Handbook of Employee Benefits

The essential employee benefits resource, updated for the new regulatory and competitive environment For more than two decades, The Handbook of Employee Benefits has provided authoritative answers to questions regarding the objectives, costs, and implementation of employee benefit plans. This thoroughly revised and updated sixth edition, written by today's top employee benefit experts, covers virtually every aspect of the latest changes in employee benefits. Human resource (HR) managers and specialists will value this completely updated Handbook for its: Recommendations for designing and implementing employee-friendly benefit programs in line with the realities of a cost-conscious business environment New material on HIPAA, COBRA, behavioral/mental healthcare benefits, disease management, prescription drug coverage and costs, child and elder care, executive compensation, and more Complete updates of key legislation, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, and American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 Benefits today comprise approximately 40 percent of the average employee's total compensation. The Handbook of Employee Benefits remains the most comprehensive employee benefits book on the market, and the required reference for benefits professionals everywhere, regardless of industry. [FLAP COPY] Employee benefits have gone beyond simple health insurance to become a major part of virtually every working individual's overall compensation package. Professionals responsible for designing and administering company plans must know how to design effective benefit packages, administer and communicate them using the latest web-based technologies, and continually improve those plans to further their firms' strategic objectives and success. The Handbook of Employee Benefits, Sixth Edition, features the knowledge and insights of more than 70 top benefits experts. Filled with new and updated cases and real-world examples of benefit plan successes and failures, this comprehensive collection of HR knowledge and ideas covers: Health benefits, including managed care plans and consumer-driven health care plan designs along with dental, behavioral, prescription, and long-term care programs Retirement plan design, including profit sharing plans, 401(k)s, ESOPs, stock options, IRAs, SEPs, KEOGHs, and 403(b)s Life insurance, including group term, universal life, and corporate-owned life programs Work/life programs, including traditional time-off and family leave programs, child and elder care, assistance for education and financial planning Social insurance programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and workers and unemployment compensation Benefit plan administration, including advantages and limitations of cafeteria plans, the fiduciary liabilities imposed by ERISA, and the vital role of employer-employee communications in effective plan administration Accounting, funding, and reporting of plans, including alternative funding methods and accounting for pension and health & welfare costs Issues of special interest, including mitigation of plan costs through preventive care, welfare benefits for retirees, international employee benefit planning, and the future of employee benefits An innovative, efficient employee benefit program has become one of the primary prerequisites to success in today's lean business battleground. The Handbook of Employee Benefits gives every organization and its HR practitioners and consultants the knowledge and tools they need to create plans that benefit the greatest number of employees, while allowing employers to maintain fiscal integrity and competitive advantage.Rosenbloom, Jerry S. is the author of 'Handbook of Employee Benefits ', published 2005 under ISBN 9780071445122 and ISBN 0071445129.