Latest News
New Year’s Resolution: A Weighty Issue
People often include “losing weight” or “getting in better shape” in a list of New Year’s resolutions. Companies may want to encourage their employees to achieve these goals, as research confirms “that work-related injuries are far more costly if an injured worker is obese. In fact, a claim with an obese diagnosis can be 30 times to 60 times more expensive than a comparable claim incurred by a non-obese person.” In addition, “there is a greater risk that injuries will create permanent disabilities if the injured worker is obese.”
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Support for COBRA Subsidy Wanes in Congress
Broad congressional support has nearly vanished for the once politically popular COBRA program subsidy for involuntarily terminated employees. It was part of the 2009 stimulus package and expanded and renewed several times since its inception. The last renewal expired on May 31, so employees laid off since then are no longer eligible for the subsidy which paid 65% of the COBRA premium for millions of unemployed workers.
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2011 Changes to Savings Plans
People who enjoy the benefits of flex savings accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) should be aware of two major changes to these plans beginning January 1.
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