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Benefits in the News > By Subject >Work-life issues |
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[Guidance Overview] Milwaukee Becomes Third City to Mandate Paid Sick Leave for Employees Excerpt: "These recent municipal paid sick leave laws reflect a trend at both the state and municipal level toward heightened obligations on the part of employers to provide paid time off to employees, whether in the form of sick leave or paid family leave. Three states, California, New Jersey and Maryland, currently have laws requiring that employers provide paid family leave. A fourth, Washington, passed a similar law but has delayed implementation due to budget constraints." (Littler) [Guidance Overview] Towers Perrin U.S. Legislative Tracking Charts -- Human Resources -- Updated November 13, 2008 (PDF) 15 pages. Excerpt: "These charts summarize selected federal legislation that would affect employee benefit programs. The bills included on the charts are based on judgments regarding the prominence of the issue, the likelihood of enactment, and the influence of the sponsors." (Towers Perrin) GM Requires Salaried Workers to Take More Vacation Excerpt: "In an effort to conserve cash, General Motors will require thousands of salaried workers to take two additional vacation days in December. Those days will be taken on top of GM's two-week holiday shutdown next month." (Workforce Management; free registration required) Podcast: HR-Related Issues Obama Plans to Address Excerpt: "Hear Hewitt's Washington expert Frank McArdle discuss the HR-related issues the Obama administration plans to address. . . . Running time for this podcast is 6 minutes 36 seconds; file size is 6 MB." (Hewitt Associates) [Guidance Overview] Bicycle Commuter Benefits as Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit (PDF) 2 pages. Excerpt: "An employee may be reimbursed on a tax-free basis for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during the calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle, bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, provided the bicycle is regularly used to travel between the employee's residence and the place of employment.' (Groom Law Group) If Current Economic Situation Continues, Most HR Officials Say They Would Consider Providing More Financial Planning Information to Help Employees Cope Excerpt: "A news release by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) said 83% of poll respondents reported that their response could well include financial educational literature and/or workshops by investment specialists. Another 21% said they might revise investment policies for 401(k) plans and other savings programs." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required) [Opinion] Election Produces Little Change So Far on the Hill Excerpt: "Despite the undeniable impact the 'change' element had in the Presidential election, as BNA reported this morning, the leadership of the key Congressional committees with jurisdiction over employee benefit matters in both the House and Senate will likely remain the same next year. At least in terms of benefits-related issues, then, it would appear that we can pretty much know what to expect." (Baker & Daniels) [Opinion] The Real Mandate Is to Bridge the Wealth Gap Excerpt: "THE new president will have a clear mandate to redress economic inequality. During the campaign, John McCain made sure that voters clearly heard Barack Obama say 'spread the wealth around,' and they elected him anyway. Indeed, there has been a significant, decades-long trend toward greater inequality that needs to be corrected. The president-elect needs to seize the opportunity and to do something really effective to prevent inequality from getting much worse." (Robert J. Shiller via The New York Times; free registration required) San Francisco to Milwaukee: Sick-Leave Law Not Bad Excerpt: "Local business owners howling over a ballot measure forcing them to provide paid sick leave might take comfort from San Francisco's example. An official there said his city hasn't suffered since a similar law passed there two years ago." (Fond du Lac Reporter) Milwaukee Paid Sick Leave Ordinance to Be Challenged Excerpt: "Although the ordinance is due to take effect in about 100 days, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has filed notice that it intends to legally challenge the law on numerous grounds, among others, that (1) it is inconsistent with federal and state laws for family and medical leave; and (2) oversteps the city's authority to require sick pay from employers outside the city that have employees living in Milwaukee." (Workplace Prof Blog) Milwaukee Voters Approve Law Requiring Paid Sick Leave Excerpt: "Milwaukee became the third city in the U.S. to guarantee paid sick days for workers after voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum on the issue Tuesday, November 4. Despite opposition from the city's mayor and business community, 68 percent of voters approved the ordinance. The law will require employers within the city to provide each employee up to nine days of paid sick leave per year -- or one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked." (Workforce Management; free registration required) Labour and Employee Benefits: An Overview (PDF) 9 pages. Excerpt: "Philip M Berkowitz of Nixon Peabody LLP provides an overview of the principal federal, state and local laws governing labour and employment relations in the U.S." (PLC US Special Report via Nixon Peabody LLP) [Guidance Overview] New Paid Sick Leave Law in D.C. (PDF) 3 pages. Excerpt: "New legislation will soon require D.C. employers to provide employees with paid sick and/or safe leave. The 'Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008,' which was approved by the Washington D.C. Council earlier this year, takes effect on November 13, 2008. Under the Act, D.C. employers will be required to provide employees with paid leave for absences relating to personal illness, family member illness, and certain absences relating to domestic violence or sexual abuse." (Powell Goldstein LLP) [Guidance Overview] President-Elect Obama's HR-Related Proposals (PDF) 14 pages. Excerpt: "Hewitt's post-election report . . . provides specific information on President-elect Obama's positions on health care, retirement benefits, tax policy and employment practices. " (Hewitt Associates) How Will Obama's Tax Plans Work in This Economy? Excerpt: "Most of the ideas were floated before credit markets froze and the economy faltered. By the time the Obamas and their new puppy settle into the White House, things could be even worse. Pundits say this could force Obama to shelve his tax plans while he focuses on the economy. 'Most of his tax proposals will be deferred because they don't have a stimulus effect and some of them will make the economy worse,' says Roberton Williams, principal research associate with the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center." (San Francisco Chronicle) Employers Less Generous with Thanksgiving Leave This Year Excerpt: "The BNA Holiday Practices Survey indicates employers are less generous this year than they were in 2007 in granting paid time off during the Thanksgiving holiday season. However, BNA says the proportion of employers requiring some employees to work on Thanksgiving Day is at a 20-year low." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required) Hard Choices and Challenges Follow Historic Election Results Excerpt: "After a victory of historic significance, Barack Obama will inherit problems of historic proportions. Not since Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated at the depths of the Great Depression in 1933 has a new president been confronted with the challenges Obama will face as he starts his presidency. . . . Obama has yet to truly confront the realities of a domestic platform that calls for significant increases in federal spending and a fiscal problem that has worsened dramatically. Given the projected spending of $700 billion for a financial rescue package and hundreds of billions more for an economic stimulus package that Democrats say is needed, the deficit could approach $1 trillion or more next fiscal year, even without any of Obama's other priorities." (The Washington Post; free registration required) [Guidance Overview] Employment Law Risks in the Current Financial Crisis Excerpt: "The current economic crisis may lead employers to consider reductions in force. Employers that are considering reductions in force and providing severance payments to laid-off employees may wish to consider establishing a severance plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). One advantage in having an ERISA-governed severance plan is that it provides many protections to employers who are sued by employees in connection with severance benefits." (Littler Mendelson P.C.) EconomicRecovery.gov - a Resource for the American People Excerpt: "'The new www.EconomicRecovery.gov one-stop Web page gives workers easy access to Department of Labor resources including unemployment insurance, local job openings and retirement security information as well as help available at other government agencies.'" (U.S. Department of Commerce) Day Care Becomes a Deal-Breaker for Two-Career Couples Excerpt: "More two-career couples with kids admit that they have walked away from job offers because of the lack of onsite day care, reveals a survey by Bright Horizons Family Solutions. One in four working couples who have children enrolled in a company-sponsored day care center report that employer-sponsored child care played a key role in not pursuing certain career opportunities." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required) The Organizational Benefits of Employee Health Promotion Programs Excerpt: "This article focuses on how organizational leaders may improve physical and financial worker wellness in the worksite." (The American Chronicle) Employment Costs in Private Industry, September 2008 Excerpt: "Private industry wages and salaries increased 2.9 percent in September 2008. In September 2007 the increase was 3.4 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.4 percent in the 12-month period ended September 2008, the same as in the previous period." (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) [Guidance Overview] District of Columbia Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act Becomes Effective Soon (PDF) 4 pages. Excerpt: "The District of Columbia Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008 (the Sick Leave Act) will make the District of Columbia one of the first jurisdictions in the United States to mandate paid leave for an employee's sickness, to care for a family member (as broadly defined) who is sick, and for other purposes relating to medical conditions or domestic violence (sick leave). The Sick Leave Act will have a significant impact on employers, whether or not they currently provide paid sick leave." (Hogan & Hartson LLP) When Does Improving Health Raise GDP? Excerpt: "We assess quantitatively the effect of exogenous health improvements on output per capita. Our simulation model allows for a direct effect of health on worker productivity, as well as indirect effects that run through schooling, the size and age-structure of the population, capital accumulation, and crowding of fixed natural resources. . . . We find that the effects of health improvements on income per capita are substantially lower than those that are often quoted by policy-makers, and may not emerge at all for three decades or more after the initial improvement in health." (National Bureau of Economic Research; paid subscription or individual purchase required to retrieve fulltext) Federal Labor Law Compliance by Size of Company Excerpt: "Companies are required to comply with Federal, State and Local Labor Laws. Our most recent 'Human Capital' show discussed labor law compliance by size of company. I thought you might want to have this handy list of labor legislation by company size in case you were wondering what regulations applied to your business." (Birchtree-HR, LLC) [Guidance Overview] Ordinance Requiring Mandatory Paid Sick Leave for All Milwaukee Employees to Be Decided by Referendum (PDF) 3 pages. Excerpt: "On November 4, 2008, the citizens of Milwaukee will vote on a referendum determining whether private employers must provide up to nine days of paid sick leave for every employee in the City of Milwaukee. Passage of this referendum would impact employers both in Milwaukee and in surrounding areas." (Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.) Expatriate Benefits Improve as Assignments Double Excerpt: "Mercer's 2008/2009 Benefits Survey for Expatriates and Globally Mobile Employees indicates 86% of companies consider benefit provision for expatriate employees a medium or high business priority." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required) Employers Cut Perks, But Some May Go Too Far Excerpt: "In a recent survey, the Chicago-based consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas Inc. found that 20 percent of businesses already have cut employee perks, and another 10 percent are considering doing so. John Challenger, CEO of the firm, says that companies should consider some low-cost perks, such as allowing casual attire, early Friday dismissals or making the office pet-friendly." (The Hartford Courant) China Issues Clarifying Measures for Paid Annual Leave Excerpt: "A law regarding paid annual leave that has been in effect since January 1, 2008 has been clarified with new implementation measures. These new measures came into force on September 18, 2008." (Watson Wyatt Worldwide) [Guidance Overview] Nursing Relatives in Germany: New Leave Entitlement Excerpt: "Nursing relatives in need of care often demands a great deal of someone. A new law has been enacted in Germany that protects employees who require leave from work to care for relatives against hindrances from their employers. The Nursing Leave Act ('Pflegezeitgesetz') is a novelty in German law. As of 1 July 2008, employees have the right to claim time off in order to look after relatives in need of care -- so-called 'nursing leave.' Relatives include not only members of the immediate family but also grandchildren, grandparents and parents-in-law. However, the new law only applies if the relatives are seriously dependent on care." (Faegre & Benson LLP) [Guidance Overview] IRS Updates Business Travel Expenses Deemed Substantiated / Per Diem Rates Excerpt: "Revenue Procedure 2008-59 updates the rules under which an employee's expenses for lodging, meals and incidental expenses while traveling away from home are deemed to be substantiated under Treasury Regulation § 1.274-5 when an employer provides a per diem allowance. The Procedure also provides, for those employees and self-employed individuals who are not reimbursed, an optional method for use in computing the amounts paid or incurred for business meals and incidental expenses while traveling away from home." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com) Vail Valley Sanitation Worker's Mortgage Is Cheaper Than Rent, Thanks to Employer's Housing Program Excerpt: "Vail wastewater operator Jim Cliche recently bought a deed-restricted, three-bedroom house with a garage for about $300,000 in Edwards, about 15 miles away from work. He made a $3,000 down payment to close the deal under a new home-help mortgage program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wells Fargo approved him for a loan. Cliche, 55, says his monthly mortgage payment is cheaper than rent would be on the same home in the open market." (The Denver Post) [Guidance Overview] Van Pools Cut Costs, But Increase Some Risks Excerpt: "As more businesses help their workers find lower-cost commuting options, employers need to be aware of the risks such programs can raise." (Workforce Management; free registration required) [Guidance Overview] Employment Law Risks in the Current Financial Crisis Excerpt: "There are several, critical employment law issues that must be taken into account in any organization's plan to address the new economic realities especially if reductions in force are a part of the organization's strategy. . . . Employers that are considering reductions in force and providing severance payments to laid-off employees may wish to consider establishing a severance plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). . . . As the economic noose tightens, employers are bound to consider cutbacks in benefits and impose greater cost sharing with employees. In the health plan arena, employers have, for years, been passing along a greater share of the costs to employees." (Mondaq; free registration required) [Guidance Overview] Time Off to Vote on Election Day Excerpt: "While some states have no applicable requirements, the majority of states obligate employers to provide employees time off to vote in certain situations and impose civil and/or criminal penalties for non-compliance. Some of these jurisdictions even require such time to be paid for non-exempt employees. Finally, some jurisdictions also obligate employers to provide employees time off to act as election officials." (Jackson Lewis LLP) [Official Guidance] Text of IRS Rev. Proc. 2008-66: Inflation-Adjusted Tax Items for 2009; Parking Exclusion to be $230 (PDF) 21 pages. Section 132 aggregate fringe benefit exclusion amount for transportation in a commuter highway vehicle and any transit pass is $120 (up from $115); monthly limitation for fringe benefit exclusion amount fo qualified parking is $230 (up from $220); Section 137 adoption expense exclusion limit is $12,150. (Internal Revenue Service) [Guidance Overview] Milliman's Monthly Benefit News and Developments, October/November 2008 (PDF) 4 pages. The newsletter provides a summary of the previous month's legislative, regulatory, and judicial information on employee benefits. (Milliman) EEOC Steps in Following Employers' Attempts to Crack Down on Workers' Alleged Abuse of Sick Leave Policies Excerpt: "A recent lawsuit against retail chain Dillard's Inc. is highlighting what some claim is a growing problem in the workplace: employers asking too much information about workers' illnesses when asked for sick leave. In the Dillard's case, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that one California store required employees to reveal the specific nature of their illness in order to deem sick leave as an excused absence. The EEOC argues that this policy violates the Americans With Disability Act (ADA). EEOC v. Dillard's, No. 08-CV-1780 (S.D. Calif.)." (Law.com) [Guidance Overview] Discrimination Claims Under ERISA Excerpt: "Historically, ERISA §510 claims have been most often asserted in relation to retirement/pension plans. However, recent cases have been brought under ERISA §510 in relation to health and welfare plans. Claims for ERISA §510 violations occur most often when an employer has terminated an employee, and the employee claims that the termination was in anticipation of the employee making a claim under a benefit plan or becoming eligible for benefits under a benefits plan." (Aiken & Aiken) [Guidance Overview] Bicycle Commuting Fringe Benefit Added to Code Section 132(f) Excerpt: "The new law allows employers to reimburse employees on a tax-free basis for certain bicycle commuting expenses incurred after December 31, 2008. The maximum annual benefit is $20 times the number of months during the calendar year in which the employee regularly uses a bicycle for a substantial portion of the travel between the employee's residence and place of employment." (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA)) [Guidance Overview] Employee Benefit Changes Included in Financial Bailout Law Excerpt: "The massive financial bailout law, H.R. 1424, enacted on October 3, 2008 includes a number of extensions of tax provisions due to expire. Provisions of H.R. 1424 and other new laws affect employee benefits, including an extension and expansion of the mental health parity rules, health coverage for college students on medical leave, and rules for bicycle commuting. The law also has several executive compensation changes targeted at affected financial institutions that will be covered in a separate WorkCite edition." (McGuireWoods LLP) [Guidance Overview] Towers Perrin U.S. Legislative Tracking Charts -- Human Resources -- Updated October 7, 2008 (PDF) 15 pages. Excerpt: "These charts summarize selected federal legislation that would affect employee benefit programs. The bills included on the charts are based on judgments regarding the prominence of the issue, the likelihood of enactment, and the influence of the sponsors." (Towers Perrin) [Guidance Overview] Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated October 8, 2008, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF) 2 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding human resources and employment law. (Hewitt Associates) Financial Education Is Vital to Navigate Today's Tough Times (PDF) 3 pages. Excerpt: "More and more employees . . . are demanding financial education services at the workplace, and companies are answering their call. 'There are some highly intelligent, wise business leaders who recognize that basic financial education is good for the employees, and [the company's] bottom line,' says Thomas Garman, president of the Personal Finance Employee Education Foundation (PFEEF)." (Investment Adviser via Financial Finesse) Three Perks That Work in Lieu of Raises Excerpt: "[W]hile pinching pennies is good for the wallet, it's not always good for employee morale. That's why many entrepreneurs are choosing to offer perks and benefits, in lieu of raises, that may not cost a lot of money but are worth more to employees than the standard 3.8% pay raise." (Entrepreneur.com via TheStreet.com) Corporate America's Employment Law Concerns Excerpt: "The Association of Corporate Counsel and the Jackson Lewis law firm have released the results of their annual In-House Counsel Workplace survey. According to the press release, employment issues are a major concern to companies. And among those issues are the changes employers see coming in the next few years. A majority of respondents believed that who becomes our next president will affect the labor and employment laws, but a sizeable minority did not expect that to have an impact." (Workplace Prof Blog) [Guidance Overview] Do Employers Need to Provide Time off to Vote? Excerpt: "There is no federal law that requires an employer to give an employee time off, paid or unpaid, to vote. However, most states DO have laws that require employers to provide their employees with time off to vote on Election Day." (Snell & Wilmer LLP) Leaving Employment by the Federal Government Before Retirement? What Happens To Your Benefits? Excerpt: "What happens to Your Benefits if you leave before you retire? As many of us periodically think of leaving federal service for various reasons (the grass is greener or the boss from Hell are common reasons) this information is important and can help us make the right decision when or if the time comes." (FedSmith Inc.) Survey Finds Organizations Are Realizing the Benefits of a Telecommuting Workforce Excerpt: "The CompTIA study of 212 IT and other professionals in a range of industries shows that the benefits of telecommuting to organizations include improved employee productivity (67%), cost savings (59%), access to more qualified staff (39%), employee retention (37%), and improved employee health (25%)." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required) [Official Guidance] Text of Advisory Opinion 2008-07A: Bend, Oregon, Chamber of Commerce on Offering Fully Insured Benefits to Employees of Member Employers Excerpt: "[The DOL was asked w]hether a proposed arrangement offered by the Chamber of Commerce in Bend, Oregon would be a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) within the meaning of section 3(40) of ERISA, and whether such an arrangement would itself be an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(1) of ERISA." (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration) EEOC Sues Dillard's Over Sick Leave Inquiries Excerpt: "The government is suing the Dillard Store Services retail chain for requiring employees to disclose personal medical information or face dismissal. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges in the suit that the Dillard's practice violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by requiring employees seeking to use sick leave to tell the company the specific nature of their illness." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required) Sabbaticals Still a Rarity in Business But Becoming More Common, According to Book Excerpt: "The new book, 'Reboot Your Life: How Taking Time Off From Work Will Enhance Your Personal and Professional Life,' is expected to be released next year. It's authored by a foursome that has dubbed itself 'The Sabbatical Sisters' -- Allen and coauthors Jaye Smith, CEO, Breakwater Consulting; Nancy Bearg, a security expert; and Rita Foley, a career coach." (Bank Systems & Technology) [Guidance Overview] Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated October 1, 2008, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF) 2 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding human resources and employment law. (Hewitt Associates) Helping Employees Make the Most of the Benefits their Companies Offer Excerpt: "If you want to offer employees an inexpensive benefit that will foster loyalty and boost productivity, consider a navigation system. No, not a GPS, but a tool that will guide them in making a host of decisions about everything from tuition-reimbursement programs to 401(k) strategies to consumer-directed health plans. By offering more and better education around benefits, companies not only help employees make the most of their perquisites, but also gain from increased retention, higher productivity, and related forms of goodwill." (CFO.com) The Sun Life UnretirementSM Index Excerpt: "The Sun Life Financial UnretirementSM Index is a new national study on American attitudes toward retirement that will be updated several times each year. Sun Life created this Index because American attitudes toward retirement today are dramatically different from those of previous generations. As traditional views on the 'golden years' continue to evolve, so will the financial needs and retirement lifestyles of future generations. The UnretirementSM Index will monitor these generational and demographic changes. [Results of the first study are at http://www.sunlife-usa.com/unretirementindex/results.cfm.]" (Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (US)) Are You Risking Your Own Retirement to Care for a Parent? Excerpt: "According to a study last year by the health care coordinator Evercare and the Maryland-based nonprofit National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), about half of all those caring for someone older were helping them out financially -- at an estimated average level of $5,531 a year. That worked out to more than 10 percent of the median income of the group surveyed, with those earning lower incomes often carrying the heaviest burden." (AARP) The Decline of Career Employment Excerpt: "[S]ome indication that people might be willing to work longer comes from the fact that the century-long downward trend in the labor force participation of older men has clearly ceased, with participation rising slightly since the mid-1990s. But the changes to date fall far short of what is required to offset declining Social Security benefits and modest 401(k) balances – an increase in the average retirement age from the current 63 to an estimated 67." (Center for Retirement Research at Boston College) [Guidance Overview] Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated September 24, 2008, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF) 5 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding human resources and employment law. (Hewitt Associates) Rewarding a Multigenerational Workforce: A Survey of WorldatWork Members, September 2008 14 pages. Excerpt: "For the first time, WorldatWork conducted a survey to gather information about how employers are approaching the challenge of rewarding a multigenerational workforce. The goal was to increase understanding about the relationship between reward practices and generational issues, as well as identify best practices for rewarding multigenerational workforces." (WorldatWork) Benefit Practices Inside the 'Best' Workplaces Excerpt: "[At EBN's Benefit Forum & Expo] three benefits executives discussed why their companies landed on this year's list of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For in America. 'We all know that there is not one magic pill you take to become an employer of choice. It's a matter of your entire benefits package, which includes benefits, compensation, your management team, employee communication programs; and how you treat your employees . . . .' " (Employee Benefit News; free registration required) |
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