While there are many reasons to offer employees the opportunity to enhance their skills through education programs, a downturn in the economy often results in fewer companies participating in such programs. However, a recent survey among 1,300 HR professionals shows that companies remain committed to keeping employees educated even while the economy slows.
Employees who earn college degrees through the Employee Scholar Program (ESP)
at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) are not required to continue working
for the company after graduation, but nearly all of them do, says Lee Dailey,
director of Education and Development for UTC. Nearly 16,500 employees have
earned degrees through the program since its inception 9 years ago.
In 1985, SAS Institute had one small racquetball court and two locker rooms at its Cary, North Carolina,
headquarters. Demand was so high that there were long lines for the court, and
the hot water in the showers frequently ran out, according to Jack Poll, manager
of recreation and employee services at the software company. Employees repeatedly
expressed an interest in additional recreational facilities, and SAS stepped
up to the plate.
The Supreme Court recently ruled 5-3 that workers age 40 or older can bring disparate-impact claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)--a ruling that may fuel the rising trend of age discrimination claims, according to a labor attorney.
Once you decided you wanted one, it was hard to think about anything else.
You dreamed, and planned, and prepared. When it was finally here, you fussed
over it, and tried to give it the best of everything. Now that it's a little
older, you may believe you can leave it on its own more and more, that it needs
less of your attention. After all, you gave it a good start.
The idea behind play dates, at its core, is team building. You can sponsor retreat weekends, poetry readings, or golf tournaments--anything that takes the focus off work. The advantage of the more physical activities is the stress relief they provide.
New rules, meant to create more consistency in the accounting of employee stock
options, have been set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
While automobile and homeowner’s insurance aren’t usually considered
employee benefits, placing them in front of your employees as part of a voluntary
benefit package is worth considering.
What would motivate an employer to build an award-winning wellness program? For the Prudential Financial companies, it was genuine concern for employees' health. But lowering workers' compensation claims, disability claims, and health-care costs in general doesn't hurt, either.
