Summary: HRBenefitsAlert.com
Daily dose of benefits news and know-how
For many employees, telecommuting and flex-time
are highly desired work-life benefits. But a growing number of
organizations are reluctant to offer these programs. Demand for
these benefits remains high. One study found that 87% of
job applicants are familiar with the idea behind telecommuting and
flex-time, and the majority express a desire to have at least
periodic access to [...]
Date Published: Jun 30, 2009 - 12:00 am
Looking for a way to make flex accounts a little more employee
friendly? Here’s a strategy that many employers overlook: Many TPAs
offer direct deposit as an FSA reimbursement option, rather
than sending checks to participating employees. The choice is
up to the participant. One of our readers from New Berlin, NY
reports that simply adding this [...]
Date Published: Jun 29, 2009 - 12:00 am
Many folks take a working lunch at their desks once in awhile. We
all need to get our work done, right? But evidence suggests that
eating at work stations is only a short-term productivity booster
and can do more harm than good if it’s a regular habit. One report
found that people who routinely eat [...]
Date Published: Jun 26, 2009 - 12:00 am
From Girl Scout cookie drives to workplace birthday
clubs, non-work fundraisers have become a part of
many company cultures. Should management be concerned?
There are no simple answers to this question. Most
employers want to encourage a family-friendly company culture,
but employee (and supervisor) solicitations often have a
way of spinning out of control. Left unchecked, onsite
“selling” can go from a harmless activity to an unwelcomed
[...]
Date Published: Jun 10, 2009 - 9:40 am
In the battle to establish wellness programs, many employers
overlook the need to address employees’ dependents.
That’s especially true for managing the health of employees’
adolescent children. Most of the attention goes to pre-natal and
early childhood care. But a host of serious medical issues
typically emerge during teenage years. Physical issues It’s every
bit as [...]
Date Published: Jun 05, 2009 - 12:15 am
What are your employees thinking about doing with their 401(k)s in
these difficult economic times? A recent New York Daily News reader
poll suggests that most current participants in a 401(k) plan
intend to stay the course. Nearly half (49%) said they’d
leave their investments alone and try to ride out the storm.
Surprisingly, 21% [...]
Date Published: Jun 04, 2009 - 10:29 am
They’re a proven way to show employees the firm
invests more in them than they may think. But be careful. The
statements can easily backfire – or contain inaccuracies. Here’s
how to find and fix two common trouble spots: 1. Avoiding incorrect
info Accidental math errors are the most common – and damaging –
problem with total [...]
Date Published: Jun 02, 2009 - 12:10 am
Has your organization started a formal smoking cessation program?
Even if it’s not in the budget, you can adopt some of the newer
employee education techniques used in successful plans. What’s out:
Harping on the message that smoking causes lung cancer, emphysema,
etc. Virtually every smoker knows the risks by now. That
doesn’t mean you should [...]
Date Published: Jun 01, 2009 - 12:02 am
Looking for ways to boost morale, productivity and retention? Spot
awards may be the way to go. Spot awards are the most
popular recognition incentives among employees, according to
one recent Internet survey. The best part: The incentives usually
amount to less than 1% of base pay. That makes the
incentives attractive to Finance types. And the awards [...]
Date Published: May 29, 2009 - 12:10 am
How much is too much to ask employees to contribute toward
their own coverage? These benchmarks from the Milliman
index and EBRI can shed light on where your
firm’s cost-sharing arrangement stands against the
national averages: The average yearly total medical cost for a
married employee with two dependent children has climbed to
all-time high of dollarsignr14,400 Among [...]
Date Published: May 28, 2009 - 12:01 am