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Compensation & Benefits

‘Modest’ premium hikes for health benefits

11/08/2017

Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 3% to $18,764 this year, continuing a six-year run of relatively modest increases.

More employers institute 401(k) auto-enrollment

11/08/2017

More employers than ever are automatically enrolling employees in defined contribution retirement plans such as 401(k)s, according to a new survey by Alight Solutions, an HR consultancy that recently spun off from Aon Hewitt.

Tax reform legislation: House would spare 401(k)s, axe other benefits

11/02/2017

The House Committee on Ways and Means has released legislative text for tax reform—H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. If enacted, it would substantially change the fringe benefits you offer to employees. The bill retains tax-favored status for employee 401(k) plan contributions, but changes the tax status of other benefits.

Want fees with that? McDonald’s pays $1 mil

11/02/2017

The owners of 16 McDonald’s franchises in Pennsylvania have agreed to pay more than $1 million to settle charges they violated state law when they paid employees with fee-laden debit cards.

Fired for misconduct: Can former employee collect unemployment benefits?

11/01/2017

Q. A former employee engaged in misconduct, which resulted in his discharge. Now he is requesting unemployment compensation benefits under California law. Is an employee entitled to these benefits if he or she is no longer employed, regardless of the circumstances?

Study finds benefits costs vary greatly by industry

10/31/2017
The cost of employer-provided health care and retirement benefits, measured as a percentage of pay, varies greatly by industry, according to research by the Willis Towers Watson consulting firm.

Ignored work rules? No unemployment benefits

10/26/2017
Employers are entitled to impose reasonable rules in their workplaces. Workers who refuse to abide by those rules aren’t eligible for unemployment compensation benefits if they are terminated.

Holiday bonuses: Great for everyone’s morale but yours

10/26/2017
Employees usually receive their bonuses in December, but Payroll must begin planning for them now. Here’s what you need to know.

1,099 miscellaneous reasons why you’re stressed out now

10/26/2017
Completing Forms W-2/W-3 and getting them into employees’ and the Social Security Administration’s hands on time is challenging enough. Your stress compounds exponentially if you also handle Forms 1099-MISC for the company’s independent contractors. Here’s what you need to know for the upcoming 1099 filing season.

Out-of-pocket costs rising in large employer plans

10/24/2017
About one in four people (24%) covered by large employer health insurance plans spent more than $1,000 out-of-pocket on health care in 2015, according to new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s an increase of seven percentage points from 17% in 2005.