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Women Face Retirement Challenges, GAO Reports

"While U.S. women are now more likely to be covered by employer-offered retirement plans than men, they continue to end up with less retirement income and face a greater risk of living in poverty than elderly men, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Why? According to the GAO, it's mainly because women tend to have lower lifetime earnings than men, take more time away of the workforce to care for family members, and outlive their spouses. And, oh by the way, the recession and its bite on pension plans in general isn't helping, either."

What Small Businesses Should Look for in a 401(k) Plan

"Business owners, and especially small business owners who don't have the same leverage that larger companies have when dealing with 401(k) plan administrators, still need to ask more questions about exactly where each dollar goes. That means digging into expense ratios, the fees that you pay for mutual funds. Who gets each dollar your employees pay? And what about the share class? Even if the mutual fund being offered is a good one, there might be a cheaper version of it in a different share class."

Salaries and Benefits of U.S. Congress Members

Excerpt: The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress.

Orienting the New Employee

Excerpt: Your new employee orientation is a make ‘em or break ‘em experience, for a new employee. At its best, the process of new employee orientation solidifies the new employee's relationship with your organization. It fuels their enthusiasm and guides their steps into a long term positive relationship with you.

10 Tips for the Leader About Building Employee Motivation and Morale at Work

Excerpt: Other than the decisions individuals make on their own about liking their work, you are the most powerful factor in employee motivation and morale. By your words, your body language, and the expression on your face, as a manager, supervisor, or leader, you telegraph your opinion of their value to the people you employee.

Are You Getting the Best Benefit From Your Benefits?

Excerpt: Employees undervalue their benefits for many reasons including: employers communicate the value of the benefits poorly, the employees have little or no choice in benefits packages or options, and the employees misunderstand the market value of benefits.