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.

Service Animals in the Office? Here’s How Employers Should Handle Accommodation Requests

The concept of service animals in the workplace has been around for quite some time, but many managers, especially those at smaller companies, may not have yet had to address it. With regard to employees, you can treat a request for a service animal the same as any other accommodation request, meaning you are obligated […]

Are We Seeing a Correction in Employee Wages?

The narrative surrounding wage growth in the United States is reaching an inflection point, posing a critical question: Are we witnessing a correction in wages? Recent developments paint a complex picture, one in which a surge in compensation during the pandemic era appears to be adjusting to new economic realities. A Look at the Data […]

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Building a More Equitable Future: The Case for Affordable Family-Forming Benefits in the Workplace

In the challenging landscape of today’s workforce, the importance of health equity has surged to the forefront of employer responsibilities. Incorporating affordable family-forming alternatives into employee benefit packages plays a vital role in the pursuit of equity.  This strategy not only targets the disparities in health equity but also ensures that individuals across diverse backgrounds […]

The Evolving Role of AI in Benefits Administration

The world of work is changing fast, with people working from home, in the office, or a mix of both. This keeps HR teams on their toes, especially when it comes to benefits. That’s where AI, widely known as Artificial Intelligence, comes in – like a super-powered assistant to help HR manage everything smoothly. AI […]

How HR Teams Can Revamp PTO Policies to Meet Employees’ Financial Needs

Although several positive economic developments have occurred recently, from job growth to falling inflation, employees still face various financial challenges, such as wage stagnation, reduced savings, and high debt levels. There has also been a shift in expectations around these challenges; employees increasingly want companies to help them manage and improve their finances. There have […]

Understanding the Value of Stock Options and Reducing Option-Related Taxes

With hopes of a hotter IPO market on the horizon, many private company employees seek to better understand their equity. Two major factors come into play when thinking about equity in startups: how to value it and how the option-related taxes work. Employees need to understand their equity’s value to confidently exercise or sell, and […]

Increase in PTO Requests Highlights Need for Flexibility

In a corporate world where the phrase “time is money” is often taken to heart, a refreshing shift is on the horizon. The latest Workforce Insights Report from BambooHR, a cloud-based HR firm, suggests employees are increasingly prioritizing work/life balance. In January 2024, for example, paid-time-off (PTO) requests hit a 4-year peak, signaling a profound […]

Have You Adopted a Push or Pull Approach to RTO?

Almost one quarter of the way through 2024, the return-to-office (RTO) battle rages on in many organizations. While the medical necessity of remote work has long since passed, employees have gotten a taste of the good life and the flexibility that comes with it, and they are reluctant to give that up. Pulling on the […]

Uncovering the Connection: Caregiving, Burnout, and the Workplace

Burnout is the state of mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and can manifest both physically and mentally, with symptoms like insomnia, irritability, fatigue, and a general lack of motivation. Burnout is increasingly prevalent in workplaces, leading to heightened absenteeism, a trend of “quiet quitting,” and employee turnover. Its repercussions can have significant economic impacts.  […]

Case Study: When Discussing Accommodations, Follow Interactive Process

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law Chapter 151B (Chapter 151B) both require employers to provide reasonable accommodations absent undue hardship to employees and to engage in an interactive dialogue with those who need a reasonable accommodation. Employers that fail to do so face legal liability. The recent jury verdict in Menninger […]