Benefit strategies

Temkin Group research says 57% of the U.S. workforce is moderately to highly engaged, compared to 47% a year ago. The benefits of a highly engaged population, though hard to quantify, can lead in significantly above-average financial performance.

It may be a while before we face the holiday season again, but since sooner is always better than later, now is the time to address what has come to be known as “the Christmas bonus.” Every year someone calls me the Grinch because I’m the guy who points out the ineffectiveness of the holiday bonus. Employee benefit advisers, brokers and consultants need to recognize there exists more creative vehicles that can serve as incentive programs to drive and maintain growth as well as recruit and retain key talent.

While Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act restricts employers from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information and strictly limits the disclosure of genetic information, GINA does not prevent employees from sharing their genetic information with co-workers and supervisors.

Consultant Colleen Grady suggests employers look at these 12 areas before choosing an EAP.

Whether it’s a shooting in the workplace, a toxic chemical spill, industrial accident or natural disaster, the majority of employers are unprepared to deal with a workplace crisis, says long-time crisis management expert Jonathan Bernstein.

Buck Consultants estimates the average salary increase in 2013 will be 3%, and two-thirds of surveyed companies plan to focus on retention, not hiring.

The world’s largest computer-services provider will only match defined contributions on Dec. 15 of each year — workers who leave or are fired before that date get nothing. The move could lead to significant savings, but it’s already led to criticism.

A new survey suggests funds spent on holiday office parties could be put to more popular uses – even gym memberships rated higher.

Among benefits-related cases, in 2012 courts addressed stock drops, offerings to retirees and same-sex couples, and fiduciary concerns

A Mercer survey suggests that, as employee engagement stalls, work-life balance could be the difference between keeping or losing top talent.

From increasing involvement and understanding of benefits during the open enrollment process to guiding a plan participant through a wellness program, interactive technology is becoming an ever more important and prominent part of the employee benefits communication package.

Eric Greitens — Navy SEAL, Rhodes scholar and founder and CEO of The Mission Continues — delivered a Veterans Day keynote address to HR/benefit professionals at the annual conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Greitens sought to remind practitioners of the unique and valuable skills, training and commitment veterans can bring to the civilian workforce once their military service is complete.

Romney and Obama’s teams both try to spin the most recent batch of unemployment data, and one index has consumer confidence hitting a five-year high.

The Department of Labor reports that the employment cost index increased by 0.4% in the third quarter, with benefits costs rising by the most since the first half of 2011. Many economists believe spending could soon take a hit if worker pay holds steady.

In a keynote panel at the 2012 Benefits Forum & Expo, employers on Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For in America list share their best benefits strategies and programs.

Some $7.5 billion in pension obligations has been transferred from Verizon to Prudential Financial after GM has led “large, traditional companies with old, traditional pension plans to think hard about what they should be doing.”

Interactive tech can help an employee better understand benefits at the beginning and guide them through the program, maximizing information and engagement.

HR professionals with companies ranked by the Principal Financial Group as among the most financially sound for employees say getting workers to grow with a firm is the best strategy.

The unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level since January 2009, and new Mercer research indicates businesses need to be careful with the employees they currently have.

External and internal factors prompts The Weather Channel to initiate a companywide culture change.