Benefits Manager

Opponents of new restrictions on unions in Kansas have blocked a debate by the state Senate on preventing labor organizations from financing their political activities with dues deducted from members' paychecks.

With cuts to health benefits plans, employers are looking for ways to add value to employees. And one way to do that is by offering more voluntary benefits.

Have questions about your health plan? Soon all you’ll have to do is check a label.

Assurant Employee Benefits is promoting its new “FastTrack Return-to-Work Solutions” program as a tool insurance companies can use to improve its claim triage and return-to-work programs.

No end appears in sight for a stalemate that's held hostage extended unemployment benefits for North Carolina's long-term jobless for nearly a month, state legislative leaders said Tuesday.

Among the alphabet soup of options available during open enrollment, there is a category of workplace benefits that provides a direct return every time an employee makes a contribution – pre-tax benefits, such as flexible spending accounts for health care, dependent care and commuting costs.

Not content to target only public-sector unions, Republican lawmakers in more than one-quarter of the states this year launched their most ambitious attempt in about generation to break up union shops in factories, offices and other private-sector workplaces.

While the job market at times still looks pretty lousy, a new survey has some upbeat findings, as well as some not-so-rosy results. Many laid-off employees have been hired back, less are taking pay cuts, yet women and older workers are having trouble finding work.