According to a report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, just 19 percent of employers say their employees had a "high level of understanding of their benefits." The report cites three main reasons for this: Employees don't open or read the materials. Employees don't understand the materials. Employees don't see the value in their benefits. The good news is … [Read more...]

Employer coverage - Is your business covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? You must adhere to the FMLA if you employ at least 50 employees in 20 or more workweeks in the current or prior calendar year. The employees must also meet certain eligibility rules. Notice requirements - Is the FMLA poster displayed in a conspicuous area of your work site, where employees and job … [Read more...]

Title 1 of the ADA prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees based on disability. Employers must also provide "reasonable accommodations" to the employees with disabilities — unless such accommodations would cause undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations are workplace changes that enable disabled employees to carry out their essential job functions. … [Read more...]

Employers are legally required to provide employees with federal and state labor law posters, which inform employees of their rights in the workplace. Certain posters must also be made available to job applicants. Employers must place the posters in a conspicuous area of the worksite or make them digitally accessible to remote employees. In most cases, you are only required to display an … [Read more...]

Defined benefit plans are retirement plans that are largely funded by employers, with payouts based on a set formula that considers employees' salary, age and tenure with the company. Also known as pension plans, they historically were offered to entice workers to stay with one company for years. But as lower-cost defined contribution plans arose, defined benefit plans became much less … [Read more...]

Artificial intelligence is generally defined as "machines that respond to stimulation consistent with traditional responses from humans, given the human capacity for contemplation, judgment and intention," according to the Brookings Institution. Basically, AI "makes decisions that normally would require [a] human level of expertise." How are HR professionals and recruiters using … [Read more...]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines "vaping" as the use of an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) such as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe or e-hookah. These devices "deliver aerosolized nicotine, flavorings, and/or other chemicals into the lungs of users." The use of ENDSs is increasing and becoming a widespread issue for employers. One study found that … [Read more...]

A 2020 report by Ernst & Young says on-demand pay is "the term used to describe a category of financial products that give employees the ability to draw on their accrued wages before payday." The Case for On-Demand Pay In 2017, CareerBuilder reported that a staggering 78% of U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck. Since then, surveys from other sources have shown a decline in that … [Read more...]

Critical illness insurance is a type of supplemental insurance that is designed to help with the cost of treating certain serious illnesses. These illnesses typically require expensive medical treatment and procedures that may not be covered under a standard or comprehensive health insurance plan. Employees can purchase an individual critical illness insurance plan on their own, or they can get … [Read more...]

Veterans can be a great resource. According to news and resource website Military.com, members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces can bring the following qualities to civilian workplaces: Loyalty to the team. Reliable work ethic. Self-discipline. Extensive communication skills. However, service members and veterans often face significant barriers to employment, including bias … [Read more...]