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March 2, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
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(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Form M-1 Online Filing System User Guide
Excerpt: "This guide is intended to provide assistance in using the Online M-1 Filing system. The guide addresses only those functions and links related to M-1 form processing ..." (U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration)
Frequently Asked Questions about the Form M-1 Online Filing System
Excerpt: "Starting 03/01/04 the Production system will go live, allowing for the filing of: The 2003 Form M-1; Amended reports for filing years 2003 (and later); Final reports for filing years 2003 (and later); 90-Day Origination reports for filing years 2003 (and later); [and] Request for Extension of filing for the current filing year" (U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration)
2003 Form M-1 and Instructions (PDF)
35 pages. (U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration)
Employers Should Act Now on COBRA Notification Rules
Excerpt: "DOL expects to issue final rules in 2004, and group health plans will have six months after the final rules are adopted to comply. In the meantime, DOL has stated that plans are required to operate in good-faith compliance with a reasonable interpretation of the proposed rules, and may (but are not required to) use the model notices to satisfy their COBRA notice obligations." (BenefitNews.com)
Before and After, COBRA and Medicare: the Complete Tales of Rev. Rul. 2004-22
In Rev. Rul. 2004-22, the IRS holds that the Medicare entitlement of a covered employee is not a second qualifying event for a qualified beneficiary unless the Medicare entitlement would have resulted (if COBRA continuation coverage is disregarded) in a loss of coverage for the qualified beneficiary under the group health plan that is providing the COBRA continuation coverage. (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Catholic Group Must Cover Birth Control, California Supreme Court Says
Excerpt: "Catholic Charities must include contraceptives in its employee pres.cription drug coverage, even though the church believes birth control is sinful, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday. The 6-1 ruling came in a case that has been watched around the country as a contest between advocates of making contraceptives widely available to women and religious groups that have sought broad exemptions based on their faiths." (Los Angeles Times; one-time registration required)
Opinion: Handicapping Religion
Excerpt: "Religious neutrality -- the customary commandment of the First Amendment -- was cast out of the constitutional heavens [by the U.S. Supreme Court last week]." (Washington Times)
Younger Workers May Not Pursue ADEA Claim That Firm Favored Older Employees: Supreme Court
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a group of plaintiffs between the ages of 40 and 49 may not pursue an action under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) alleging that their employer discriminated against them in favor of older employees. The case is General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. v. Cline (Docket No. 02-1080). (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Social Security's New Deal for Disability
Excerpt: "The agency's troubled programs are undergoing a major overhaul. Employers could enjoy lower costs, and disabled workers could be more motivated to go back to work without risking the loss of medical coverage." (Workforce.com)
The Joy of Flex
Excerpt: "Cendant Mobility's Flexible Work Options program has saved the company millions of dollars, energized the workforce and brought turnover down to less than 10 percent." (Workforce.com)
HR Departments Encounter the National Weight Crisis
Excerpt: "[T]hose extra pounds are having serious ramifications relating to health care costs, productivity, morale and potential employee discrimination. As a result, HR professionals find themselves on the hot plate, facing the unenviable challenges of controlling costs, addressing the needs of a ballooning workforce, emphasizing healthy lifestyle options and sensitizing both the lean and the large to the advantages of overcoming harmful weight-based stereotypes." (HR Magazine)
Employers Offering Identity Theft Protection As Fringe Benefit
Excerpt: "Identity Safeguards in Oregon has signed on five corporate clients since the business opened its doors in November. The company helps people obtain credit reports and fraud reports and provides a recovery advocate, legal assistance, damage assessment and lost income reimbursement up to $20,000 or $30,000, depending on the kind of plan that is purchased." (BenefitNews.com)
Health Savings Accounts: Time To Get Onboard?
Excerpt: "By shifting a higher portion of medical costs to workers via high-deductible health insurance plans, which are linked to tax-advantaged spending accounts that double as retirement funds, HSAs make less-encompassing consumer-driven vehicles look like Model-Ts." (Society for Human Resource Management)
Disease Management: More Care, Less Cost
Excerpt: "Disease management today encompasses treatment of the whole person, with all the challenges and conditions that might be part of her life. Chronic illnesses receive as much attention as illness-prevention services. And get ready for significant savings---an ROI exceeding 4 to 1, according to one study." (Workforce.com)
Small Business Groups Disagree on Benefits, Drawbacks of Association Health Plans Bill
Excerpt: "Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how legislation that would allow small businesses to band together across state lines to form association health plans is 'causing divisions' among some small business groups. The legislation would exempt AHPs from state regulations and coverage requirements, according to Dow Jones/Journal." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Bush Administration Targets Nonmedical Use of Pres.cription Drugs, Including Sale Over Internet
Excerpt: "The Bush administration on Monday announced a comprehensive campaign to 'crack down' on pres.cription drug abuse, the Washington Post reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Opinion: Are Americans Ready for Universal Health Care?
Excerpt: "I am most amazed that proponents of universal coverage see this as a way of actually controlling costs. There is absolutely no way to control the rate of increase in health care costs other than to simply fix a budget each year and let it grow at no more than an agreed upon rate. What happens then?" (Richard D. Quinn on BenefitsNews.com)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Are First-class Airfares Worth Paying For?
Excerpt: "How far must first-class airfares fall before people decide it's actually worth it to pay to sit in the front seats? In recent weeks, the nation's airlines have decided to find out." (Wall Street Journal via SFGate.com)
In Enron's Wake, Time for a Review of Nonqualified Plans
Excerpt: "Even though the plans get a bad rap in the press, it's still a good idea to review these plans and remove 'anomalies.'" (Workforce.com)
Aging and Work-- a View from the United States
Excerpt: "In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, Sara Rix explores trends in the employment and retirement of older Americans over the past 50 years; highlights some of the factors behind those trends; describes where and under what circumstances older persons in the United States are employed; speculates on what the future may hold for older workers; and identifies policies and programs that do or could encourage labor force attachment at later ages." (AARP Research)
Say What? Listen on Ninth Circuit Oral Arguments
Excerpt: "The audiofiles will be posted the day after argument and will remain available on the web page for three months." (Attorney B. Janell Grenier on BenefitsBlog)
Overview: Modification of Employee Note Constitutes Payment of Wages
Excerpt: "The ruling is significant because many taxpayers and tax advisors have been advocating, particularly during the recent economic recession, that a reduction or cancellation of an employee note under these circumstances often was a non-taxable event by reason of statutory (or applicable common law) purchase price reduction or insolvency authorities." (Perkins Coie)
Grocery Workers Make Big Sacrifices
Excerpt: "Pension benefits for veteran employees will be reduced to 65 percent of current levels, maxing out at $1.92 an hour by the end of the contract. For new hires, it will max out at 80 cents, less than half of the reduced amount." (Contra Costa Times)
German Leader Vows to Stick with Pension, Welfare Reforms
Excerpt: "Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder pledged Monday to press ahead with economic reforms despite a 'painful' state election defeat that exposed voters' anger about his drive to trim welfare-state programs.... Party officials cited public anger about Schroeder's drive to trim pension, health care and jobless benefits among the critical reasons for the defeat, but Schroeder insisted he would stick to his course." (AP via New York Times; one-time registration required)
Newly Posted Events
412(i) and Beyond - What the New Rules Mean for Me
Nationwide on March 3, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
How To Grow Your Retirement Plans Business Part II: Changing Business Practices
in Illinois on October 12, 2004
presented by Center for Due Diligence
Newly Posted Press Releases
PBGC Grants Leap-Year Extension to 4010 Filers
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC))
ICMA Retirement Corporation Develops EZLink
(ICMA Retirement Corporation)
Assistant DOL Secretary To Address 401(k) Industry At SPARK Conference
(RG Wuelfing & Associates)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Health & Welfare Consultant
for Towers Perrin
in CT, DC, NJ, NY, OH, TX
Litigation Attorney
for Slevin & Hart, P.C.
in DC
Benefits Analyst
for Apple Computer, Inc.
in CA
AVP Business Development & Analysis
for Merrill Lynch Retirement Group
in NJ
Senior Benefits Analyst
for Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP
in NY
Defined Benefit Pension Administrator
for Bruce & Bruce Company
in IL
Pension Administrator
for The Nolan Company
in KS, MO
Benefits Manager
for Milgard Manufacturing
in WA
Processing Department Manager
for Benesystems
in AZ
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