New Benefit Benchmark Tool Now Available on Website

With benefits now representing as much as 40% of an employee's compensation, it is more important than ever that employers know how their benefits compare to other employers in the state and also their industry.  HR-OneSource has teamed up with David P. Lind & Associates to provide you with this information.

When considering the differences between your employee benefits and other Iowa employer groups, a new resource tool is now available.  As employers begin their insurance renewal process and bargaining efforts around this time of year, they increasingly need to know how their benefits compare.  David P. Lind & Associates annually conducts the Iowa Employer Benefits Study^© and has created a web-based application to meet this need.  Employers seeking detailed comparisons on benefit plan designs, insurance rates, and cost sharing with employees - particularly within their respective industry - can access such information at HR-OneSource’s Members-Only website.  This site contains current information in all areas of employment including employee benefits.

Medicare Drug Coverage Deadlines Approaching

Two important deadlines are fast approaching for employers who offer group health coverage regarding the new Medicare prescription drug plan, known as Medicare Part D.  The deadlines are:

• Employers who offer health coverage to retirees may be eligible for a subsidy from the federal government to cover part of the cost of their prescription drug coverage.  The deadline for applying for this subsidy is October 31, 2005.

• Employers with employees who may be eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage must notify these employees by November 15, 2005 if their private health care plan has better drug coverage than what Part D will offer, so the employees can decide whether to enroll in the Medicare drug plan.  (Part D benefits are generally available to anyone who has reached age 65 or who is disabled).

Supreme Court to Decide When Compensable Time Begins

Decision could have significant impact in some industries

How businesses compensate their employees for pre-work and start-up time could be affected by a recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Labor regarding call-in centers and by an anticipated decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding when meatpacking plants must begin paying their employees as they start the workday.

The Department of Labor determined recently that workers at a call-center must be paid for the time spent powering up their computers, linking to the network and opening necessary software programs to perform their duties.  The DOL ruled that Humana must pay over $1 million in back pay to employees because the time spent on start-up activities at their computer workstations is considered work time and is therefore compensable.