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As health care costs continue to balloon, increasing numbers of employers are reducing or eliminating retiree medical benefit programs. And while this step is understandable, it's a tough one for employers and retirees. However, in this month's cover story, 'Cutting the apron strings,' Associate Editor Lydell Bridgeford details Medicare coordination services that will help you transition retirees from private to public coverage with as little pain as possible. Click above to read the story,
June 9
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New research from Mercer reveals that retirement plan sponsors are split on the ability of the 401(k) to ever provide adequate retirement benefits, with 50% who believe the plans can be fixed now or through additional regulations and 50% who disagree or are unsure. When asked about lawmakers' ideas on alternatives to the current system, 87% of respondents oppose eliminating pretax contributions, while the most palatable alternative is combined savings accounts for retiree health care
June 9 -
The word around the DC Beltway is that the Senate is working on a new, compromise version of the controversial Employee Free Choice Act one that would let employees vote up or down by mail on unionizing, rather than a public square petition. Regardless of the tweaks, the bill likely will rub either union or employer groups the wrong way, but lawmakers are trying to find middle ground on the legislation, as President Obama
June 8 -
Last week, health insurers and other industry officials turned in their homework to the Obama administration: their proposals for trimming $2 trillion in costs from the nation's bloated health care system. Although officials get a gold star for turning the assignment in on time, the "show your work" portion left much to be desired -- several hundred billion, specifically.
June 8 -
The more time that goes by, the more obvious it become that there is no middle ground on the Employee Free Choice Act you're either for it, or against it. Black or white, no gray. Have you decided where your loyalty lies? As federal lawmakers continue quietly jockeying for and against the legislation, non-elected individuals are a bit less subtle. Web sites and press releases abound on both sides of the EFCA debate.
June 5 -
For all the news of layoffs, salary cuts and freezes, I thought I'd bring you some news about jobs that truly are recession-proof. Manpower Inc. recently released its annual list of the nation's toughest jobs to fill. Unfortunately, HR/benefits professional is not among them, but recent reports do show that the economy has spurred some people to change careers. If that sounds like you, these are the jobs to consider:
June 5 -
A recent report in The Washington Post reveals that Sen. Edward Kennedy's health care reform proposal involves mandates both for employees and employers, similar to the health care system in Kennedy's home state of Massachusetts. It's no secret that employers are solidly against a mandate for businesses to chip in for the cost of health insurance, so I encourage you to make your voice heard on Sen. Kennedy's plan. According to the Post, he plans
June 1 -
In a recent article written for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, authors Chuck Marr and Kris Cox suggest that "Congress should consider scaling back or eliminating health care flexible spending accounts as part of its effort to pay for health care reform." Among their reasons for deep-sixing FSAs, Marr and Cox say: * FSAs encourage excess utilization of health care. * FSAs' 'use or lose it' requirement promotes wasteful spending. * FSAs complicate
June 1 -
Mark your calendars, pros; there's some don't-miss action going on at Capitol Hill next month regarding target-date funds.
May 27 -
Two surveys find differing opinions on whether it's okay to swear at the workplace, and I want to get your thoughts, pros.
May 27