HR and Internal Audit Can Be Better Partners
HR and internal audit professionals miss opportunities to add value to their work because they don't fully understand one another's areas of responsibility. More
What to Expect from the IRS Tax Audit Initiative
The IRS is launching an initiative targeting perks and "fringe" benefits, from adoption assistance to vacation awards, to ensure that their value is included in employee wages. More
Employers Weigh Health Care Strategies
Most employers are just beginning to consider the types of comprehensive strategies that will create positive and sustainable improvements in employee health and constrain escalating health care costs. More
Americans’ Preparations for Retirement Continue to Erode
Americans’ confidence in their ability to retire appears to be stabilizing but their self-described preparations for retirement continue to erode. More
Military Leave Guidance Under the HEART Act: Impact on 401(k) Accruals, Distributions
The IRS issued guidance on the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act relating to retirement plans, including survivor benefits, benefit accruals, differential pay and distributions. More
IRS Identifies Common Errors in Small and Top-Heavy 401(k) Plans
The IRS highlights the most frequent mistakes made by retirement plans with assets of less than $250,000, and by 401(k) plans found to be "top-heavy" in favor of key employees. More
Few Employers to Drop Mental Health Benefits
Relatively few large U.S. employers are planning to drop their existing mental health and substance abuse benefits as a result of new federal mental health parity regulations. Instead, most are choosing to modify their plans to comply with the new rules. More
Taxing Time: Accounting Firm Maintains Work/Life Balance During Busy Season
It doesn't get much busier than during tax season at an accounting firm. To help ease the burden of time at the office and on the road, one firm offers some unique work/life benefits. More
COBRA Subsidy and UI Stop-Gap Extension Signed Into Law
The president signed into law the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, which once again briefly extends the federal COBRA subsidy program and unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. More
DOL Issues Proposed Rule on Investment Advice
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced its long-awaited proposed rule on investment advice for workers covered by 401(k) plans and other retirement arrangements. The DOL also announced the publication of a final rule on multiemployer plan transparency. More
Employers Change Health Benefits to Cut Costs, Alter Behavior
A sluggish economy is forcing more U.S. employers to take aggressive measures to control rising health care costs and motivate workers to improve their own health. Here are some of the steps they're taking. More
'Decision-Making Leave': A Process to Cut Turnover and UI Costs
A "decision-making leave" for under-performing workers to consider whether they're willing to meet job requirements can avoid termination costs, including higher unemployment insurance (UI) rates. More
Where are the latest articles on compensation and monetary rewards? They are posted in SHRM Online's Compensation Discipline!
Daily Newswire
For full links/summaries to some of the best new comp/benefits stories on the web, click here. Highlights:
• Obama to Sign Jobs Bill with 'Payroll Tax Holiday' for Hiring the Unemployed (Washington Examiner)
• More Employers Make Room for Work-Life Balance (NPR.org)
• Are Unemployment Benefits No Longer Temporary? (Washington Post)
• Jump to the full Comp/Benefits Newswire
Recently Posted News
and Features
BENEFIT TRENDS:
• Small Increases Seen in Pay, Benefit Budgets
COMPLIANCE:
• Employers Must Account for Extension of COBRA Subsidy and Unemployment Benefit Rules
• Increased Use of Alternative Workers Raises Critical Benefits Issues
• 'Red Flags' Rule Applies to Benefit Accounts with Debit Cards
• CHIPRA Model Notice Now Available
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS: