Benefit communication

Employers are prohibited from requesting or purchasing DNA information, such as predisposition to a certain illness, from workers, but employees can offer it up, potentially putting themselves in protected status.

IBM, Sodexo frame social media to enhance company culture, business results.

A majority of small firms questioned in a recent survey say they aren’t prepared to answer employees’ questions about 401(k) fees.

Employers that market their benefits programs effectively see increased employee production, loyalty and satisfaction. However, too many companies are missing the boat when it comes to communication, workers say.

Best places to work in benefits provide tips on what make their benefits great from EBA Summit.

Jennifer Harvey of American Express wins for Best Overall Communications Campaign.

Coca-Cola builds centralized HR resource with call center structure.

Four employers receive iCOMM Awards for the best in internal communications.

Smartphones are a good tool to engage employees in wellness programs but access challenges remain.

Meeting the legal definition of the parent-child relationship doesn’t always mean that beneficiary plan standards have been met as well.

Defined contribution plan participants have proved woefully uninformed about their funds, and clearer jargon and presentations could help.

Pursuit of higher efficiency pushes shift in human resources to shared services and outsourcing, according to Towers Watson.

While most benefits professionals responding to a recent poll have seen improvements in their benefits communication efforts in the past three years, a sizeable portion are either unsatisfied with or ambivalent about their current strategy.

Research suggests that a slow but steady decline in employee morale from 2008 levels presents an opportunity to improve employee engagement during the upcoming benefits enrollment season.

New York City stands accused of unlawfully excluding bonus payments involving overtime and night differentials from pension benefit calculations for police officers who served in the military since the September 11 attacks.

Even under the best employment conditions, hiring the wrong employee can drag down a company's bottom line and dampen workforce productivity and morale. However, the national skills gap and ongoing economic concerns make finding the right candidate crucial the first time around.

"The current generation has stumbled on an incredibly powerful and important model for changing the world and the workplace: the network."

Pennsylvania is joining a growing movement across U.S. states to overhaul public pensions, but even while the state’s governor says the need for reform is urgent, he advocates action only after great deliberation.

The growing trend among employers to enforce companywide social media policies has sparked the birth of the Password Protection Act of 2012. The new legislation prevents companies from requiring employees to provide access to their personal social networking accounts. While many companies may create a social media policy to protect their corporate reputation, a new Workplace Options and Public Policy Polling survey of American workers shows that companies who scrutinize their employees' personal accounts and social media activity may be doing more harm than good.

Executive leadership must relate to employees and communicate clearly how each person contributes to company success