| With unemployment rates going down and | | | | leaders in researching alternative benefits options |
| companies struggling to attract and retain quality | | | | such as mini-meds (miniature medical plans with |
| employees, employers should pay close | | | | lower maximum coverage and limited visits), |
| consideration to the emphasis being put on the | | | | individual medical plans specific to each employee |
| importance of health care by employees. We | | | | (often times much lower cost than group rates) |
| have seen several times more and more that | | | | and Health Savings Accounts just to name a few. |
| employees are first asking about the benefits plan | | | | Small businesses should definitely consider benefits |
| and then about salary. It is obvious that | | | | options now as there are proponents of legislation |
| affordable health care is prevalent on the minds | | | | to make benefits mandatory for small to medium |
| of candidates. | | | | size businesses. At the end of 2005 California |
| For existing employees, we've found that offering | | | | voters were presented with potential legislation |
| higher benefits contributions in lieu of salary | | | | that would require that certain employers provide |
| increases is a well received concept. Small | | | | health coverage for their employees and in some |
| businesses have their eyes on the bottom line | | | | cases dependents through either (1) paying a fee |
| and labor costs are one of the hardest hitting | | | | to a new state program primarily to purchase |
| factors. By offering higher contributions to | | | | private health insurance coverage or (2) arranging |
| benefits plans employers are able to reduce the | | | | directly with health insurance providers for health |
| overall payroll costs. This is an area that most | | | | care coverage. The state would also establish a |
| employers don't spend a lot of time looking at | | | | new program to assist lower-income employees |
| because they think they are under the impression | | | | to pay their share of health care premiums. |
| it will be too costly. Another misconception is that | | | | This referendum lost by only about 2% so we |
| for a good benefits contribution plan, an employer | | | | are keeping our eye on this to resurface again in |
| must purchase a group policy. This is not the | | | | the very near future. |
| case, a resourceful HR person will assist company | | | | |