Communicating Based on 'Life Stages'--Same Benefit, Different Words
September 26, 2006—There are several good reasons for an employee to join your 401(k) plan, yet each reason may appeal to a different group of employees. Same benefit, different reasons: that's the basis for what MetLife's Randy Stram calls life-stage communication.
Calm 'High Deductible' Fears With Voluntary Policy
September 20, 2006—With more and more companies moving to high-deductible health plans, one particular kind of voluntary benefit is emerging as a winner. Critical illness coverage can increase employees' comfort levels with the change, without significantly reducing their bank accounts.
The 6 Types of Employees: Get the Right Person in the Right Job
September 08, 2006—It happens all too often. You meet with a great candidate for that job opening, he nails the interview, and you hire him on the spot, thrilled to have found your man (or woman). But the honeymoon ends abruptly. In a matter of days you realize you have hired someone totally unsuited for the job. Hoping to cut your losses, you allow him (or her) to stay on, vowing not to repeat your mistake. But as months and years go by, you slowly come to realize that your team is sprinkled with vaguely disappointing new hires?and they're taking a toll on productivity and morale.
Pension Protection Act: What Does It Mean To Your Plans?
September 05, 2006—On August 17, 2006, President Bush signed into law sweeping pension reforms that will touch virtually every retirement program in the country. Many hail the reforms as positive; a few worry about unintended consequences. BLR discussed the changes with a veteran of the pension business.
It Takes More than Money to Control Healthcare Costs
August 29, 2006—High deductible, consumer-driven health plans are meant to control healthcare
costs, and they show
some positive results. So doesn't
it follow that using them to replace traditional plans would finally rein
in the runaway costs?
'Road Warriors' Fight Travel Problems, Help Work/Life Issues
August 15, 2006—Facing increasing demands at work and at home, many employees struggle to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. Achieving work/life balance can be particularly difficult for employees whose jobs require frequent travel away from home.
Creating Results-Focused Executive Compensation
August 07, 2006—The vast majority of companies executive compensation is not "out of control," as everyone would be led to believe. The link between executive pay and firm performance can clearly be strengthened, which is the real issue. What needs to be done to improve this linkage and restore public confidence?
ROI Impressive for Alcohol Abuse Programs
August 01, 2006—Imagine all your employees in one room. Physical characteristics vary: some are tall, some are short; some blonde, some redheads; some have diabetes, some show no sign of illness. However, one thing is certain, according to the Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems program at George Washington University Medical Center: a startling percentage of your employees and their family members abuse alcohol.
Investment in Employees' Health Reduces Overall Healthcare Costs
July 25, 2006—With the rising cost of health care, some employers strive to save money by cutting back on coverage for preventive care and raising co-payments on prescription drugs. Pitney Bowes, Inc., a Stamford, Connecticut-based provider of advanced mailstream solutions, has taken an entirely different approach.
Refresh Appraisals of Long-Term Employees with Updated Language
July 18, 2006—Freshening language used to describe performance can give long-term employees a positive approach to their future development and help their managers target suggestions, rather than just repeating past appraisals.
