Top Stories

Economic Fears Increase Unhealthy Behaviors Among Employed
As the unemployment rate rises to double digits, employees who still have jobs tend to smoke more, drink more and exercise less, a new study shows. More 

Poor Health Takes Financial Toll on Employees
Working Americans who say they are in fair or poor health are more likely to be in worse financial shape than their healthier counterparts, which is another incentive for participation in wellness programs. More

Why Employee Well-Being Matters to Your Bottom Line
Employees experiencing reduced productivity while at work, or presenteeism, due to health issues are also much more likely to report that reductions in productivity are due to other factors, such as job overload, financial stress and personal problems. That's why looking at health or wellness alone to contain medical expenditures or prevent health-related productivity loss is short sighted. More

Employer Contributions Shifting in Consumer-Driven Health Plans
Among Americans who have consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) linked to accounts that are fully or partially funded by their employers, workers with individual coverage have seen their annual employer contributions decrease, while those with family coverage have seen their annual employer contributions increase, according to a new survey by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). More

Congress Weighs COBRA Subsidy Extension
Now that it's extended unemployment benefits for up to 20 additional weeks, Congress turns its attention to extending the government's subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums for unemployed workers, set to start expiring in December. More 

SHRM Poll Looks at Financial Education in the Workplace
A new SHRM poll crunches the numbers regarding financial education as an employer-provided benefit. More 

Avoid Common Myths When Coordinating FMLA and STD Leave
When coordinating the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other mandated leave with short-term disability (STD) leave plans, avert these common misconceptions. More

Fewer U.S. Companies Having Holiday Parties
Despite signs of  economic recovery, fewer companies are planning 2009 holiday parties. Among those that are, many will spend less for the event. More

More Companies Plan to Unfreeze Salaries, Restore 401(k) Matches
About half of all large U.S. companies that froze salaries for 2009 plan to unfreeze them for 2010, and over a third of companies that reduced 401(k) matching contributions plan to restore them, according to an October 2009 survey. One reason: More employers think their financial setbacks have bottomed out. More

Voluntary Benefits Poised to Increase
New research shows that optional benefits provided by U.S. and global employers, typically through flexible benefit plans, are on the rise—and helping to meet the needs of a diverse workforce. More

HIPAA Enforcement Rule Revised to Reflect Increased Penalties
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services amended its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) enforcement regulations in an Oct. 30, 2009, interim final rule to reflect higher penalties for HIPAA rules violations. More

Many Health Care Reform Options on the Table
In addition to the debate over a government-run "public option," congress is weighing the scope of employer "pay or play" mandates that would require businesses to offer a level of health care benefits that limits employee out-of-pocket expenses, or pay a penalty. More

EEOC: Risk Assessment Can't Be Prerequisite to HRA Reimbursement
In an informal discussion letter, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has stated that the Americans with Disabilities Act does not permit an employer to require its employees to complete a health risk assessment to receive money from an employer-funded health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). The letter also included guidance on questions prohibited by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. More  

FMLA Amendments Signed by President
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was amended to mandate exigency leave to all covered active duty members and expand the military caregiver provision to family members of certain former service members. More

Does FMLA Apply When Employees' Children Get H1N1?
If an employee's child has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, it could be considered a "serious health condition" under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). However, if an employee's child's school is simply closed because of the threat of H1N1, and his or her child has not been diagnosed with the virus, FMLA would not apply. More