Archived Pension & Benefits NetNews™

August 19, 2008 (Click date to view stories in this section)

• Executives expect number of employees working remotely to increase, survey finds
• Employers showing more interest in phased retirement programs, Hewitt says
• One-fourth of plan sponsors dissatisfied with level of 401 (k) fee disclosure, according to Mercer
• Long-term pharmacy cost control hinges on employee involvement, says Buck Consultants
• IRS revises procedure for employee plans correction program
• IRS grants tax relief to victims of Hurricane Dolly in Texas
• IRS issues directions for bulk disaster relief requests

August 12, 2008 (Click date to view stories in this section)

• Information security breaches in the health care industry becoming more widespread
• New minimum creditable coverage standards in MA apply in 2009
• New Hampshire mandates health insurance coverage of obesity and morbid obesity
• EBRI downplays role of HSAs in saving for health care in retirement
• IRS restricts transfer of plan assets to unrelated taxpayers without transfer of assets, operations, or employees
• IRS proposed regs provide guidance on options granted under employee stock purchase plans
• IRS awards contract for conducting ERPA exams

August 5, 2008 (Click date to view stories in this section)

• Maine extends health care coverage for dependents
• Bill introduced to raise health insurance caps
• Extenders bill with mental health parity provisions fails again in Senate
• Employee’s interference claim fails, ailments were not serious health condition entitling her to leave
• DOL and SEC jointly release "Memorandum of Understanding" on protection of retirement assets
• IRS releases final regs concerning mortality tables for determining present value
• Advisory Committee on Actuarial Examinations of the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries meeting announced

July 29, 2008 (Click date to view stories in this section)

• Employers increase efforts to make 401(k) plan participation easier
• Bill to prohibit plan loans through credit cards referred to Finance Committee
• Coalition created to oppose paid sick leave in Ohio
• Older workers with employer-provided health insurance prefer the benefit to higher pay
• EBSA releases proposed rules on 401(k) fee disclosures
• Proposed regs permit higher employer contributions to HSAs of nonhighly compensated employees
• IRS proposed regs clarify rules for tax deadline postponement due to disaster, terrorism or military action