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Uninsured and Fighting Blazes: Welcome to the Life of a Temporary-Status Federal Firefighter

"Thousands of federal firefighters charged with taming the blazes do not have health insurance.... Of all the jobs where you might want health insurance, firefighting near certainly ranks near the top of the list. Firefighters spend two-week shifts working 18 hour days in dangerous conditions. Some develop breathing problems due to smoke inhalation. But many federal firefighters are temporary employees, who only work six months out of the year ... Under federal regulations, temporary employees of the Forest Service do not receive benefits. That means no health care and no retirement pension."

Secure Choice 2.0: States Blazing a Path to Retirement Security for All (PDF)

36 pages. "Secure Choice is a direct outgrowth of persistent and converging trends that are reshaping the retirement landscape -- trends that include the diminution of traditional defined-benefit pension plans and the failed promise, for many Americans, of the much-vaunted 401(k) plan. This paper revisits these and other forces that have given rise to a wave of state initiatives to help Americans retire with dignity. It examines what has happened since the earlier white paper was issued, takes stock of developments at the state level, and looks at the challenges ahead."

Illinois Retirement Initiative Could Blaze a Path for Other States

"The structure of the Secure Choice program should help minimize -- but not eliminate -- the employer regulatory burden.... A smooth implementation for employees may spur other states to enact similar legislation ... Oregon and California are among the approximately one dozen states that are actively considering adopting a similar program."

Blazing the Oregon Pension Trail

" If pension officials get their wish, the Oregon Investment Council (OIC), the body that oversees a combined $80 billion in pension and other state trust fund assets, will become the Oregon Investment Corp., a quasi-governmental entity with greater control over the state's assets.... [T]he staff of the corporation would report to a fully independent board rather than to just the treasurer. The board would take budgetary authority away from the legislature, be able to scrutinize the cost of the entire program and prioritize human capital and technology resources[.]"

GM Blazes New Trail with Annuitization of Pension Obligations

"General Motors Co.'s annuitization of $26 billion in pension obligations should be a game-changer for corporations in the way they finance and manage defined benefit plan risk. It also could take some pressure off the fragile financial condition of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. while offering a creative, alternative way to insure retirement benefits.... Companies ought to give the technique serious consideration for a number of reasons."

Schwab to Join the 401(k) Wars, Guns Blazing

Charles Schwab... could dramatically change the way that workers invest for retirement. Schwab announced that it plans to offer employers a 401(k) package that includes only index funds as investment options.... In one fell swoop, an index-only 401(k) will address several problems that led policymakers a few years back to consider massive changes to the entire structure of retirement savings.

Principal IRA Rollover Suit Could Blaze New Territory

Excerpt: A lawsuit by former 401(k) participants against the Principal Financial Group appears poised to make new law. The lawsuit is over allegations that the company duped participants into IRA rollovers into Principal's proprietary mutual funds.

Examining the Evolution of Paid Parental Leave (PDF)

"While the United States continues to be the only developed nation without mandated paid maternity leave, U.S. employers are blazing their own trail for new parents. This article defines parental leave, explains what's driving the increased interest in paid parental leave among employers offering it and discusses how paid parental leave can benefit employers and employees alike. Finally, the author discusses why not all employers are offering these benefits as well as considerations for employers contemplating whether paid parental leave is right for them."

Egg Freezing: A Unique New Benefit, or a Bad Idea?

"Earlier this year, Facebook began covering up to $20,000 for female employees to freeze and store their reproductive eggs, so they can put off pregnancy as they establish themselves during their prime career-building years. Apple has announced it will start doing the same in January 2015. Cryopreservation and egg storage could be seen as the latest advance from the tech firms that continue to blaze the trail for employee benefits that help attract and retain the best and brightest."

Obama Administration to Expand Health Coverage for Federal Workers

"The Obama administration [is publishing] a proposed rule that would give thousands of temporary and seasonal government workers access to the government's health care program, even though current law would appear to prohibit them from using that program. The rule from [OPM] would let these federal workers sign up for coverage ... and also allow some of them to enjoy a government contribution to their insurance premiums. Both steps would be done through OPM's proposed regulation, and not through an Act of Congress."

Paid-Leave Proposals Gain Steam in States

Excerpt: From same-sex marriage to universal healthcare coverage, Massachusetts has rarely shied away from blazing a trail of progressive reform. Now the state is considering another landmark proposal that would give workers here the nation's most generous paid leave policy.