Companies Nationwide Begin to Offer Quit Smoking Treatments to Their EmployeesCigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking is responsible for one in every five American deaths.
WHO Is in Charge of Our Pensions?... Last year, the US Department of Labor launched a training program called "Getting It Right" after discovering that many ERISA fiduciaries have other job ...
SEC Delays Adoption of FAS 123(R)The SEC issued a press release on Thursday announcing that public companies will now be required to adopt FAS 123(R) by their first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005.
McKesson Delivers Interactive Guidelines for Care ManagersMcKesson Corporation, the world's leading healthcare services company and largest provider of clinical decision support tools, has expanded the InterQual® Workers' Compensation & Disability Management Product Suite.
FMLA Cost Employers $21 Billion in 2004Unscheduled Intermittent Leave Increases Costs for Employers
FASTEST GROWING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONFERENCE EXPECTED TO ATTRACT 600+The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries and Western Pension & Benefits Conference  announced today that they will jointly present Meeting Midway, an employee benefits conference from July 24-27, 2005.
A fresh look for a familiar face: FGI has a new logoAs of today, the market leader in health and productivity services will be known as FGIworld, a name that is synonymous with the company´s global reach and capabilities.
Gauntt & Associates Offers Q-Safety Earthquake Strapping Devices for Business and Residential Safety Protection against Natural DisastersGauntt & Associates, a firm focused on helping businesses become proactive in the health and safety of their employees and their families, has added Q-Safety strapping products to its product line.
Retirement Programs an Increasing Challenge for Financial ExecutivesHewitt Survey Reveals Short-Term Concerns Include Controlling Growth and Volatility of Plan Costs, Increasing Employee Education Efforts
HR Benefits Managers Can Be HeroesWhen pressure causes change, the smallest unit changes first. Roger Schultz wanted to capitalize on this with a win win solution: provide the best advanced education for HR benefits decision makers and purchasers, in an innovative, bias-free environment.
American Cancer Society Launches the Great American Health Check, A New Online Tool, Sponsored by MetLifeAccording to the latest statistics compiled by the American Cancer Society, the nation´s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cancer, fewer than 50 percent of all adults get all the early detection tests for cancer on schedule as recommended by the Society.
NEW GROUP SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH PRODUCT HELPS SOFTEN THE BLOW OF HIGH HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMSNew Product from Colonial Supplemental Insurance Helps Fill Gaps in Health Insurance Coverage
Denver Management Advisors Announces Colorado Springs ExpansionDenver Management Advisors, one of the regions leading consulting and brokerage firms, is proud to announce the addition of a Colorado Springs office.
Eldorado Computing To Provide Complementary Captiva Software to Optimize Healthcare Claims ProcessingEldorado Computing, Inc. (ECI) a leading provider of health benefits management solutions, announced today that it will offer usual, customary and reasonable fee (UCR) databases provided by Captiva Software Corporation
Simple Cafeteria Plans for Small BusinessesThree U.S. Senators co-sponsored a bill this week that would amend the tax code so that more small business employees would be able to purchase employer-provided health insurance with tax-free dollars.
Quicken Loans Enrolls MCI, EDS, Google, Detroit Pistons, SkyWest Airlines and Bosch in Quicken Loans' Home Loan Benefit ProgramWork / Life Benefit Program Includes Discounts and Mortgage Education at No Cost to Employers
Deloitte's 5th Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey Uncovers Tremendous Scrutiny Around Plan InvestmentsFifth Annual 401(k) Benchmarking Survey Also Reveals More Interest in Fee Transparency and Plan Automation
Meridian Doctor to Address Chamber of CommerceMeridian Medical Dental Executive Healthcare is pleased to announce Liza Leal, MD will address the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 7, 2005.
Proposed IRS Regulations Leave Hurdles to Phased Retirement Plan ImplementationThe study cites specific problems with the regulations, while explaining the mutual benefits employers and employees would see from implementing these plans.
NEW CANCER PRODUCT HELPS EMPLOYERS ADDRESS THE HEALTH INSURANCE COST ISSUEThe new voluntary cancer product from Colonial Supplemental Insurance provides employers with an option for dealing with high health insurance costs.
Healthcare Industry Expert Ben Lytle to Speak at National Health, Wellness & Prevention CongressAXIA Health Management CEO to discuss "Consumer Centric Health Plans" and serve on special invitation-only Summit.
UNUMPROVIDENT EXPANDS ONLINE TOOLS TO ASSIST IN FILING A DISABILITY CLAIMUnumProvident (NYSE: UNM) has expanded its suite of online tools that help employers and employees file a disability insurance claim.
UnumProvident Modifies Producer Compensation Practices in Response to Industry DevelopmentsUnumProvident Corporation (NYSE: UNM), the nation´s leading disability provider, today announced that it is making a series of changes in its producer compensation and disclosure practices in response to ongoing developments within the industry.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CONFERENCE TO MAKE INAUGURAL DEBUT IN WASHINGTON, DCThe American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced today that they will jointly present, "The DOL Speaks: 2005 Employee Benefits Conference"
Brandeis/Harvard Center and MHN Awarded $1.3 Million Grant to Improve Substance Abuse TreatmentManaged Health Network, Inc. (MHN), a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc.(NYSE:HNT), announced today it received a $1.3 million grant with Harvard and Brandeis Universities to improve substance abuse treatment services for managed care patients.
Employee Education and Intranets Play Central Role in Shift to Consumer-Directed Health CareAs more U.S. companies embrace health care consumerism to help stem rising costs, they are placing far more emphasis on employee education and the technologies that facilitate better employee decision making
New Report Assesses How Employers use the Internet to Raise Employee Health I-CUETMLarge Employers Seek to Increase Consumer Awareness of Health and Healthcare.
Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School Affiliate, Launches Collaboration with ValueOptionsValueOptions announced today that they have formed a research collaborative with the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance
Genworth Launches Small Business Benefits Online Quoting ToolNew Interactive Tool Enables Brokers to Respond More Rapidly to the Group Benefits Needs of Small Businesses.
BET Founder Robert L Johnson to Make Key Investment in RolloverSystems, and Take Board SeatRobert L. Johnson, is making a significant equity investment in a company that promises to fundamentally change the way millions of Americans roll over their retirement accounts.
Mercer Global Investments makes US debutMercer Human Resource Consulting once again ranks as the largest employee benefit consultant in the world, according to a new survey by Business Insurance magazine
Business Insurance ranks Mercer world's largest benefit consulting firmMercer Human Resource Consulting once again ranks as the largestemployee benefit consultant in the world, according to a new survey byBusiness Insurance magazine.
FEI BEHAVIORAL HEALTH APPOINTS LUISA Y. CHARBONNEAU AS PRESIDENT/CEOLuisa Y. Charbonneau has been named President and CEO of FEI Behavioral Health, the first national network EAP provider in the United States.
Dr. Pete Takes Human Performance and Wellness to New Level with "PowerCentering" Fitness ProgramFitness authority Dr. Peter A. Gratale, known to America as "Dr. Pete" from ESPN´s popular TV fitness show, "Bodyshaping," is unveiling his new workout regimen, "PowerCentering"
Medicare Tobacco Cessation Follows Lead of Many Private InsurersThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced March 23 that it will begin covering the cost for tobacco cessation for some beneficiaries.
Benefit Software Helps Insurance Firms Provide Benefit Communication ServicesBenefit Software Inc. (www.bsiweb.com), developer of Fringe FactsR Communicator software, helps insurance agents to communicate the value of health insurance and other benefits to their clients' employees with personalized employee benefits statements.
Eliminating Social Security Wage Cap Would Hit Self-Employed Workers HardestSelf-employed workers would be hardest hit by removing the taxable wage cap for Social Security, according to a new study from the Employment Policy Foundation (EPF), a Washington, D.C.-based research group.
Benefit Statement Services from BSIBenefit Software Inc. (www.bsiweb.com), a leading provider of employee benefits communication, helps corporations communicate the high cost of employer paid benefits by providing benefit statement services to its clients.
Workstream Announces PeopleSoft Conversion ProgramWorkstream Inc.
TM (NASDAQ: WSTM), a provider of On-Demand Enterprise Workforce Management software, today announced the general availability of its PeopleSoft Conversion Program.
Workstream Offers Revolutionary $1 Per Employee Per Month PricingWorkstream Inc.
TM (NASDAQ: WSTM), a provider of On-Demand Enterprise Workforce Management software, today announced during its Workstream Exchange User Group Meeting, immediate availability of its Workstream TalentCenterONE pricing program.
Incentive Compensation: Plans and DesignsCompensation Resources, Inc., in partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University, presents a two-day seminar on incentive compensation designed to provide the critical tools for focusing employees on achieving key business results.
Employers Lower Health Care Costs by Offering Incentives for Better HealthEmployers are cutting to the heart of the problem of rising health costs by taking a more active role in managing employee health, according to a survey released last week by the National Business Group on Health/Watson Wyatt Worldwide.
More Employers Adopting Health Management, Consumer-Directed Programs to Control CostsWith health benefit costs still rising at double-digit rates, more employers are adopting health management and consumer-directed health care programs to help control costs.
ARS Solutions Accepted to Service Supplemental Insurance Programs in PennsylvaniaARS Solutions has been accepted to handle supplemental health insurance programs in the Pennsylvania area for inquiries obtained from The Benefit Network website.
Benefit Software's CompWatchR 7.13 Streamlines Workers' Comp TrackingBenefit Software Inc., (
www.bsiweb.com), the leader in benefits communication technology, releases CompWatch version 7.13.
Delta Dental supports new program at Howard UniversityOne of the region's largest dental health plans announced today it will partner with Howard University College of Dentistry in support of a new dental clinic run by faculty, students and volunteer dentists for the benefit of working, uninsured families.
ASPPA Gives IRS Testimony- Normal Retirement AgeASPPA Executive Director/CEO, Brian H. Graff, Esq., APM provided testimony today at an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) hearing on a proposed amendment regarding Distributions from a Pension Plan Under a Phased Retirement Program
National Business Group on Health Announces Winners of its President's Awards for Excellence in Health Care BenefitsThe National Business Group on Health today announced that the Honeywell Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad, and General Electric Energy have been awarded its President's Award.
CaliforniaChoice and Mellon Announce HSA AllianceMellon Financial Corporation's Human Resources & Investor Solutions (HR&IS) business and CaliforniaChoice, a CHOICE Administrators program, today announced an alliance to provide Health Savings Account (HSA) products and services to California consumers through the CaliforniaChoice website, calchoice.com.
Workplace Options Announces Formation of the Work-Life Training InstituteWorkplace Options (WPO), the leading provider of work life programs to corporate America through partnerships with employee assistance (EAP) companies and other third-party providers, has announced the formation of The Work-Life Training Institute.
AXIA Health President Featured At ACG ConferenceHealth care industry veteran Hugh Lytle, president of AXIA Health Management, will present at the Association for Corporate Growth´s third annual Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference and Capital Connection.
Multinational Firms Favor Global Approach to Compensation ManagementLatest Mercer Survey: Programs are designed to fuel global expansion and manage compensation costs.
Sign me up: Majority of Company Compensation Pros Would Open Private Social Security Accounts, Compensation.BLR.com Poll FindsIt might be controversial with the public and the Congress, but President Bush´s proposal to let Americans privately invest part of their Social Security savings seems to have solid support among those who oversee employee pay.
AXIA Health Management Launches High-Yield Prevention Benefits Programs To Healthcare Payers & EmployersAfter three years of extensive research and development, AXIA Health Management introduces a fully integrated, high-yield prevention benefits program for healthcare payers and employers.
Delta Medical Consulting Announces The Release of the Latest Edition of Their Physician Salary survey for 2005The latest edition of the "Physician Recruiting Standard" reveals critical data gathered during the time period of December 31, 2003 through December 31, 2004; Delta Medical Consulting.
Careermetasearch.com Adds Rolloversystems Functionality to Job Search WebsiteRolloverSystems, Inc., and Careermetasearch.com
TM, are pleased to announce the addition of a RolloverMarket
TM IRA Rollover Center to the Careermetasearch.com website.
AFFLUENT BOOMERS WHO SEEK FINANCIAL ADVICE ARE MORE LIKELY TO REACH RETIREMENT VISIONSAs millions of baby boomers prepare for life´s most expensive undertaking - retirement - a new survey by American Express Financial Advisors Inc. finds that those who seek help from a financial advisor save nearly twice as much for retirement than those who don´t seek advice.
METLIFE RETIREMENT & SAVINGS OFFERS NEW 401(K) ONLINE EDUCATION SERVICES THROUGH MORNINGSTAR LEARNING STATIONMetLife Retirement  & Savings announced today that it has added the Morningstar Learning Station as a new source of online educational content on the participant web site for MetLife´s 401(k) clients.
CONEXIS Names New PresidentThe Word & Brown Companies today announced that Michael L. Close has been named president of CONEXIS, the nation's leading benefits administration company.
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner's Salary Influences Executive Compensation IndexWithout Michael Eisner´s $7,250,000 bonus and $1 million salary from Disney in 2004, the highest paid executives in America would have had a mere .08% increase in their total cash compensation in 2004, according to the February 2005 Chief Executive Total Cash Compensation Index.
Top causes disability absence for 2004For the fourth consecutive year, cancer is the leading cause of long-term absence from work (more than 90 days) for working-age Americans.
How Do Executives Investfor Retirement?When investing for retirement, executives tend to favor fixed-rate options and large-cap funds over other asset classes, according to the premiere edition of the Clark Consulting Executive Retirement Report.
Concierge Service for Businesses as Resource and BenefitWhat is in it for the business?
Majority Of U.S. Workers Greatly Underestimate How Much Their Employer Contributes To Their Medical InsuranceDespite the escalating cost of healthcare insurance, few employees understand the full and growing magnitude of their company´s investment.
Nuvosoft Boosts Companies' Power to Model and Implement Complex Employee Incentive PlansRcomp 3.0 Quickly Brings Current and Historical Compensation Data to Managers´s Fingertips With a Rich Graphical Interface For Easier Decision Making
New Employee Benefit Package Gives Hope to Those WithoutEver wonder why our parents had such excellent benefit packages and today most Americans have little or no employee benefits?
Ceridian's EAP and Life-Works Services Division Gains Top Industry AccreditationCeridian, a leader in managed human resource solutions that maximize the value of people, today announced that its EAP and Life-Works Services division has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services.
New product enhancements from UnumProvidentIn response to a rapidly growing voluntary benefits market, UnumProvident (NYSE: UNM) today announced enhancements to its critical illness and individual short term disability insurance products.
COMMUNICATION PLAYS CRITICAL ROLE IN IMPROVING RETENTION POWER OF HEALTH BENEFITSHow well a company communicates the value of its health benefits can do more to retain top-performing employees than the actual richness of the benefits themselves, according to a new analysis by Watson Wyatt, a leading human capital consulting firm.
Marie LoScalzo Joins Health Advocate as Vice President of SalesShe comes to Health Advocate with 22 years of sales and marketing experience.
Workbrain announces Lifespan as new customerWorkforce management solution helps hospital organizations improve payroll accuracy, employee satisfaction.
Ceridian Retirement Plan Expert to Participate in Panel on 401(k) Fee DisclosureGlenn Dial, vice president of Ceridian Retirement Plan Services, will participate in a panel entitled, "Full Disclosure on Plan Fees: The Inside Story."
Enwisen Announces Record Year with 41 New Customers.Proves Market Demand for "Software-as-a-Service" Based HR Communications Solutions that Provide an Affordable Alternative to Traditional HR Knowledgebases
I-trax Opens New Medical Center for Coors' EmployeesI-trax, Inc. (Amex: DMX), a leader in integrated health and productivity management, announced today that CHD Meridian Healthcare, an I-trax company, has opened an on-site primary care and occupational health facility.
Lifespan To Deploy Workbrain for HealthcareWorkbrain Corporation (TSX: WB) today announced that Lifespan, Rhode Island's largest provider of health services, has selected Workbrain for Healthcare to improve payroll accuracy across its hospital network.
David E. Gordon, J.D., Former Partner of O'Melveny & Myers, LLP, Joins Clark ConsultingClark Consulting (NYSE: CLK), a national executive benefits and compensation consulting firm, recently announced that David E. Gordon, J.D., joined its Western Regional Office.
War Moves: Fewer Employers Pay Their Guard and Reserve Employees Full Salary While on Military Leave-Compensation.BLR.com ReportsEmployers´ military leave pay policies for their National Guard or Reserve employees on active duty has changed for the worse, at least as far as their employees are concerned.
Coaching to Improve Executives' Competencies, Performance and Health is an Investment Many Companies is MakingHummingbird Coaching Services (www.hummingbirdcoaching.com) has entered the field of Executive and Management Coaching through a partnership with Legacy Learning, formerly Franklin Covey Coaching.
Nationwide(R) Signs Business Service Provider Agreement With Ultimate SoftwareNationwide Mutual Insurance Company, one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, has signed a business service provider agreement with The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULTI), a leading provider of Web-based payroll and workforce management solutions.
HRmarketer.com Helps Human Resource Service Providers Target Employee Benefit Brokers and ConsultantsIn response to HRmarketer's growing popularity with insurers and other employee benefit providers, the company today announced it has significantly enhanced its coverage of broker, insurance and consulting related resources, including conferences and tradeshows, events, publications, journalists, buyer guides, award competitions and more.
City of El Paso Manages Zero Overtime Policy with KronosWith more than 6,000 employees in more than 32 departments, the City of El Paso, Texas, was no longer able to effectively manage its workforce with manual processes.
InfoTronics, Inc. Establishes Alliance with Mangrove Software For Complete Human Capital Management SolutionThe alliance addresses the need for businesses of all sizes to share common employee information between payroll and HR departments.
Employer Drug Coverage for Retirees: An Updated Medicare RoadmapOn December 8, 2003, President Bush Signed into law the "Medicare Prescription Drug, Imporvement, and Modernization Act of 2003." This legislation for the first time adds a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, starting in 2006 as a new "Part D." FromAon.
Summary Performance of Large Cap Equity FundsSummary of performance to Dec. 31, 2004 from Mercer Investment Consulting.
Health Management CORPORATION Adds Metabolic Syndrome as Core Condition For Healthy Returns Disease(SM) Management ProgramBy managing hyperlipidemia, hypertension and obesity as one set of risk factors, employers can make a greater impact on overall health and medical spending; from HMC.
IHC Health Plans Rolls Out Bush's Tax Benefit Health Savings Account for AllIHC Health Plans, a market leader in quality and affordable medical benefit plans in Utah now offers the choice and convenience of HSA (Health Savings Accounts), FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and HRA (Health Reimbursement Accounts) tax advantaged approved programs for all. HealthSave products will be available to all Utah residents January 1, 2005.
Dr. Ian Shaffer, MHN's Chief Medical Officer, Named Chairman of AMBHA"We are delighted that Dr. Shaffer has been honored in this way," says Jerry Coil, president of MHN.
Employer Payroll Tax Savings Using Section 125 with HSA Planshsa Trustee Services a nationwide provider specializing in opening Health Savings Accounts/HSA, working with Core Documents, Inc.,
Bank Selects Ultimate Software's UltiPro Workforce ManagementUltimate Software (Nasdaq: ULTI), a leading provider of Web-based payroll and workforce management solutions, announced today that Sterling Savings Bank selected UltiPro in December 2004.
Super Bowl Championship Game May Have Many Monday Morning Quarterbacks Using Sick TimeNew survey findings indicate that 1.4 million employed U.S. adults may call in sick to work the day after the big game.
Vertafore, Inc. Launches Vertafore BenefitsNew Unit Will Focus on Delivering Software and Automation Services to Employee Benefits Agencies and Brokers.
Disappointment Will Be the Most Likely Response to 2005 Pay Raises, Employers Say in HR.BLR.com PollMany employers are bracing to see frowns, not smiles, when they hand out employee pay raises in 2005 - if they hand them out at all.
TOWERS PERRIN HR SERVICES APPOINTS DAVID GUILMETTE TO LEADER OF GLOBAL HEALTH & WELFARE BUSINESSTowers Perrin, a global professional services firm, today announced the appointment of David Guilmette as Managing Director of the firm´s Health & Welfare consulting business and a member of its HR Services Operations Council.
Compensation.BLR.com Reports Big Changes in Employee Benefits LandscapeDomestic Partnerships Benefits Rising, Healthcare Deductibles Increasing.
Incentone Introduces Employee PowerTM. The First Incentive Solution Designed Specifically to Drive Healthcare Cost ReductionsIncentOne, a provider of award-winning incentive solutions to the Fortune ® 1000, introduces Employee Power
TM - the first integrated incentive solution designed specifically for corporate wellness and healthcare cost reduction programs.
Mercer News release: Good returns fail to boost health of Canadian pension fundsCanadian pension funds returned a healthy 5.3% over the last quarter of 2004, compensating for their sluggish performance over the previous two quarters.Â
Ceridian Gains Health & Welfare Administration Business From Stone Partners
Ceridian, today announced the acquisition of certain assets, including customer contracts for health and welfare accounts, of Stone Partners, Inc., a privately-held company with headquarters in Houston, Texas. Terms of the transaction were not announced.
New Time & Attendance Software Dramatically Increases Efficiency and ControlNew study examines top vendors of time and attendance solutions, reveals strategies to help retailers compete with Wal-Mart.
H & R Block Financial Advisors Chooses ACTEKs Incentive Management Technology
ACTEK's ACom3 Commission and Incentive Compensation Application has been selected by H & R Block Financial Advisors Inc. to support commission and bonus processing.
10 Amazing Statistics On The Changing World Of WorkCurrent economic times are leading to a variety of challenges for employers.� From the shrinking labor force, to retention, to the "free agent" mentality, the world of work is changing fast and furiously.