What's Been Working on the Railroad for Active-Duty Employees
May 23, 2006—BNSF Railway Company quickly realized that the overwhelming majority of its employees in the National Guard or Reserve make more money on the railroad than on active duty. Recognizing that a cut in pay could be "financially devastating" to employees over a long period of time, BNSF decided to provide "make-whole" pay and benefits to employees during their military service.
Consumerism: It's All in How You Say It
May 23, 2006—In recent years, the drive toward encouraging consumerism in employee healthcare plans has gained strength. As they realize that they must take steps to rein in costs, companies implement health reimbursement accounts, raise deductibles, and utilize any and all of the other cost-shifting techniques being touted by experts.
A New Twist on an Old Favorite: The Roth 401(k)
May 16, 2006—In the ongoing effort to encourage employees to save for their retirements, you've most likely hit them with at least two of the three Rs: Reading , as in great communications, and 'rithmatic, showing them how much they'll accumulate if they start contributing today. We'd like to suggest that you add a third R.
Spanish Enrollments Need More than Translation
May 05, 2006—The problem is not at the enrollment table, where you may have materials
available in Spanish, and even Spanish-speaking enrollers. The problem is
in the days leading up to the enrollment.
SEC Compensation Proposal Clears Away the Fog
May 02, 2006—While it may seem obvious, the SEC proposal does not intend to, nor will it,
reduce executive compensation, says Charles Peck, a compensation specialist at The Conference Board.
Is Your Company in Shape for an Audit?
April 20, 2006—How would your company rate if its policies, procedures, and personnel files were audited right this very minute? That was the question asked by Mitchell L. Fishberg, a partner at the law firm of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner during the firm's Annual Employment Law Update.
How to Adapt to the Changing Role of HR
April 18, 2006—Human resources professionals must develop several core competencies to adapt to the changing and increasingly strategic role of HR, according to two experts who led a recent BLR audio conference.
Public, Private Sectors Partnering on Employee Housing Benefits
April 07, 2006—Recognizing that high housing costs have "bottom-line" consequences, more employers are addressing this problem by offering employer-assisted housing benefit programs, and they are finding help available from the public sector.
Bridging the Rewards Gap: Offer Employees the Best 'Bait'
April 03, 2006—We asked Lynne C. Lancaster, co-founder of BridgeWorks, a consulting firm specializing in generational issues, to brief us on the benefits programs likely to appeal to the various generations in the workforce.
Teamwork and Compensation: Can This Marriage be Saved?
March 28, 2006—Team-based incentive programs sound, at least in theory, like the perfect solution for the organization that wants to foster teamwork among its employees. Why, then, have so many companies run into problems that range from getting everyone to agree on what teamwork actually means to deciding how rewards will be distributed among team members?
