FSA Plans Ease the Pain of Health Care Costs

Health care costs are not going away. One simple option employees have to pay for these costs on a pre-tax basis is through an employer-sponsored Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Employers get in on the savings, too. While this option may be simple, the administration is far from easy.  Click here to continue.

Fulfilling a Moral Obligation

When an employer sends its employees on trips, it has a moral obligation - and perhaps a legal obligation - to make them whole if they are injured while traveling or become seriously ill abroad and need to be returned to the U.S.  Click here to continue.

All Aboard

The advantages of educating employees about their benefits through technology are many: The information transmitted to their Web browser or smart phone is always up to date, it's scalable to any population, yet allows an employer to individually tailor information to an employee.  Click here to continue.

Dependents Under Scrutiny

Health care worries prompt rise in audits.  More employers are scrutinizing employees' health insurance dependents in order to weed out ineligible beneficiaries.  Click here to continue.

What's the Hard Return on Employee Wellness Programs?

Since 1995, the percentage of Johnson & Johnson employees who smoke has dropped by more than two-thirds. The number who have high blood pressure or who are physically inactive also has declined-by more than half. That's great, obviously, but should it matter to managers? Well, it turns out that a comprehensive, strategically designed investment in employees' social, mental, and physical health pays off. J&J's leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent.  Click here to continue.

The Case for Risk Management

Numerous emerging risks and many game changing events have altered the business landscape world wide over the past few years.  Now more than ever business have to implement and sustain effective risk management programs according to a recent article in USA Today.  Click here to continue.

Stress in today's Workplace: A NIOSH Study

The nature of work is changing at whirlwind speed.  Now more than ever before, job stress poses a threat to the health of workers and, in turn, to the health of organizations.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), highlights knowledge about the causes of stress at work and outlines steps that can be taken to prevent it.  Click here to continue.

Recent Trends in International Product Liability Litigation

The United States courts collectively are becoming the "world's courthouse."  Attracted by the high quality and efficiency of U.S. courts, the increasing willingness of U.S. courts to exercise jurisdiction over international disputes, and the perception that larger damage awards and punitive damages may be available in U.S. courts, non-U.S. litigants are filing cases in U.S. courts with increasing frequency. U.S. companies named as defendants traditionally reacted to such lawsuits by filing motions to dismiss in favor of the non-U.S. courts based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens. However, changed conditions in many countries have now made such motions much more difficult or, worse, ill-advised.  Click here to continue.

Business Succession Planning

When developing a succession plan for your business, you must make many decisions. Should you sell your business or give it away? Should you structure your plan to go into effect during your lifetime or at your death? Should you transfer your ownership interest to family members, co-owners, employees, or an outside party?  The key is to pick the best plan for your circumstances and objectives, and to seek help from financial and legal advisors to carry out this plan.  Click here to continue.