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Compensation & Benefits

Retirement crisis continues: Median savings just $2,500

11/03/2015
The typical working household has virtually no retirement savings, according to a study by the nonprofit National Institute on Retirement Security. When all households are included—not just those with retirement accounts—median retirement savings added up to just $2,500.

November 2015: Employer’s business tax calendar

10/30/2015
Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

Health coverage up, but not because of benefits

10/29/2015
More working-age Americans had health insurance in last year, even though the rate of coverage through employment-based health plans remained essentially flat. That’s according to a new report by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Office manager liable for $2.9 million in payroll taxes

10/27/2015
The closest office managers usually get to Payroll are their own paychecks. But beware. A federal trial court has ruled that an office manager was personally liable for 100% of her company’s undeposited payroll taxes, to the tune of $2.9 million.

The IRS’ proposed minimum value regs require hospital coverage

10/23/2015
First, the Department of Health and Human Services created a minimum value calculator that omitted inpatient hospitalization services. Oops. Then, the IRS issued guidance that concluded that in order to provide minimum value, group health plans must cover substantial inpatient hospitalization and physician services, or both. Proposed regulations were promised, which the IRS has now released. The regs also provide a detailed effective date.

Half of employers invested more on health care in 2015

10/23/2015
Spending on health care benefits was up in 50% of organizations surveyed this year. In contrast, only about a quarter of employers reported spending more on wellness programs and career development.

Gear could have gone home? No pay to retrieve it

10/21/2015
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has nixed a firefighter’s claim that he should be paid for the time it takes to get to his station and retrieve his firefighting gear before reporting to a different station.

Irregular schedules become worker flashpoint

10/21/2015
The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is looking at regulating schedule-setting in general for all employees across all industries.

Most U.S. employers support workplace flexibility

10/21/2015
Eighty percent employers of surveyed offer flexible work arrangements to employees, according to new research by the nonprofit WorldatWork and online career site FlexJobs.

DOL pushes retirement advice rule change

10/20/2015
Public comments closed last month on a proposed DOL rule to redefine the conflict-of-interest standard retirement plan fiduciaries must meet. It’s part of an Obama administration effort to require defined-contribution retirement-plan advisors to act in account holders’ best interests, not just provide “suitable” advice, as the law currently requires.