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Compensation & Benefits

The IRS’ proposed minimum value regs require hospital coverage

10/23/2015
First, the Department of Health and Human Services created a minimum value calculator that omitted inpatient hospitalization services. Oops. Then, the IRS issued guidance that concluded that in order to provide minimum value, group health plans must cover substantial inpatient hospitalization and physician services, or both. Proposed regulations were promised, which the IRS has now released. The regs also provide a detailed effective date.

Half of employers invested more on health care in 2015

10/23/2015
Spending on health care benefits was up in 50% of organizations surveyed this year. In contrast, only about a quarter of employers reported spending more on wellness programs and career development.

Gear could have gone home? No pay to retrieve it

10/21/2015
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has nixed a firefighter’s claim that he should be paid for the time it takes to get to his station and retrieve his firefighting gear before reporting to a different station.

Irregular schedules become worker flashpoint

10/21/2015
The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is looking at regulating schedule-setting in general for all employees across all industries.

Most U.S. employers support workplace flexibility

10/21/2015
Eighty percent employers of surveyed offer flexible work arrangements to employees, according to new research by the nonprofit WorldatWork and online career site FlexJobs.

DOL pushes retirement advice rule change

10/20/2015
Public comments closed last month on a proposed DOL rule to redefine the conflict-of-interest standard retirement plan fiduciaries must meet. It’s part of an Obama administration effort to require defined-contribution retirement-plan advisors to act in account holders’ best interests, not just provide “suitable” advice, as the law currently requires.

Don’t gamble with DOL investigations

10/19/2015
If you think you’re going to breeze through a wage and hour investigation, think again. Success is all in the preparation.

Unlimited vacation has bottom-line benefit

10/14/2015
A handful of employers let workers take as much time off as they want, as long as the work gets done. While most of those companies view unlimited vacation as a great perk that helps reward and retain talented and hard-working employees, there’s another reason to offer it.

D.C. bill would provide 16 weeks of paid leave, the most in U.S.

10/13/2015
Legislation before the Washington, D.C., City Council would grant District residents 16 weeks of paid family and medical leave, the most generous leave mandate in the nation.

Take off (or not): Paid leave is relatively rare

10/12/2015
Almost every employer offers employees a handful of paid holidays. Otherwise, less than half of employers offer paid leave benefits.