Benefits and Compensation Tag

12 Jan An Employer’s Liability under ERISA for 401(k) and Other Employee Benefit Plans

Posted at 13:26h in Commercial Insurance

Employers offering 401(k) plans to their employees assume significant responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. As the federal law designed to protect employee retirement plans, ERISA imposes strict standards of care upon those who establish and administer such plans. Unfortunately, many employers fail...

27 Sep Counting Employees for COBRA

Posted at 17:07h in Health Insurance, Human Resources

If an employer has 13 full-time employees, each of whom works 40 hours per week, and 10 part-time employees, each of whom works 20 hours per week, can this employer qualify as a “small-employer plan” under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)? Yes. After a...

22 Sep Family & Medical Leave Act – Armed Forces

Posted at 16:39h in Health Insurance, Human Resources

In light of recent military-related amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), should I update the FMLA notice currently posted in my employees' break room? Yes. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which generally applies to employers with 50 or more employees, was...

19 Aug Exception to the Going and Coming Rule: Workers’ Compensation

Posted at 13:11h in Risk Management

Pursuant to Florida’s workers’ compensation laws, an employer is generally required to pay compensation or furnish benefits to an employee who is injured on the job. To be considered compensable, an employee’s injury must arise out of and in the course of his or her...

01 Jul Remember the HIRE Act!

Posted at 16:34h in Human Resources

Despite the passage of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, or HIRE Act, some employers are not taking advantage of the benefits afforded by the law. Since these benefits currently only apply to qualified individuals hired before January 1, 2011, employers should make every...

22 May Independent Contractor or Employee? Answering Incorrectly Can Prove Costly

Posted at 15:30h in Human Resources

Determining whether a new worker should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor has always been an important decision. The choice is not always an easy one, and the absence of a clear-cut rule of universal application often leads to inadvertent misclassifications. Moreover,...

26 Apr Converting a Safe Workplace into Lower Workers’ Compensation Insurance Premiums

Posted at 14:18h in Commercial Insurance, Human Resources, Professional Liability, Safety

In many states, including Florida, workers' compensation insurance rates are set by the state, which means that regardless of which insurance company ultimately provides the insurance, the rates remain the same. Therefore, unlike with other types of insurance, consumers are limited in their ability to...

17 Nov Did You Know That an Employer Can be Liable for Employee Injuries Sustained at Company-Sponsored Events?

Posted at 13:25h in Human Resources, Risk Management

It's settled law that workers' compensation insurance covers employees when their injuries “arise out of and in the course and scope of employment.” But it's possible that employees who are injured while participating in company-sponsored recreational activities may also qualify for workers' compensation. This determination...

26 May Alternative Group Benefits: Another Option for Employers Coping with Rising Healthcare Costs

Posted at 19:34h in Commercial Insurance, Health Insurance

Every American is painfully aware of the impact of skyrocketing health insurance costs. Rising premiums, higher deductibles, larger co-pays, reduced benefits - both employers and employees are feeling the pinch as they look for plans that are affordable for everyone. That's why HRAs - Health Reimbursement...

15 Sep Safety in Numbers: Monitoring Your Health

Posted at 14:33h in Health Insurance, Safety

The numbers don't lie: According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute, medical costs for 2009 will increase by almost 10 percent, significantly outpacing the current rate of inflation. In response to these skyrocketing costs, the Institute also reports on the increasing popularity of workplace wellness programs,...