| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
January 18, 2007
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A Perspective on Telecommuting's Patently Obvious Gains
Excerpt: "Employees telecommuting from home for work is becoming a fact of life in the Internet age. Employers are embracing such arrangements, such that they now are beginning to reimburse employees for the Internet services they use at home for work purposes." (CNET Networks, Inc.)
Taxable Fringe Benefit Guide (PDF)
103 pages. Excerpt: "The Taxable Fringe Benefits Guide was created by the Internal Revenue Service to provide understanding of which employee fringe benefits related to travel and non-travel issues taxable and reportable under the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, and procedures." (Internal Revenue Service)
Audio: San Francisco Order for Paid Sick Leave for All
Excerpt: "San Francisco will become the first city in the U.S. to require all employers to provide paid sick leave. Labor groups hope the new law will serve as an example. Many small business owners say they can't afford the mandate." (Morning Edition via National Public Radio)
Calculus of Workplace Benefits Shifts
Excerpt: "Companies that currently fund employee benefits get to deduct them as business expenses, a tax break they lose if workers pay all of the costs themselves. Meanwhile, workers may gain some tax advantages from paying for their own benefits." (The Wall Street Journal via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Poised for First Test in San Francisco
Excerpt: "California will lead the rest of the country into new employment benefits territory in February when a San Francisco ordinance mandating paid sick leave goes into effect." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
Overview of Final HIPAA Regulations
Excerpt: "[T]he IRS, EBSA, and HCFA have published final nondiscrimination and wellness program regulations that provide guidance in complying with HIPAA. These final regulations were published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2006 and are effective on the first day of the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2007. For calendar year plans, the new regulations generally apply beginning January 1, 2008." (CCA Strategies, LLC)
The Health Insurance Experiment: A Classic RAND Study & the Current Health Care Reform Debate (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "The purpose of this research brief is to summarize the [landmark RAND study: the Health Insurance Experiment's (HIE)] main findings and clarify its relevance for today's debate. Our goal is not to conclude that cost sharing is good or bad but to illuminate its effects so that policymakers can use the information to make sound decisions." (RAND)
Appellate Ruling Affirms Maryland's 'Wal-Mart' Health Law Dismissal
Excerpt: "A federal appellate court has handed a business lobbying group a legal victory by upholding a lower court ruling that threw out a Maryland law that would have forced large employers to spend a minimum on employee health coverage or face penalties." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Coalition Launches No-Cost, Online Electronic Prescribing Program
Excerpt: "The National E-Prescribing Safety Initiative -- a coalition of technology and health care companies -- . . . launched an Internet-based electronic prescribing program that physicians can access at no cost, CQ HealthBeat reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Opinion: Models for Achieving the Best Health System in the World
Excerpt: "Although the task of overhauling our health care system is enormous, benchmark practices, organizations, or even nations offer useful and sometimes inspiring roadmaps to change. Some of the changes these examples suggest will require new policies at the federal or state level. Others rest in the hands of health care leaders who make decisions every day about the way health care is organized, delivered, and financed." (The Commonwealth Fund)
Transcript: Discussion with Wash. Post Business Columnist Steven Pearlstein on Health Care Reform
Excerpt: "Sterling, Va. [speaks]: Regarding trends in cost, quality and access - Is the United States in a health care crisis? Steven Pearlstein [speaks]: For many of the 47 million Americans with no insurance, its a crisis. For employers who now consider rising health care costs their biggest problem, its not a crisis, but is headed that way." (The Washington Post; free registration required)
Congressmen Push for Better Mental Health Coverage
Excerpt: "U.S. Reps. Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad on [January 16] held the first of several forums to build momentum for legislation that requires equal health insurance coverage for mental and physical illnesses." (AP via The Boston Globe)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated January 16, 2007, for Health and Welfare Plans (PDF)
4 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding health and welfare benefit plans. (Hewitt Associates)
The State of the States: A Report on Trends in Health Care Issues (PDF)
56 pages. Excerpt: "States are motivated by a number of factors, including the continued increase in the number of uninsured, declines in employer-sponsored insurance, an improved economic outlook coupled with increased state revenues, and greater political will among Governors and legislators to tackle the problem." (AcademyHealth)
Comparison between Schwarzenegger Health Plan and Single Payer for California
Excerpt: "This educational leaflet compares the proposed solution of Governor Schwarzenegger to SB 840 the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, which he vetoed last August." (California Universal Health Care Organizing Project via Physicians for a National Health Program)
Educational Campaign Encourages Baby Boomers To Invest in Long-Term Care
Excerpt: "State and federal officials have begun an educational campaign called 'Own Your Future,' which seeks to encourage baby boomers to invest in their long-term care costs, 'especially when many are convinced that government-subsidized programs will take care of their needs,' the Houston Chronicle reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Senate Panel Limits Pay Deferrals for Executives
Excerpt: "On a voice vote, the committee agreed to change rules permitting some executives to amass millions of dollars in tax-deferred accounts. Limiting that perquisite would raise $806 million over 10 years, by congressional estimates." (The Washington Post; free registration required)
Fed Chief Ben Bernanke Warns Strain from Retiring 'Baby Boomers' Could Weaken U.S. Economy
Excerpt: "'In the end, the fundamental decision that Congress, the administration and the American people must confront is how large a share of the nation's economic resources to devote to federal government programs, including transfer programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,' he said." (AP via Boston Herald)
Opinion: States' Employee Benefit Liabilities Continue to Outpace Revenue Growth
Excerpt: "Clearly, we need to adjust the normal retirement age for increased life expectancy. Then public employees and employers will both have more years to contribute to their retirement plans, thus increasing the plans' assets and reducing their liabilities." (Congressional Quarterly, Inc.)
Washington G.ay Rights Legislation on Domestic Benefits Covers Unwed Seniors
Excerpt: "Democratic lawmakers proposing a domestic-partnership bill for g.ay and les.bian couples want to extend those same rights to heterose.xuals 62 and older. The legislation would give g.ays, les.bians and unmarried seniors the right to visit a partner in the hospital, inherit their property without a will and make funeral arrangements, among other things. It's expected to be introduced next week." (The Seattle Times)
Overview: SEC Amendment of Option Disclosure Requirements (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "The newest amendments became effective on December 29, 2006 as interim final rules. However, the SEC will consider any comments it receives before January 29, 2007 and will revise the interim final rule amendments as necessary." (Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP)
Overview: Change in Proxy Disclosure of Equity Compensation
Excerpt: "In this article, [CCA Strategies explores] this change by discussing some common scenarios with respect to plan provisions and FAS 123R expensing methodologies." (CCA Strategies, LLC)
Chronological Summary of Major Post-ERISA Benefit Legislation (PDF)
17 pages. This document summarizes all the major post-ERISA benefits legislation enacted since ERISA. (Hewitt Associates)
Major Post-ERISA Benefit Legislation (PDF)
2 pages. This document provides a listing of the legislation by title. (Hewitt Associates)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide for January 16, 2007, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF)
2 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding human resources and employment law. (Hewitt Associates)
Newly Posted Events
Challenges and Solutions for Mature ESOP Companies
in Missouri on March 12, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Executive Compensation for ESOP Companies
Nationwide on May 10, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Handling the ESOP Repurchase Obligation
Nationwide on June 12, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Handling the Repurchase Obligation
in Colorado on April 11, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Health on the Hill - Webcast
Nationwide on January 18, 2007
presented by KaiserNetwork.org and Congressional Quarterly
Is an ESOP Right for You? The Basics
Nationwide on June 5, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Is an ESOP Right for You? Valuation, Finance, and Culture
Nationwide on June 7, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Making Your Company a Great Place to Work: Lessons from the Best Companies to Work For
Nationwide on February 6, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Measuring and Managing Ownership Culture
Nationwide on April 18, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Navigating the 409A Deferred Compensation Plan Rules
Nationwide on May 22, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
New Rules for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) -- What Changes Are Allowed and How and When Should We Make Them?
Nationwide on January 11, 2007
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Preferred Stock in an ESOP
Nationwide on May 24, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
S Corporation ESOPs
Nationwide on May 1, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
What You Need to Know as an Internal ESOP Fiduciary
Nationwide on May 29, 2007
presented by National Center for Employee Ownership
Newly Posted Press Releases
Allied Pilots Association Outraged That Executive Bonuses Could Match or Exceed American Airlines’ 2006 Net Profit
Allied Pilots Association (APA)
ftwilliam.com Announces the Availability 1099 MISC Forms
ftwilliam.com
New Survey Reveals Connection Between Headaches and Productivity at Work
Institute of Health & Productivity Management
CaliforniaChoice Introduces the Most Advanced Online Enrollment Program for Health Coverage in California
CHOICE Administrators
Workplace Options Continues Global Expansion of Work-Life and EAP Services with Acquisition of Irish Company
Workplace Options
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Client Integration Transition Manager
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in NY
Quality Assurance and Compliance Auditor, Employee Benefits
for ABD Insurance and Financial Services
in CA
Sales Consultant - Retirement Benefits
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in NC
401(k) Administrator
for Santa Barbara TPA
in CA
DC Retirement Plan Administrator
for American Pension Benefits, Inc.
in PA
Account Relationship Manager
for Beneco, Inc.
in AZ
Retirement Services Administrator
for DeWaay Benefit Administrators, LLC
in IA
ERISA Attorney
for Haynes and Boone, LLP
in TX
Compliance Specialist
for Beneco, Inc.
in AZ
Compliance Document Specialist II
for Beneco, Inc.
in AZ
Retirement Plan Analyst - Job #01001943
for Weyerhaeuser Company
in WA
Compliance Specialist - ERISA
for MassMutual Financial Group
in MA
Sales Executive, Group Health Insurance Benefits
for John Adcock Insurance Agency, Inc.
in FL
Labor & Employment Associate - Employee Benefits
for Nixon Peabody LLP
in NY
Retirement Plan Services Analyst
for Precept
in CA
Payroll Strategist & Service Delivery Manager #41229
for Byrnes & Rupkey, Inc.
in OH
Plan Administrator
for South Florida TPA
in FL
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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