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Compensation & Benefits

Do we wind up paying for unemployment comp benefits?

04/01/2008
Q. I just received a notice from the state of Colorado seeking information about an employee who just left our company. The state is trying to determine whether she is eligible for unemployment benefits. If she is awarded unemployment benefits, will the company be charged for that amount? …

More new state laws to complicate life for employers

04/01/2008
In 2007, New York lawmakers passed a record number of laws affecting employers, including new laws on independent contractors, inquiries into conviction records, leave for military spouses, leave of absence for blood donations and cancer screenings, and unemployment benefits …

Partner with marketing to create effective benefits messages

04/01/2008
More than half of all organizations rely on employee newsletters, special mailings and other printed pieces to increase enrollment in benefits programs, says a new study from the benefits consulting firm Watson Wyatt. Those pieces might not be as effective as you think. What you really need to do is convince employees to make some changes in how they manage their own benefits …

Attract and keep young workers with ‘Portable’ benefits

04/01/2008
Your organization’s youngest workers learned an important lesson about the workplace from their parents: You can’t count on keeping the same job for your whole career. If you want your talented Gen Y employees to stick around, you’re going to have to change the way you look at employee benefits. Here are three things they want that might surprise you …

Employees sit up and beg for pet lovers’ insurance

04/01/2008
Most employers that offer health insurance to employees also let them buy additional coverage for family members. Perhaps it’s not so unusual then that some companies provide optional pet health insurance. After all, for many people, pets are part of the family, too …

Can we ask employee to use paid leave before receiving workers’ comp benefits

04/01/2008
Q. Can an employee who is receiving workers’ compensation wage continuation benefits be required to use sick, vacation and personal leave time to cover days missed due to the work-related injury? …

Incapacity doesn’t extend time to contact EEO counselor

04/01/2008
Federal employees are required to contact their agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity counsel within 45 days of experiencing alleged discrimination unless circumstances beyond an employee’s control prevent her from contacting the counselor. But it takes more than a blanket “I was depressed” to win an extension …

Tooth Fairy ups the ante

04/01/2008
The results of the annual Tooth Fairy Poll from Delta Dental of Minnesota show that payments for teeth are up 44% in the state. The average gift to children is currently $2.10 per tooth here …

Beware using medical costs as employment factor

04/01/2008
It may be tempting to refuse to hire an applicant who could raise your health insurance costs. By the same token, it may seem like a good idea to terminate employees who keep filing expensive health insurance claims for themselves or their dependents. Don’t do it! The penalties for such discrimination can be high …

Sleeping on the job may mean no unemployment benefits

04/01/2008
Under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act, terminated employees are not eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits if they are discharged for “misconduct.” Misconduct is a deliberate and willful violation of a reasonable work rule or policy. But what about an employee who unintentionally violates a rule or policy? …