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.

House to Vote on Bill to Repeal OTC Rules

Legislation that would repeal health reform rules limiting the reimbursement of over-the-counter medications is inching closer to passage. On June 5, the Restoring Access to Medication Act (H.R. 5842) was placed on the House calendar, so the full House will soon vote on the measure. The Ways and Means Committee on May 31 ordered the […]

Full 9th Circuit Refuses to Review California’s Same-sex Marriage Ban

Employers can expect continued uncertainty regarding whether they will need to adjust their plans, documents and policies to accommodate same-sex spouses. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 5 refused a petition that the full bench of the court rehear Perry v. Brown, Nos. 10-16696, 11-16577. That lets stand the ruling by a […]

Can’t Pay for Performance if Can’t Measure Performance

Workplace compensation is essentially a supply and demand system, says Dorf, who is managing director of Compensation Resources, Inc. in Upper Saddle River, NJ. Supply has been strong, and that means small or no raises, but that is starting to change. A bunch of studies say maybe 60 percent or more of employees would look […]

Healthcare Premiums During Leave—FMLA Hassle #12

For guidance, we consulted BLR’s Family and Medical Leave Act Compliance Guide, which states: Employers who provide group healthcare coverage typically require employees to pay a portion of the premium for the health plan, typically collected by the employer through an authorized payroll deduction. An employee on FMLA leave is required to make that same […]

Experts See Trend Against Self-funding in State Stop-loss Restrictions

While ERISA self-insured plans themselves are not subject to state regulation, states are clamping down on stop-loss coverage as a way to discourage self-funding, say attorney Ron Peck and legal administrator Chris Aguiar at the Phia Group, Braintree, Mass. The Texas Supreme Court ruling in TDI v American National Ins. Co. and the passage by […]

Seven Steps to Meaningful Market Pricing

Strand, owner of consultancy HR Dynamics Inc., offered his seven steps to successful market pricing at a recent webinar hosted by BLR/HRhero. 1. Identify Positions to Market-Price Ideally you’d like market data on all your positions, says Strand; however, in reality, you will probably obtain data on a sample of your positions, perhaps 30 to […]

Meet, Lead, or Lag the Market?

Strand, owner of consultancy HR Dynamics Inc., offered his seven steps to successful market pricing at a recent webinar hosted by BLR/HRhero. [Go here for steps 1 to 4] 5. Choose Your Rate Let’s say that in analyzing market data, you come up with a market rate of $61,400 for an Office Manager position, and […]

Knowing Multiple Exemption Rules Can Enhance FLSA Litigation Strategies

Employees can qualify for multiple exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, so employers should remember that if they document an employee’s specific exemption, they should note any and all applicable exemptions, so that they are able to argue multiple exemptions in any FLSA litigation. This principle is illustrated in Schaefer La-Rose v. Eli Lilly […]

In Spite of Review Flaws, Court Sees ‘Sufficient’ Appeal Process and Reasonable Benefit Cut-off

Because an employer health plan gave a full and fair review resulting in a reasonable benefits decision, a federal court upheld the plan’s lifetime limit on obesity services and its prohibition on payments to treat complications from earlier gastric bypass surgeries. The plan also weathered an allegation that it was not properly segregating plan funds. […]

Why Do People Work for You? 3 Reasons

Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered 3 reasons why employees want to work for bosses in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. People go to work for a company for many reasons, Oswald continues. Maybe the work is challenging and rewarding or the pay and benefits are too good to pass up. It might be […]