Costs
Benefit News examines the problems baby boomers may face with growing health care costs in the near future.
Guide helps firms improve mental health benefits
The National Business Group on Health released a new guide to help employers provide mental health benefits for employees, specifically to combat depression.
What Works: Eyes On The Prize
Why profit sharing makes growth everyone's goal.
More Companies Phase Out Pension Plans
Cost-controlling benefit cuts make guarenteed pensions scarce. What does the future of pension plans look like?
Transit Benefits Interest Accelerates as Gas Prices Climb
More and more companies are interested in assisting employees with their transportation costs in a world with unstable gas prices.
The
Disappearing Benefit
As employers grapple with ever-rising costs, global competition and the
legion of aging baby boomers, the future of retiree health coverage is cast
into doubt.
State
of the Sector: Health Care Benefits
According this Workforce Management article, more companies
are turning to high-deductible plans in an attempt to encourage employees
to think twice about making frivolous treatment decisions; however, some
say the strategy may end up increasing long-term costs.
Businesses
Say Their Employees Can't Reduce Health Costs on Their Own
According this Workforce Management report on a United
Benefit Advisors and Ingenix study, most employers aren't sure whether consumer-driven
health care will work.
Specialty
drugs to drive future health costs
According to Employee Benefit News, drugs requiring extraordinary
handling, such as refrigeration, and are usually injected either by a doctor,
nurse or patient who receives training are increasingly being prescribed
for mundane ailments, helping to drive the rise in health costs.
Workers
Lack Benefits Knowledge, Mistrust Drug Makers
According to this Employee Benefit News article, workers do not understand
their benefits packages and few spend the time to improve their knowledge.
Why
Pensions are Becoming Even Scarcer
More old-line industries may follow United Airline's move to default on
pension obligations.
States
Looking at Myriad Ways to Get Business to Cover the Uninsured
Bills are pending in 30 states that look to employers for solutions.
Survey:
Employers Can Cut Health/Medical Costs
According to a Mercer Human Resource Consulting survey, employers believe
they can save about 7 percent of their health care costs this year if they
make design changes, drop a plan or change plan health care insurance providers.
Is
Your 401 OK?
Plan administrators are gradually raising fees.
After
Years of Shifting Health Costs to Employees, Employers May Be Slowing Down
Employers seem less inclined to pass along health care cost increases to
employees, according to a new study.
Low
Morale, Other Issues Push Absences to Five-Year High
The rate of unscheduled absences has climbed to a five-year high, according
to CCH Inc., a provider of employment law information and software.
Health-Care
Plan Changes Continue
Health-care costs are projected to increase this year, but at lower levels
than in previous years, according to experts.
Jumping
Into HSAS: Financial Institutions Expect Flood of HSA Accounts Over the
Next Few Years
Banks, having tackled insurance sales, now are diving headlong into the
new frontier of health savings accounts.
Social
Security Reform Could Set 401(k) Participation Back
After years of working to get employees to participate in their 401(k) plans,
companies may face a challenge from an unlikely competitor: Social Security.
Employees
Eye Vision, Dental Coverage
Companies increasingly are finding that workers are concerned not only with
general health coverage but also with their dental and vision plans.
Benefits
Managers Turn Eye to Recruiting, Retention
At the same time cost-shifting is going on, employers say that their benefits
programs need to be designed to attract job candidates.