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October 23, 2003 - 8,609 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
"How to Conduct Successful Workplace Investigations" A 90-Minute Interactive Audio Conference – Monday, November 10, 2003 * 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE – it was previously scheduled for Nov. 11) During this 90-minute interactive presentation, specialists in the field of workplace investigations will cover such important topics as: the proper role of the investigators in conducting internal investigations and the standards applicable to internal investigations, confidentiality, appropriate investigative procedures and more. Register today!
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
$7.3 Million Judgment Against Principals of Employers Mutual
Excerpt: "A federal court in Reno, Nevada has entered a default judgment requiring the principals of Carson City-based Employers Mutual LLC and affiliated companies to pay $7.3 million in losses suffered by health plans operated by the corporation, according to the Department of Labor, which filed the lawsuit that led to the ruling." (BenefitsNext)
Grocery Workers Digging In for Long Fight
Excerpt: "These huge grocery chains-- all of them profitable-- are demanding cuts in health care and pension funds, as well as demanding a two-tier wage system. One of the main concerns of the strikers is the companies' proposals for the pension plan." (Socialist Worker Online)
Cheap Drugs From Canada: Another Political Hot Potato
Excerpt: "Drug makers long ignored the trickle of patients who trooped across the border to buy drugs cheaply, but that trickle is threatening to turn into a flood. The growing political support for drug imports has galvanized the industry against one of the most serious threats to its profits since the Clinton health care proposals of 1993." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Medicare Outline May Be in Reach by Friday
Excerpt: "Pushed by congressional leaders to bring weeks of talks to a close, negotiators hammering out a final Medicare bill said they aimed to have at least the main pieces of an agreement in place by Friday." (Reuters via Boston Globe)
Long-Term Care in Developed Nations: a Brief Overview
Excerpt: "[T]his AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper ... [provides] a brief overview of many key long-term care policy trends in developed nations, such as encouraging home and community services, providing support for family caregivers, and insuring individuals against the high costs of long-term care." (AARP Research)
Overseas Computer Transcriber Threatens San Francisco Employer Over Back Pay; HIPAA Rules Involved
Excerpt: "A woman in Pakistan doing cut-rate clerical work for UCSF Medical Center threatened to post patients' confidential files on the Internet unless she was paid more money. To show she was serious, the woman sent UCSF an e-mail earlier this month with actual patients' records attached. The violation of medical privacy - apparently the first of its kind - highlights the danger of 'offshoring' work that involves sensitive materials ..." (SFGate.com)
You May Need To Offer Conversion Coverage When COBRA Ends
Excerpt: "Many states require employers to include a conversion option in their group health plans.... Under federal COBRA rules, employers that do offer an individual conversion option to active employees must make that option available to COBRA qualified beneficiaries as well. This COBRA Tip will explain your obligations regarding conversion coverage for COBRA recipients." (OnQue Technologies, Inc.)
U.S. Judge Delays Aetna Settlement Ruling
From 10/15/03. Excerpt: " U.S. judge delayed ruling on Tuesday on Aetna Inc.'s $100 million cash settlement with hundreds of thousands of doctors who accused the nation's No. 3 health insurer of cheating them on payments. U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno initially said he would need at least a week to review the deal then later said he had no idea when he would rule." (Reuters via Medscape; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Spencer Survey Finds That Salaries For Benefit Managers Averaged $78,080
The average salary for benefit managers in 2003 was $78,080, according to the biennial employee benefit managers survey conducted by Spencer Benefits Reports, a division of Aspen Publishers. Spencer Benefits Reports' 2003 benefit managers survey also asked employee benefit managers about departmental structure, budgets, and problems. The survey obtained information from 145 companies representing more than 300,000 employees. (SpencerNet)
Tech Firms Resist Rules On Stock Option Expensing
Excerpt: "An overwhelming majority of technology companies plan to resist expensing stock options unless required to do so by regulators, according to a report released Tuesday by the accounting and consulting giant Deloitte & Touche [sic]." (SFGate.com)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Pension Consultant
for The Retirement Advantage, Inc.
in WI
Benefits Manager
for Clifton Gunderson LLP
in WI
Employee Benefits Paralegal
for Krieg DeVault LLP
in IN
Operations Supervisor (Disbursement Services)
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC
Policy/Negotiations Project Manager (2 years Contract)
for UC Office of the President
in CA
Newly Posted Webcasts
(Post Yours!)
Health FSAs and Over-the-Counter Drugs
on October 30, 2003
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America, LLC (EBIA)
“Over-the-Counter Drugs” Teleconference Sessions
on October 15, 2003
presented by Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)
“Over-the-Counter Drugs” Teleconference Sessions
on October 22, 2003
presented by Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)
“Over-the-Counter Drugs” Teleconference Sessions
on October 29, 2003
presented by Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)
“Over-the-Counter Drugs” Teleconference Sessions
on November 5, 2003
presented by Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)
“Over-the-Counter Drugs” Teleconference Sessions
on November 12, 2003
presented by Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
How to Conduct Successful Workplace Investigations
in ALL STATES
November 10, 2003
Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.
Annual Spring Employee Benefits Law and Practice Update
in ALL STATES
April 1, 2004
ALI-ABA (American Law Institute-American Bar Association)
Recordkeeping, Investment Accounting and Compliance
in MA
December 4, 2003
Society of Professional Administrators and Recordkeepers (SPARK)
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in TX
February 2, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in AZ
February 23, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in MN
March 22, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in CA
March 29, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in NY
April 5, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in GA
April 19, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in IL
May 18, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in MA
June 23, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in DC
July 6, 2004
WorldatWork
B1: Fundamentals of Employee Benefits Programs
in CA
September 13, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in MA
February 23, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in DC
April 5, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in CA
April 14, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in NY
July 12, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in IL
August 16, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in CA
October 11, 2004
WorldatWork
B2: Retirement Plans - Design and Management
in GA
October 19, 2004
WorldatWork
B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in IL
February 18, 2004
WorldatWork
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
New Multiemployer Retirement Plan Book Available
(International Foundation)
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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