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Industry reacts to employer mandate delay

Reaction this week to the Obama administration’s announcement that it is delaying the employer mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act, also known as pay-or-play, was swift, with many maintaining the delay provides employers with some much-needed breathing room. [Image: Thinkstock]

Summer 2013 reading list for brokers, agents and advisers

As you hit the beaches, roads and even your own backyard hammocks this summer, scoop up a copy or two of the latest and greatest books in the benefits biz for the year. EBA has assembled a list of the professional must-reads for summer 2013 so you can still feel productive while sipping that happy hour Mai Tai.

Employer reactions to DOMA decision

While legal experts are cautioning not to be first out of the gate with communication to employees about the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, some employers were swift to praise the decision. Here are some employers’ reactions to the landmark ruling.

Top users of FMLA

ComPsych Corporation reports that Family and Medical Leave Act absences are on the rise, and that some industries are hit disproportionally by absenteeism. Jim Brown, senior vice president of operations at ComPsych, says “there’s been significant changes leading to more utilization” and that employers “need to make sure they have a very solid program … looking for patterns and trends” to make sure leave isn't abused. Here are six industries along with data on their rates of FMLA and intermittent leave.

5 steps to ease the wary into a retirement plan

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Ric Edelman, host of a personal finance talk show and CEO of the financial services company that bears his name, says 401(k)s are excellent savings vehicles, but getting young workers or middle-aged hires into a plan can be surprisingly difficult – particularly if they feel like they can’t afford it. [Images: Shutterstock]

The ABC’s of employee benefits, Part 2

Earlier this week, we brought you part one of Contributing Editor Ed Bray’s 2013 ABCs of employee benefits. Bray is director of employee benefits for a major transportation company in Hawaii. Here, he covers N to Z — everything from nondiscrimination rules to retirement readiness to top-notch employee communications. [Images: Shutterstock]

Benefits Think Four tips for better benefit plan communications

There's a convergence of events and trends that will make or break the success of many employers’ benefit plans this year, suggests guest blogger Dani McCauley. However, a spot-on communications plan will smooth the road ahead, and can even turn risks into opportunities.

The ABC’s of employee benefits, Part 1

School may be out for the summer but we know hardworking benefits professionals are always learning. In a special two-part slide show, Contributing Editor Ed Bray offers up his version of the 2013 ABCs of employee benefits. Here, he covers A to M. [Images: Shutterstock]

Incentives for mobilizing a global workforce

Companies are expected to offer more international assignments to employees this year, as the world’s workforce continues to expand and disperse to meet the needs of our global economy. More than 70% of companies expect to increase short-term international assignments in 2013, according to Mercer’s Worldwide International Assignments Policies and Practices report. In addition, 55% of companies are looking to increase long-term assignments abroad In a new report, Mobilizing Talent: The Global Mobility Challenge, BDO, an international network of public accounting firms, asked employees which benefits or perks would incentivize them most to take a global position. Here are the top seven incentives for enticing employees to take international assignments. [Images: Shutterstock]

5 telecommuting tips for workers and employers

For most employees, busy schedules and mobile technology have blurred the traditional work-life boundaries. Employees who telecommute from a home office full-time or work remotely some of the time personify the changing workplace. Here are five teleworking tips for employers and employees considering remote work schedules from CareerBuilder.com and social media expert Lea Green. Learn more about how work-life balance offerings can fit specific workforce and business needs in the EBN magazine July issue when we spotlight Dow Chemical’s approach to workplace flexibility. [Images: Shutterstock]

7-part plan to groom future company leaders

Although your company may have a sufficient number of individuals currently in leadership positions, what will your managerial ranks look like in five or seven years? There will always be turnover, expected and unanticipated. That's why it's essential that your company starts building a solid bench of future leaders now. The following plan from Robert Half International will allow you to identify the right candidates for leadership roles and groom them to someday step up and take the reins of your department or company. The world's first and largest specialized staffing firm presented these seven tips for implementing a robust succession plan on CareerBuilder.com. [Images: Shutterstock]

Lost in translation

Health data is not intuitive so benefit managers must learn to ask the right questions.

Linda K. Riddell
By Linda K. Riddell
Chief data scientist
Validation Institute

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