Author: Todd Leeuwenburgh

New Reform Rules Guaranteeing Better Access May Result in Higher Costs

Final health insurance market reform rules issued Feb. 22 could result in higher health premiums, a major association of health insurers predicted, even though the policy goal is make health insurance more dependable and valuable for consumers. The final rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are designed to ensure that […]

Are You Educating Your Employees About Your Wellness Programs?

“Well on the Way: Engaging Employees in Workplace Wellness,” a white paper released by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, explains that strong communication drives the effectiveness of wellness programs. The company has found that more than half of workers do not know enough about their company’s wellness programs to participate in them. In fact, […]

5 Pay Practices that Trigger ISS Attention

Because ISS reports and positions on executive pay are widely reviewed and considered by investors, comp managers need to be aware of the principal concerns ISS has, says Lifshey, managing director at the New York office of Pearl Meyer & Partners. She offered her executive pay tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and […]

5 Field-Tested Sales Comp Metrics

Sometimes it’s hard to see whether sales incentive programs are working, but there are several metrics that will clearly illuminate problems for you. Consultant Joseph DiMisa offers five real-world metrics that will help you spot problems early. DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force Effectiveness, at Sibson Consulting, is author of the best-selling business […]

18 Questions for Comp Managers in 2013

Here are the questions Neelman asks clients to help them complete their planning for 2013. Neelman is a principal and senior consultant with Compensation Resources, Inc. in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Who are your best employees? Which employees truly impact your success? What employees can you least afford to lose? What are your strategies […]

Managing intermittent leave: Q&A on tracking hours

How many hours of intermittent leave is an employee entitled to if they typically only work 32 hours a week? How does overtime factor in? What if an employee works a different number of hours every week—how many hours of intermittent leave is that person eligible to take? FMLA questions are seldom simple, but Marylou […]

FLSA Lawsuits Show Steep Learning Curve for Employers Offering Unpaid Internships

Employers using unpaid interns need to be wary as lawsuits challenging the structure of these unpaid jobs continue to crop up. In recent years, several high-profile lawsuits — primarily in the publishing and entertainment industries — have highlighted the exposure employers can face. Plaintiffs generally allege they were doing the work of employees and were […]

Plan Participants Again Sue Fidelity for Alleged ‘Self-Dealing’

Current and former 401(k) plan participants have sued Fidelity Investments on behalf of thousands of other plan participants and retirees to recoup account losses they say resulted from “self-dealing” by the huge asset manager. The case is worth plan sponsors’ attention because it closely resembles a widely watched 2012 ruling against Fidelity, Tussey v. ABB […]

Karma in the C-Suite? Readers Respond

Does “what goes around come around”? BLR® CEO Dan Oswald shared his thoughts on the subject in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. Many readers agreed with Oswald; others were concerned about his state of mind. Oswald’s original column concluded: “Don’t spend your time thinking about how unfair life is because some people seem […]