White papers
Our research-based white papers offer insight and commentary on benefits, compensation, and workforce issues to help organizations make critical decisions.
Communication
Retirement
Health and Productivity
Talent and HR Solutions
Well-designed career sites improve recruiting effectiveness, even in a down economy
For the past few months, recruiting may have been the last thing on many employers' minds given the current state of the economy. But the recently passed stimulus plan could create a need for rapid hiring in selected industries. However, the resourcefulness, innovative thinking, and productivity that proven talent brings to an organization are needed now more than ever in any industry. The question is: How can your organization find such talent?
Re-thinking Target Date Funds: No magic formula
Is the conceptual design behind Target Date Funds sufficiently robust to warrant the claim of being "the" ideal solution for defined contribution retirement plans? This article aims to make the case for a complete and consistent framework to vet the risk-and-return proposition of TDFs. In particular, financial operators and regulators should re-examine the existing TDF solutions and encourage more accurate disclosure of the expected risks and returns of each product in a manner consistent with (a) rigorous analysis based on commonly accepted financial theory and (b) realistic empirical market evidence.
Welcome to the 2011-2012 Flu Season: Is your business ready?
In an influenza outbreak, you play a key role in protecting your employees' health and safety. The workplace is one place where everyone can help stop the spread of the flu. The actions you take "locally" can help limit the impact of the illness on the economy and society as a whole. Pandemics, like the viruses that cause them, are unpredictable and can occur at any time. As with any potential catastrophe, it's essential to have a contingency plan. We can't afford to let our guard down and let this flu season turn into another pandemic.
Beyond words... engaging consumers in changing health behaviors
In order to positively impact workforce health and reduce costs, employers must move their health programs beyond words to a state of consumer engagement and action. This article summarizes relevant concepts and findings from the fields of psychology, decision research, and social marketing and identifies best practices in developing consumer engagement. Employers can utilize this information when creating health care programs and tools to control costs and improve workforce health and productivity.
Good health pays off! The fundamentals of health promotion incentives
Employer interest in consumer driven health care is accelerating. Shifting more responsibility to employees entails changing a number of well-entrenched assumptions, values and practices related to the way sick care is viewed and utilized. One such shift is getting employees to focus more on maintaining and improving their health rather than on seeking treatment once they are sick.
Well-designed career sites improve recruiting effectiveness, even in a down economy
For the past few months, recruiting may have been the last thing on many employers' minds given the current state of the economy. But the recently passed stimulus plan could create a need for rapid hiring in selected industries. However, the resourcefulness, innovative thinking, and productivity that proven talent brings to an organization are needed now more than ever in any industry. The question is: How can your organization find such talent?
Why are failed technology projects so common?
We've all seen technology investments gone bad. Perhaps the promise of technology is the culprit? HR technology has greatly advanced to meet business challenges. We take for granted that it will accomplish what we want it to do rather than what it was programmed to do. This may be part of the problem, but the root cause is deeper than that. We believe that organizations sometimes skirt the process of building (or buying as the case may be) the right solution. When speed seems to define success, organizations want to cut to the chase.