Benefits July 9, 2013

Workers Prefer Face-to-Face Training

July 9, 2013 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - One-third (33%) of workers polled identified in-house, instructor-led workshops as the type of professional training they value most.
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Tuition reimbursement for off-site seminars ranked second, with 22% of the response, surpassing online courses (18%) and reference books (16%), according to a survey from OfficeTeam.

Companies appear attuned to workers’ desires for in-person training: More than two-thirds (67%) of human resources (HR) managers polled said their organizations offer this type of instruction. Many firms also provide books or other reference materials (64%) and online courses (62%).

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However, only 35% of executives indicated they subsidize classes taken by employees outside of work. In addition, 12% said they do not offer any of these training options to staff.

The survey of workers includes responses from 409 adults 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments. The manager survey includes interviews with 508 HR managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.

Benefits July 9, 2013

Health Care Reform Has Most Impact on Workplace

July 9, 2013 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Respondents to a survey chose health care reform as the regulatory issue expected to have the most impact on the workplace over the next 12 months.
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Fifty-seven percent indicated it will have a significant impact, and 37% said it will have a moderate impact, according to the “2013 Executive Employer Survey” by employment and labor law firm Littler Mendelson, P.C. Respondents also expected U.S. Department of Labor regulations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to be the most pressing priority of the current nominee for secretary of labor, Thomas Perez (61%).

In reflecting on actions their companies have taken or anticipate taking in response to the ACA’s implementation, only 6% of respondents noted discontinuing health care benefits for full-time employees and paying the penalty under the ACA’s “pay or play” mandate. However, the findings suggest they are exploring various avenues to adjust to the new regulatory environment, including:

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  • Implementing employee wellness programs, which was the top action identified by more than half of respondents (54%);
  • Offering employee health care benefits through private health insurance exchanges (31%);
  • Limiting more employees to less than 30 hours per week (27%); and
  • Reducing hiring of new full-time employees (20%).

 

The annual survey was completed by more than 400 in-house counsel, human resources professionals and C-suite executives, many from the nation’s largest employers. The survey report is here.

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