Benefits Think RAND study reveals catch-22 among HDHP members
Theres a catch in the new study results from a team of RAND Health researchers who assessed the spending patterns and health care use of high-deductible health plan participants.
Uncategorized
Theres an app for that
In a fast-moving technological world, its often hard to keep up. For this reason, EBN has compiled some of the top mobile apps and optimized websites for smart phones currently on the market to help you sift through the most promising programs. These mobile applications encourage healthy behaviors and good savings techniques among your employees and enhance engagement with their benefits. Read more about the future of benefits mobile app technology and benefits technologys potential in general in the April 15 article of the same name.
Benefits Think CMS puts the brakes on ERRP applications
After some windfall distributions to some big-name recipients, ERRP funds are being sucked dry even faster than anticipated, so quickly that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will stop accepting ERRP applications altogether on May 5.
Benefits Think Happy National Employee Benefits Day
Today’s your day HR/benefits pros — enjoy it! April 4, 2011, marks the seventh annual celebration of National Employee Benefits Day. Led by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the day is a time for anyone with employee benefit responsibilities to be recognized* for their dedication to providing quality benefits.
Public pensions show gains, but doubts linger
After suffering steep losses during the financial crisis and recession, U.S. public pension funds' investments are making gains, according to government data, but the gains may not be enough to cover looming shortfalls.
By
Edith Honan
The 401(k) auditors wish list
As we approach the audit deadline for employee benefit audit plans, hopefully things are already in motion with your plan auditors. You have received the list of items they need to complete the audit, documents have been exchanged, and meetings are planned.
Have cake on National Employee Benefits Day
Everyone likes a pat on the back. If you work in the field of employee benefits, your day of appreciation arrives Monday, April 4.
Making sense of plan participant disclosure rules
On Oct. 14, 2010, the Department of Labor issued final rules related to the disclosure of fees to defined contribution retirement plan participants. This new rule is effective for plan years beginning after Nov. 1, 2011.
State of the union: Segal offers state-level benefits snapshot
State of the union: Segal offers state-level benefits snapshot
A benefits professional’s checklist for mothering terminated workers
"I could never work with my mother!" people tell me, shaking their heads as they imagine the trials and tribulations of working with a parent.
We can ROWE our way to a better work environment, authors say
I tend to fall for provocative book titles and headlines, which makes navigating supermarket check-out lines a challenging exercise in willpower.
Winning at wellness: Inspiring photos from EBNs BeneFIT Success series
NEW PHOTOS ADDED! To help empower and encourage EBN readers toward better health, we started 2011 by launching a year-long BeneFIT Success series, which chronicles employers and employees in their individual and organizational wellness triumphs. All articles in the series are available at ebn.benefitnews.com, keywords benefit success series. Just as inspiring as the stories, however, are the photos that go with them. This slideshow features shots of our profile subjects along various points in their wellness journeys. Add your employees photos to the group by submitting your companys wellness success story to EBN Editor-in-Chief Kelley M. Butler at kelley.butler@sourcemedia.com.
Benefits Think Kudos for Kaiser: Giving new meaning to paying it forward
I dont often give shout outs to corporations, but in this case I had to make an exception. After raising $1.2 million from getting 23,000 employees to take a health risk assessment, Kaiser Permanente granted the funds to two worthy organizations dedicated to encouraging healthful eating in low-income and/or underserved communities.
Benefits Think Sneak peek: Read part of our April 15 interview with author Jody Thompson
I recently interviewed Jody Thompson, co-author of "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: The Results-Only Revolution," about the theory and reality behind the results-only work environment. Here's some of what she had to say.
Benefits Think Biggest Loser partner provides behind-the-scenes peek at shows medical technology
EBN goes behind the curtain in a podcast interview with John Schilhab, EVP at Biosignia, the company behind the medical risk technology used on NBCs "The Biggest Loser."
Benefits Think Employers’ top 10 HR/benefits trouble areas revealed
Employers Resource Association has released the top 10 topics that send HR managers to call its hotline in droves.
Benefits Think Employers should model recruiting after American Idol, blogger says
Call your companys Ryan Seacrest to improve your hiring odds, one blogger posts.
Benefits Think One year later, PPACA remains divisive
Health care reform is one-year-old today, and the law continues to divide the nation among four groups.
Analysis: Pensions vs. 401(k) returns
New research by Towers Watson shows that defined benefit plans achieved better rates of return than defined contribution plans in 2008 by the widest margin since the early 2000s. However, in 2009, DC plans outperformed DB plans.
Limiting worthless meetings
There are some simple tips to follow to make your meetings valuable and avoid wasting people's time, says Harvard Business Review.
By
Reuters