Insurance

Employer-sponsored health plan costs rose 2.6% in 2017

12/05/2017

Cost growth has averaged just 3.3% annually over the past five years, compared to 6.2% over the prior five-year period.

Cover all bases when settling workers’ comp claim

12/04/2017

Sometimes, employers and employees decide to settle a workers’ compensation claim. But don’t assume that will put an end to the matter—unless you have expert legal help drafting a complete release of any and all claims.

When it comes to unemployment benefits, angry outburst isn’t reason enough to quit

11/21/2017

Courts will always examine employment issues through the lens of one question: Would an average, reasonable worker have quit under the circumstances, choosing to become unemployed?

Dependent care flexible spending accounts avoid House tax bill axe

11/14/2017

The version of tax reform legislation passed by the House Ways and Means Committee Nov. 9 retains popular dependent care flexible spending accounts.

Quitting for severance bars unemployment benefits

11/09/2017

Workers who quit their jobs and take a severance payment in exchange for dropping a potential lawsuit weren’t “forced” to quit because of something their employers did to make remaining employed impossible. They, therefore, aren’t eligible for unemployment compensation payments.

‘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.

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.

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.