HEALTH CARE Self-Funded Health Care: How to Evaluate Stop-Loss Coverage With the increased popularity of self-funded health insurance, many companies now purchase medical stop-loss coverage for protection against catastrophic claims. Here's what to evaluate when evaluating and selecting a stop-loss provider. Read this article More health care articles

WELLNESS PROGRAMS Financial Incentives for Wellness: Tips for an Effective Program Employers can make their wellness programs more effective by encouraging participation through financial incentives. Here is a look at the elements of a successful wellness incentive program. Read this article More wellness program articles

RETIREMENT PLANS How To Weigh Alternatives for Defined Benefit Plans While it might seem as if the defined benefit (DB) pension plan's death knell has sounded, plan sponsors actually have several options to consider regarding DB and defined contribution plans. Here's how to analyze your plan's value against alternative arrangements, including converting a traditional DB plan to a cash-balance hybrid while goosing up contributions to companion 401(k)s. Read this article More retirement plan articles

WORK/LIFE Dispelling Job-Sharing Myths Job sharing as part of flexible work schedules for exempt employees can be a highly valued work/life benefit, once employers get past several common misperceptions. Here's how to make it work. Read this article More work/life articles

COMPENSATION Exec Comp Prediction: U.S. Firms Moving Toward European Long-Term Incentive Mode U.S. executives may favor the "long-term guarantee" often associated with restricted share plans, but the long-term incentive landscape is shifting as shareholders demand more ties between performance and executive compensation. Read this article More executive compensation articles

RECOGNITION Putting Appreciation Into Action: One Company's Success Story A motivated and productive workforce is one of the keys to a company's health and profitability. But how can an employer keep workers happy? A credit union (126 employees) offers some lessons on expressing appreciation—and reducing turnover. Read this article More employee recognition articles (scroll down)