Drew Bowker

HR Advisor

28 articles

Should I issue ‘promotion’ or ‘transfer’ letters when an employee changes jobs?

Issuing a formal letter to an employee who is transferring internally or being promoted is helpful for your records, as well as your employee’s. Providing transfer letters creates records for your employee’s personnel file, helps to ensure that an employee’s compensation account follows them accurately, and helps a company maintain a head count of various […]

Do you have someone on staff who could review an employee handbook that is 10 years out of date and let us know where we are out of compliance?

This is a common issue that companies face on a regular basis. Unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to review all of our customers’ employee handbooks. We wish we did! Each company is different and should tailor their handbooks to fit their needs and culture. We recommend that when updating an employee handbook, the company […]

Do I need to pay my employees who get called to jury duty?

It depends on which state you’re in. The FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), which is a federal law, doesn’t require employers to pay employees for their time spent on a jury. State-by-State Most states don’t require paid leave for jury duty but a few of them do. In Connecticut, for example, full-time employees are entitled […]

How do I get started with employee administration?

Employee administration is, generally, the HR services targeted at employees, like benefits, hiring, and recruiting. While there are many factors to consider when you begin employee administration, the following links can give you a good starting point: Typesof benefits and leave. Guidance fornew hire reporting. San Francisco-specificHealth Care Security Ordinance. Basic information onMedical Provider Networks. […]

When is an OK time for an employee to drop their medical insurance? Can an employer force an employee to keep their health insurance?

An employee can voluntarily cancel coverage at any time only if the company is not having employee premium contributions deducted pre-tax.

Which employer groups are offering eastern, alternative, or homeopathic treatment as part of their benefit programs? Ex. Acupuncture

Employer Groups Covering Acupuncture The Society for Human Resource Management 2014 Research Report shows that 36% of employer groups are covering acupuncture. The National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) performed a regional survey from the states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and found that less than half of the insurers covered acupuncture treatment. Effectiveness […]

How do I know if our company’s insurance plans apply to domestic partners?

If your company has decided to offer health insurance to domestic partnerships, here are some factors to consider.

What are the pros and cons of a young employee purchasing life insurance and how does that employee select the best plan?

Pros and Cons of Life Insurance Life insurance provides your dependents or other beneficiaries with a one-time payment in the event of your death. In short, a pro of life insurance is that it can cover your debts and responsibilities, such as house and car payments, and provide support for your survivors. A con is […]

What are the types of expenses that are FSA, HSA, and HRA eligible?

You or your employees are eligible to use FSA, HSA, and HRA funds to cover certain medical, dental, and dependent care expenses depending on the account type.

Is there a penalty for companies under 100 who offer HRAs?

The critical number is 50 not 100, but, yes, there may soon be a penalty. Small employers who offer a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) without an associated health insurance plan face penalties of up to $100 per day per employee starting in 2016. Under the Affordable Care Act, employers who have 50 or more full-time […]