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As the recession drags on and employers continue to shed jobs, cut/freeze pay and reduce benefits, it can be easy for pros to hunker down in survival mode and forget all about the actual survivors. Remember them? The ones who continue to come in every day for you and your company? I'm not trying to say you've set layoff survivors adrift in their lifeboat without a second thought; rather, just reminding that they sorely need
July 10
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I have to admit, at EBN we're pretty focused on 401(k)s when it comes to retirement planning. Let's face it it's the bigger, flashier retirement plan sibling to 403(b) plans. However, I often have to remind myself that there are thousands upon thousands of nonprofit organizations and school systems that use 403(b)s as their retirement savings option for employees.
July 10 -
Nominations are open for EBN's annual i-COMM Awards, which honor communication initiatives that advance the objectives of the benefits/HR department and the strategic objectives of the employer organization. I know it's been a tough year for you, pros, and that the messages you've had to communicate haven't always been positive, but here's a chance to share your success stories of turning lemons to lemonade. Click here to submit a nomination for yourself, a colleague
July 9 -
Remember about a year ago, when Guardian announced with a bunch of fanfare that soccer star Mia Hamm was going to be their new pitchwoman for increasing benefits understanding among employees? I thought it was a great idea but I admit that was mainly because I'm a big fan of Mia Hamm.
July 9 -
Turns out, older workers don't think Facebook is just for young'uns. Stats from Nielson Online (yes, the same Nielson that monitors TV ratings) show that from April of 2008 to April 2009, minutes on Facebook have multiplied by 700%, and the biggest surge is not among teens or college students it's among adults age 35-49, and a big jump also comes from 50-64 age groups as well.
July 6 -
Although the economy still is in rough shape, things seem to be looking up for many companies and organizations. A new Watson Wyatt survey finds that many employers that made deep pay and benefits cuts this year due to the recession may soon be ready to reinstate those programs.
July 2 -
I bring you good news on health care (because I know you sure could use it!) via the good folks at Segal: Health care costs will not skyrocket as originally anticipated with the arrival of the new Mental Health Parity Act. In fact, the costs will barely put a dent in the budget.
July 2 -
With a session title like 'Real-world planning without the BS,' how could I not attend? And Fiona Kennedy, emergency response manager for NBC Universal, did not disappoint. Her cool-as-a-cucumber disposition combined with her first-hand disaster response experience gave credibility to the 'real-world planning,' and her Irish background no doubt helped deliver on the 'no BS.'
July 1 -
Although the pace and size of layoffs at U.S. companies seems to be easing, employers still are shedding jobs by the thousands. Amid such a difficult economy and job market, some employers are adding to their offboarding procedures -- conducting indepth exit interviews and offering benefits consulting for terminated employees.
June 30 -
That was the blunt directive for SHRM '09 attendees regarding their HR/benefits policies from Hunter Lott, director of PleaseSueMe.com. Editor's Note: No, it's not Hunter Lott Day here at the Daily Diversion. The SHRM '09 speaker made several valid and valuable points I thought were important to pass along to you pros, and best to break up into several posts. (But if I'm wrong -- as I admit I've been known to be -- hit
June 30