Insurance

It’s time to tell a new story about voluntary benefits

12/10/2014

The Affordable Care Act has precipitated a new appreciation for voluntary benefits. A well-designed package of them will be essential for recruiting and retaining top talent.

Quitting in anticipation of being fired bars benefits

12/08/2014

An employee who quits because he thinks he may be fired isn’t usually eligible for unemployment benefits. If there was still work available, quitting would have been unreasonable.

Rival manufacturers partner on emergency fund for employees

12/05/2014

Rival recreational vehicle makers Forest River Inc. and Thor Industries can agree on one thing: Businesses need to be there for their employees during times of need. So the two largest employers in Elkhart, Ind., have joined forces to create and jointly fund the Forest River/Thor Community Foundation, which will provide grants of up to $20,000 to employees of either company during emergencies.

Know which ‘personal’ injuries qualify for workers’ comp

12/01/2014

Be on the lookout for employees who try to pass off personal injuries as being job-related. Challenge workers’ comp claims in such cases.

HIPAA: Compliance Rules

11/15/2014

HR Law 101: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 made changes to three areas of the continuing-coverage rules that apply to group health plans under COBRA …

After GOP Senate takeover, will ACA survive?

11/10/2014

When the midterm elections swept Republicans to complete control of Congress starting in January, incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House John Boehner immediately vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That’s unlikely to happen.

Walmart drops health benefits for part-timers

10/30/2014

Walmart has announced it will stop offering health insurance benefits next year to part-time employees working less than 30 hours per week—about 5% of the retail giant’s workers.

What’s the procedure for handling a worker’s comp claim when an employee is injured?

10/27/2014

Q. As a California employer, what should I do if one of my employees gets injured on the job or has a work-related illness?

Even though we have no employees, do we still need workers’ comp coverage?

10/27/2014

Q. My daughter and I are the sole owners of our business. Are we required to obtain workers’ compensation coverage even though we have no employees?

IRS lets employees drop cafeteria coverage, choose ACA plans

10/22/2014

The IRS has expanded the conditions under which cafeteria plans may allow employees to revoke their participation in group health plans to account for individual coverage that’s available on the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges. That could save them money.