January 31, 2003 - 7,947 subscribers Today's sponsor: WorldatWork (Click on company name or banner to learn more.) Our Bookstore now carries books published by WorldatWork! WorldatWork, the professional association for compensation, benefits and total rewards professionals, now has more than 30 select publications appearing for sale in the BenefitsLink.com bookstore. (Help BenefitsLink to provide this newsletter at no charge to you -- our sponsors pay your way. Remember to visit them periodically; we try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) CalPERS to Pay $250 to Settle Age Discrimination Suit Over Disability Benefits Excerpt: "The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the money would be paid to 1,700 disabled police officers, firefighters and other safety officers whose disability benefits were reduced based on their age when they were hired. Under a 24-year-old California law, a public safety officer hired at age 30 was to receive 50 percent of salary when disabled, someone hired at 35, 40 percent ... The percentages [also] could vary according to various factors, like job classification." (Houston Chronicle) Text of EEOC Press Release on $250 Million Settlement with CalPERS Disability Program Excerpt: "The lawsuit, filed under the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), alleged that the officers suffered discrimination because their industrial disability retirement (IDR) benefits were reduced in proportion to their age at hire.... [The settlement] provides approximately $50 million to the state and local public safety officers for reduced IDR benefits in the past [and] $200 million (present value) to be paid out over the remainder of the officers' lifetimes." (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) Smallpox Vaccinations for Employees: Considerations for Employers Excerpt: "On December 13, 2002, President George W. Bush declared that smallpox could be used as a weapon against Americans, and he announced a Smallpox Response Plan to enhance protection for Americans from hostile governments and terrorists, who may try to use this disease as a weapon. This report is intended to discuss the potential liability exposures for employers, which could occur as a result of vaccinating workers against smallpox." (Aon Consulting) Driving Savings with Consumer-Driven Health Care Excerpt: "The plans include a variety of models designed to compel employees to take a more aggressive role in their health-care purchasing decisions. The idea is to make buying health care more like buying a car." (Workforce.com) The Next Big Thing in Health Plans: Consumer Choice Excerpt: "[A]uthor Jack Bruner, Global Health Management Practice Leader for Hewitt Associates, explains the five key decision points that drive health care cost and quality, how technology aids marketplace innovations, and how employers can help advance consumer choice in order to push the health care system to deliver better care and keep inflation in check." (Hewitt Associates) Opinion: To Guarantee Universal Health Insurance Coverage, Require It Excerpt: "The most promising solution to America's health care crisis is mandatory insurance. For the same reasons most states require drivers to carry car insurance, the federal government should require all Americans to purchase basic health insurance." (Ted Halstead in the New York Times; one-time registration required) Contest Offers $10,000 Prize for Person, Group with Best Health Reform Plan Excerpt: "A Seattle-based health care consultant is running a contest with a $10,000 grand prize for the person or company that develops the best idea to 'fix America's ailing health care system,' the AP/Nando Times reports." (KaiserNetwork.org) Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General Getting a Grip on Executive Compensation Excerpt: "This presents human resources leaders with a unique opportunity to step between compensation committees and top management to negotiate executive compensation packages that address concerns about excessive pay while sufficiently rewarding CEOs for performance." (Workforce.com) GAO Report: PWBA Might Need More Staff (PDF) Excerpt: "Labor agencies responsible for protecting pensions have not adequately addressed their human capital issues, which could constrain their efforts to protect pensions as these agencies face an expected surge in retirements within their workforces. It is critical that these weaknesses be addressed because of Labor's wide area of responsibilities." (U.S. General Accounting Office) Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Qualified Retirement Plan Sales Person for Tycor Benefit Administrators, Inc. in DE, NJ, PA Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!) NCPERS 2003 Annual Conference and Exhibition in CO May 18, 2003 National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems NCPERS 2003 Trustee Education Seminar in CO May 16, 2003 National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems Form 5500 Update Program (half-day workshop) in MN May 14, 2003 SunGard Corbel Plan Disqualification and Correction Program (half-day workshop) in MN May 14, 2003 SunGard Corbel 401(k) Update Program (8:30 am - 4 p.m.) in MN May 15, 2003 SunGard Corbel Sal Tripodi Talks About Current Events in Employee Benefits in FL April 23, 2003 GrayHarris CONSUMER DRIVEN HEALTH CARE PLANS in GA February 20, 2003 WEB Atlanta Chapter Newly Posted Press Releases (Post Yours!) BusinessPlans, Inc. - myCafeteriaPlan.com Hires New Cafeteria Plan Administrator (BusinessPlans, Inc. - myCafeteriaPlan.com) Handy Links:
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