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January 5, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
Today's sponsor: NCEO
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Our Bookstore now carries books published by the NCEO! The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), a nonprofit membership and research organization that provides information on broad-based employee stock plans, now has over a dozen of its most popular publications available for purchase in the BenefitsLink bookstore. Topics range from employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) to stock options to employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs).
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Overview of Health Savings Accounts With Chart Comparison to Archer MSAs, HRAs and FSAs (PDF)
24 pages; copyright 2003 Miller & Chevalier Chartered (see http://www.millerchevalier.com/library/detail.asp?id=10). (Miller & Chevalier Chartered)
Overview: Treasury and IRS Issue Initial Guidance on New Health Savings Accounts
Excerpt: "An eligible individual's employer may be involved in establishing an HSA, but there is no requirement for employer involvement.... In addition to insurance companies and banks, which are specifically authorized by the statute, the notice states any other person the IRS has approved to be a trustee or custodian of IRAs or Archer MSAs is automatically approved to be an HSA trustee or custodian." (Deloitte's Human Capital Advisory Services)
Commentary: May We Take a Look Into Your Future Health?
Excerpt: "Earlier this year, the medical community achieved a milestone in medicine: the complete decoding of the human genome. We are just beginning to understand the enormous benefits of this achievement." (Washington Times)
D.C.-Area Businesses Consider Domestic Partner Benefits
Excerpt: "Citing their long-term advantages in recruiting and retaining employees, Social & Scientific Systems and other companies say offering domestic partner benefits is a sound business decision. But these businesses remain the exception -- mostly for economic reasons, executives say, though social concerns may play a role, too." (The [Montgomery County, Md.] Gazette)
How New California Family Leave Program Works
Excerpt: "California began deducting extra money from workers' paychecks this month to pay for the state's new paid family-leave program. An estimated 13 million California workers who pay into the state Disability Insurance Fund will be eligible to start receiving paid family leave beginning July 1. Here are questions and answers about the new benefits:" (Orange County Register via ContraCostaTimes.com)
Health Insurance Issues Vital In Upcoming Labor Negotiations
Excerpt: "In numerous employee surveys, [Cliff Shannon, president of SMC Business Councils,] said the most important fringe benefit recognized by workers is health insurance. A few unions, however, still continue to pay more attention to wage increases, losing sight of the 'impending piano coming in from above in the term of health insurance cost increases' ..." (Pittsburgh Business Times via bizjournals.com; one-time registration required)
Health Care Legislation Aims To Save Employers Cash
Excerpt: "Lobbyists also expect legislation modifying a program that allows small businesses to band together to buy health insurance as larger groups." (The Denver Business Journal via bizjournals.com; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
The Rise of Restricted-Stock Grants
Excerpt: "A 2003 PricewaterhouseCoopers human resource services survey shows that 15 percent more companies use restricted stock than in 2002. Switching from options to restricted stock is not necessarily all that easy to pull off." (Workforce.com)
Attorney Comments on DOL Class Exemption for Release of Claims by Plans During Litigation
Excerpt: "I wish to note one aspect of the exemption which is troubling from the standpoint of the effect it will have on the cost of litigation and trying to make plan participants whole-- that is, the DOL's requirement in the exemption that the plan must obtain the opinion of an attorney representing the plan that a 'genuine controversy exists.'" (B. Janell Grenier on BenefitsBlog.com)
Bookmark: Executive Compensation-- a Guide for Investors
Excerpt: "The federal securities laws require clear, concise and understandable disclosure about the amount and type of compensation paid to chief executive officers and other highly compensated executives of public companies. This brochure is designed to help you locate this compensation information in company reports." (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
Early-Retirement Offers That Work Too Well
Excerpt: "Verizon had a great idea to save money: offer early retirement. It expected about 12,000 workers to take the offer. Instead, 21,000 did." (Workforce.com)
Newly Posted Events
Savings & Retirement Symposium
in Florida on January 22, 2004
presented by Securities Industry Association
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Underwriter I/11 (401K)
for ADP Retirement Services
in NJ
Plan Implementation Consultant
for Invesmart
in OH
Actuarial Associate
for Alliance Benefit Group
in IL
Unit Manager - HR Benefits Determination
for Hewitt Associates
in IL
Legal Consultant (Lawyer)
for Hewitt Associates
in NJ
ERISA Attorney
for Stevenson Keppelman Associates
in MI
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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