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September 20, 2001 - 6,306 subscribers
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How to Tell Your Boss You Don't Want to Fly
Excerpt: "But bosses and companies are likely to be tolerant and understanding for only so long. Already signs of tension and conflict are emerging in the workplace between skittish employees and bosses determined to get back to business." (CareerJournal.com)
Federal Taxation of Qualified Tuition Program Contributions and Distributions
Excerpt: "This article looks at the tax aspects of [qualified state tuition programs, also known as Section 529 plans]." (Practitioners Publishing Company)
Funding a Child's Education under a Qualified Tuition Program
Excerpt: "[W]e'll turn our focus to qualified state tuition programs, also known as Section 529 plans. (The official title of these programs changes to 'qualified tuition programs' beginning in 2002, so this is the term we'll use to refer to these programs throughout the remainder of this article.) This article looks at the basic characteristics of these programs, while a companion PPCnet article looks at the tax aspects of these programs." (Practitioners Publishing Company)
Flag Waiver? Employer Reverses No-Flags Policy
Excerpt: "Even during the best of times, a bad management decision can pretty quickly tarnish a corporate reputation. During a national crisis, however, the damage can occur in a matter of hours. Just ask managers at NCCI Holdings Inc.... the company has been pilloried in the press--and especially through Internet outlets and angry E-mail exchanges--for enforcing a policy that prohibited workers from displaying the American flag in their offices." (CFO.com)
Aetna Extends Waivers and Greater Flexibility After September 11 Tragedy
Press release. Excerpt: The company has 'Extended its waiver of precertification and notification requirements for covered services from designated hospitals in the New York metropolitan area for the week following the disaster; Suspended primary care physician referral requirements for all in-network covered specialty health services in the New York metropolitan area through October 2, 2001 ..." (Business Wire via Excite News)
Employers and Employees Want Innovative Options to Contain Costs and Customize Benefits
Press release. Excerpt: "[E]mployers underestimate what employees are willing to pay for health care. Employees surveyed said they would be willing to pay more than they currently do, in order to maintain their health benefits. Employees surveyed contribute an average of $120 toward their monthly premium; 68 percent said they would be willing to pay more (average $85) in order to retain their current benefits in a weaker economy." (PR Newswire via Excite News)
Tough Choices Ahead for Employees on Health Insurance
Excerpt: "It's almost time for workers to get that fat folder from their company's human-resources department -- the one that brings information about the coming year's health benefits, and with it, tough choices about which type of coverage is best. This year, the pressure is on for consumers to make smart choices. Premiums are expected to climb on average by as much as 20 percent ..." (The [Raleigh N.C.] News & Observer)
Analysis: Reimbursing the Employer for Plan Expenses
5 pages. Excerpt: "When a company absorbs most (if not all) of the expenses relating to the administration of an employee benefit plan, it may decide the plan needs to cover the expense of administration itself. If services are provided by third parties, this is a fairly straightforward matter. But, if the employer has provided services to the plan without reimbursement, and now decides to reimburse the cost of those services from the plan, the process is more complex." (Andersen)
Overview: Military Leave and Reemployment Rights
4 pages, September 19, 2001. Excerpt: "This Alert discusses the employment and benefit rights of reservists who are called to active duty. These rights are governed by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which applies to virtually all employers, regardless of size ... Although USERRA was enacted on October 13, 1994, DOL has not published USERRA regulations. Instead, its Veterans' Employment and Training Service has posted informal guidance on the Web." (Aon Consulting)
Private Sector Employee Benefits Issues in the Wake of the September 11 Tragedies (PDF)
Excerpt: "Disaster recovery plans and participant outreach activities are well underway. We hope the following checklists of benefit administration issues that may come to the fore in a time of crisis will be useful for plan sponsors throughout the country, although many of the items are likely to be most relevant for employers directly affected by the attacks, such as those with operations in the New York metropolitan area." (The Segal Company)
Public Sector Plan Issues in the Wake of the September 11 Tragedies (PDF)
Excerpt: "Disaster recovery plans and participant outreach activities are well underway for many plans. We hope the following checklists of administrative issues that may come to the fore in a time of crisis will be useful for plans throughout the country, although many of the items are likely to be most relevant for funds directly affected by the attacks, such as those with operations in metropolitan New York." (The Segal Company)
Multiemployer Issues in the Wake of the September 11 Tragedies (PDF)
Excerpt: "Disaster recovery plans and participant outreach activities are well underway for many plans. We hope the following checklists of administrative issues that may come to the fore in a time of crisis will be useful for plans throughout the country, although many of the items are likely to be most relevant for funds directly affected by the attacks, such as those with operations in metropolitan New York." (The Segal Company)
Refresher on Special Rules for Military Reservists
Excerpt: "In light of the active duty call-up of military reservists under Operation Noble Eagle, this Legal Alert briefly summarizes the application of certain special rules to an employer's group health plans and its qualified retirement plans." (Kilpatrick Stockton LLP)
PWBA Announces Form 5500 Extensions
The U.S. Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration has announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500s and Form 5500-EZs, and has issued general guidance on ERISA compliance regarding employee benefit plans affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks. (Spencernet)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Trust Analyst | for Paragon Consulting Group in CA |
| Taft-Hartley Benefit Funds Administrator (CORRECTED) | for A family of Taft-Hartley benefit funds in the Washington DC area (CORRECTED) in DC |
| 401(K) Plan Administrator | for Sample & Bailey, CPAs, P.C. in CO |
| Compliance Testing Analyst | for ADP in NJ |
| Conversion Analyst | for ADP in NJ |
| Client Service Representative - Series 6 License Required! | for ADP in NJ |
| Compensation Consultant | for Monarch Personnel in TX |
| Implementation Specialist | for Mellon Financial Services in NJ, NY |
| Pensions | for Retirement System Group in CT, NY |
| Benefits Consultant | for Johnson & Johnson in NJ, NY, PA |
| Pension Consultant | for Mid-atlantic Pension and Profit Sharing Consulting Firm in MD |
| Pension Representative | for Third-Party Administrator in WA |
Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Fargo | in ND on December 4, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Columbus | in OH on December 4, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - San Antonio | in TX on December 4, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Raleigh | in NC on December 4, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Nashville | in TN on December 4, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Charlotte | in NC on December 11, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Sioux Falls | in SD on December 11, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Cleveland | in OH on December 11, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Knoxville | in TN on December 11, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Charleston | in SC on December 18, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Pittsburgh | in PA on December 18, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Austin | in TX on December 18, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Cincinnati | in OH on December 18, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
| FMLA; Coordinating FMLA, ADA, and Workers' Comp; COBRA; HIPAA; and Section 125 - Memphis | in TN on December 18, 2001 presented by A.E. Roberts Company |
Newly Posted Press Releases
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Copyright 2001 BenefitsLink.com, Inc., but you may freely distribute this email newsletter in whole. This newsletter is edited by David Rhett Baker, J.D.
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