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Compensation & Benefits

Health benefits cost more in ’21, outlook uncertain for ’22

12/22/2021
The average per-employee cost of employer-sponsored health insurance jumped 6.3% in 2021 as employees resumed care after avoiding it last year due to the pandemic, according to Mercer’s 2021 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans.

Talent war driving big pay raises for 2022

12/14/2021
With record numbers of employees quitting their jobs in 2021, HR pros are fighting a fierce battle to attract and retain top talent as the calendar flips to 2022. The most powerful weapon in their arsenal: higher pay.

ADA: Consider new schedule before leave

12/02/2021
Under the ADA, disabled employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that allow them to perform the essential functions of their jobs. Generally, employers get to choose the accommodation they prefer. But to survive a lawsuit, that accommodation better permit them to actually work if at all possible.

DOL recovered retirement funds worth $2.4 billion

12/02/2021
The Employee Benefits Security Administration recovered more than $2.4 billion in direct payments to retirement plans, participants and beneficiaries in fiscal year 2021.

Final rule: Fed contractor employees to earn at least $15 per hour

11/23/2021
The U.S. Department of Labor on Nov. 22 issued a final rule increasing the minimum wage for employees working on federal contracts to $15 per hour beginning Jan. 30, 2022.

Paid family and medical leave back in BBB bill passed by House

11/22/2021
A scaled-down provision for paid family and medical leave that had been previously stripped from the $2 trillion Build Back Better Act made it into the final version passed by the House of Representatives on Nov. 19. Odds are the entitlement will not survive once the Senate finishes with the legislation.

Average family health premiums rose 4% this year

11/16/2021
Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 4% to average $22,221 this year, according to the 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Nov. 10.

Survey: Most employers conduct pay equity reviews

11/09/2021
Nearly three in five employers—58%—voluntarily conduct pay equity reviews to identify possible pay differences between employees performing similar work, according to new research by the Society for Human Resource Management.

DOL issues final tip credit rule

11/04/2021
A new final rule from the DOL prohibits employers from paying tipped workers a sub-minimum wage if they perform non-tip-producing work more than 20% of the time.

HSA distributions hit an all-time low last year

10/28/2021
The cause: the pandemic, of course.