Policy Areas: Worker Benefits

Whether starting a new firm or running a seasoned business many entrepreneurs grapple with the issue of benefits for their employees. Should a start-up company spend its often-limited capital on a comprehensive benefits package for potential employees? The decision an entrepreneur makes is a trade off between offering lucrative benefits to attract top talent and adhering to a strict bottom line. As a result, voluntary benefits - health insurance, private pension plans, and paid leave - are harder to come by for startups. With health care costs rapidly increasing, most of the attention lately regarding employee benefits has been focused on ways to bring costs under control while maintaining the level of care. One approach has been through the establishment of Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) to offer consumers greater control. Other approaches, such as Association Health Plans (AHPs), are still under debate in Congress.

Issues include:

• Workers Comp

• Associated Health Plans

• Pension

• Unemployment Compensation

• FICA

• Minimum Wage

• Overtime Pay

• OSHA

• Family and Medical Leave

• Labor Relations

• Patients Bill of Rights

• 401(k)

CRS Issue Brief for Congress

• Association Health Plans: Legislation in thr 109th Congress
  by Jean Hearne, Congressional Research Service

• Employer Stock in Pension Plans: Economic and Tax Issues
  by Jane G. Gravelle, Congressional Research Service

:: View all issue briefs ::

Recent Capitol Hill Activity/News

• Living Stronger, Earning Longer: Redefining Retirement In The 21st Century Workplace
  Senate Special Committee on Aging; April 27, 2005

• Examining Voluntary Employer Compliance Programs that Improve Occupational Safety and Health
  House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections; May 12, 2005

 :: View all activity ::

Articles & Reports

• Employer Health Benefits 2004 Annual Survey (Kaiser Family Foundation)

• Small Business and Access to Health Insurers, Particularly HMOs

:: View all articles ::

Major Legislation

• Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act

• Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act of 2005

:: View all legislation ::

Useful Resources

• Employee Benefit Research Institute

• Brookings Institute - Health Care Financing

:: View all resources ::

POLICY AREAS

E-Commerce

Entrepreneurship Education

Financing

Intellectual Property

Minorities

Regulatory Burdens

Stock Options

Tax System

Technology Transfer

Women

Worker Benefits

Workforce Training