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'Software as a Service' May Ease Adoption of Online Employee Benefit Administration

Excerpt: Companies that move their benefits management online have experienced increased efficiencies while cutting costs. Most companies don't have the time or resources to develop and maintain a system in-house, so one solution could be to adopt software as a service, or SaaS. An SaaS-based system can be significantly cheaper than an in-house system for many reasons, such as no licensing fees or implementation costs.

Some EAPs Find That Online Therapy Clicks With Clients

Excerpt: Internet-based counseling and behavioral health services are finding their way into company employee assistance programs alongside in-person and telephone-based therapies. The services use a variety of Internet-related platforms, including e-mail, instant messaging, live chat and, in some cases, Skype video calls or other Internet-based videoconferencing.

Online Hearing: Examining the Health and Future of the Defined Benefit Plan

Duration: 1 hour, 32 minutes.

Retirement Plan Design and the Mobile Workforce

Excerpt: This is the first of two companion articles on the effect of job switching on employer-provided retirement income benefits. The focus of this article is plan features that can affect the benefits of those who switch jobs. The second article, scheduled for publication in the October issue of Compensation and Working Conditions Online, looks at the options available to employees once they have made the decision to leave an employer that provides retirement income benefits.

U.S. Labor Department Unveils Online Video to Help Small Employers Select Appropriate Retirement Plans

Excerpt: [The online video is meant] to help small employers and accountants understand the various options for providing a retirement program for their employees. 'Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business' introduces employers to the three most popular retirement arrangements. The video portrays real-life experiences of four small employers that operate simplified employee pension (SEP), savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement arrangement (SIMPLE IRA) and 401(k) plans. It focuses on the ease in setting up a retirement program appropriate for small business owners as well as the advantages of sponsoring a retirement plan, including tax breaks and as a tool to attract and retain a quality workforce.

DOL Announces Online Tool to Help Workers, Employers Understand Medical- and Disability-Related Leave

"The new tool asks users a few questions, such as type of business or organization, workforce size and if the entity receives federal financial assistance; with that information, the advisor quickly directs users to federal employment laws that apply and provides additional information. These laws include the Family and Medical Leave Act which provides eligible employees of covered employers up to 12 work weeks of leave in a 12-month period for certain reasons, among them the employee's own serious health condition; and the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability nondiscrimination laws, under which leave may be considered a reasonable accommodation."

FMLA and the Modern Workforce

"[E]mployers must grapple with the FMLA's requirements within the confines of the new, often remote, modern workforce.... Employers must display a physical poster at a worksite, on an internal website where remote and/or hybrid employees have access, and online where job applicants may apply for a position. However, the poster must also be displayed in any area where an applicant will be onsite for a job interview."

Financial Education for Today's Workforce: 2016 Survey Results (PDF)

80 pages. "Two in five respondents feel a responsibility to educate on pension and benefit options, encourage retirement savings and help participants/employees become financially literate managers of their money.... Among organizations offering financial education, the most common topics are retirement plan benefits, preretirement financial planning, investments and retirement plan distributions.... [T]he most effective methods of providing financial education were: Free personal consultation services; Voluntary classes/workshops; and Web-based/online resources and courses."

Accommodating Older Workers

Excerpt: To combat this looming [labor] shortage, HR professionals must begin to craft policies and programs that not only make older people want to stay with a company, but also make it easier for them to do so. These include such things as: ...

Retirement at Risk: What HR Must Do

Excerpt: A 'perfect storm' of forces is bearing down on retirement. The stock market rumbles, Enron crumbles, and Social Security quavers. Here's how HR should respond.