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Nonqualified deferred compensation reform – Key aspects and implications
View Mercer’s recorded web briefing to learn about the key design, operational and tax implications for your deferred compensation and equity pay programs. We will tell you what you need to do immediately and suggest strategies for restructuring plans in the long-term.
M&A: Engaging your customer facing workforce to enhance the value of a deal
One of the quickest ways to erode the value of a merger or acquisition is to underestimate the importance and the reaction of your workers who deal directly with customers. After a deal becomes public knowledge, these employees – from service center employees to sales reps to senior marketing people – are most likely to be your customers’ first point of contact and can have tremendous influence over whether customers view the deal positively or negatively and whether or not they continue to buy from you.
Mercer's Bob Bundy, Steve Grossman and Carla Nuzzo are the presenters in a recorded web briefing that shares ideas on how to manage this process and turn a potential liability into a competitive advantage.
Global retirement plan governance
Join us for a recorded, one-hour web briefing to learn how to better prepare your company to govern its retirement plan across borders. As part of Mercer’s series of global Retirement Financial Management web briefings, this session will take a practical look at the initial and ongoing oversight of managing and reporting on global retirement programs. Mercer's Caroline Blouin, Bruce Kosakowski, and Elizabeth Renshaw are the presenters.
Severance and restructuring in Europe
Europe’s economic outlook is changing, and merger and acquisition activity is increasing. An inevitable consequence is a higher volume of workforce and corporate restructuring.
If there is any chance you will need to reduce or reorganize any European workforces in the coming months, spend an hour with our experts Stuart Benson and Peter Wallum in this recorded web briefing that could save you a lot of wasted energy and expense.
New US Medicare prescription drug rules
On 26 July 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed rules on the Medicare prescription drug benefit that takes effect 1 January 2006. The proposed rules address actuarial equivalence, plan sponsor subsidies, and coordination with Part D. CMS also released proposed rules for implementing the new Medicare Advantage program. In this free recorded web briefing, Mercer experts Derek Guyton, Mark Hanrahan, Barbara McGeoch and George Wagoner cover what the changes mean to employers, employees and retirees.
Greater China pension update
Recent changes in market activities and legislative laws in Greater China have resulted in changes to the retirement practices and plans in Greater China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Join Mercer experts Stan Feng, Toby Chui and Louis Yen in this free web briefing recording to learn more about developments affecting retirement plans in these three geographies. Learn more about what companies are doing and understand the changing pension landscape.
How to stay out of hot water on diversity and pay equity
Class-action law suits are in the news and have company executives buzzing: “Do we have unknown risks?” “How do we check our exposure quickly and reliably?”
In this web briefing recording, Mercer's Wendy Hirsch and Brian Levine discuss this threat as well as the role of diversity and proactive measurement in effective workforce management.
Retirement financial management survey results of practices and trends
Multinational organizations face unique challenges in the financial management of their retirement programs. It’s essential for these organizations to understand the five Retirement Financial Management (RFM) policy levers – Benefit, Accounting, Investment, Funding, and Governance. These policy levers can work together (or at cross purposes!) to achieve corporate finance objectives and maximize financial performance of retirement plans across the globe.
Find out how other multinational organizations fund, invest, and govern their retirement plans globally. Mercer's Joan Boughton and Stacy Scapino share the results of Mercer’s 2004 Financial Management of Multinational Retirement Plans survey with you in this recorded web briefing.
M&A in Asia – Preparing for Successful People Integration
Mercer Human Resource Consulting hosted a web briefing to explore how people and culture issues can determine the success of M&A deals in Asia. Increasingly, Asian companies are focusing on people issues as they realize the effect that both corporate culture and national culture can have on post-deal integration and a merger’s ultimate success. The presenters were Mercer's Sunit Sinha of New Delhi, Allen Wu of Shanghai and Naohiro Nishiguchi from Tokyo.
Europe: Getting HR ready for an M&A
A successful merger or acquisition is well planned and addresses the key people issues during pre-deal strategy, due diligence, and integration phases. More than ever, executive leadership will rely on the HR function to ensure that the organization achieves integration success while maximizing resources throughout the transaction.
Does your HR function have the resources, skills, and knowledge to support your company’s next M&A transaction? Will your team be able to address employee issues, ensure that the “people strategy” is aligned with the merger rationale, and manage potentially significant organizational change within the company and the HR function itself – while continuing to deliver on-going services?
To help get your team ready, watch a recording of a free web briefing featuring Mercer experts Doug Brown, Peter Wallum and Bart Hermans to hear about how HR teams are rising to the challenge and getting prepared for their next deal.
Key compensation and benefit issues in the new EU countries
On 1 May 2004 the European Union underwent a major transformation as it welcomed ten new countries, radically changing overnight the cultural, economic and historical make up of the EU.
The implications for multinationals are huge, presenting a much larger employment pool and different challenges around reward management. Yet research undertaken by Mercer suggests that many organizations with operations in these countries are unprepared.
Consultants Cameron Hannah and Martin Macha will draw upon existing client work in the region to demonstrate how they have utilized tools and methodologies that have helped many organizations to align people issues with the strategic objectives of the business and deliver measurable results.
From best practice to best fit: Creating and delivering "Total Rewards that Work"
As the economy continues to recover, we are finding more organizations focusing on total rewards as a means to balance the need to attract, retain, and motivate the talent needed to expand business while controlling costs and improving profitability. These competing demands are causing leading organizations to question their reward programs’ underlying assumptions and to design affordable plans that drive measurable results and are well received by employees.
Join senior Mercer consultants Steve Gross and Bob Moreen for a free, one-hour recorded web briefing. They share their perspectives on how HR executives can create and sustain total rewards programs of value for employees and for the business.
Employee absenteeism – Its impact on your company
In industries with a large number of employees, every seemingly insignificant absence during the day or night affects productivity. What may seem like trivial absences can soon mount into millions of dollars of direct expenses and lost revenue. Mercer studies indicate that a typical employer of 20,000 employees that begins to manage absences instead of tolerating them can expect to yield cost savings of at least $3-5 million annually. With potential savings like these, can you really afford not to manage absences?
Mercer absence management experts Jackelyn Werblo and George Faulkner share their research and results on Absence Management in this free recorded web briefing.
Global Benefits Management: Streamline plan operations, cut costs, and strategize globally
Global companies strive to manage their benefit programs around the world as effectively as possible. They seek to manage plan administration, design, cost, and risk in accordance with global standards. They want a seamless flow of information on all aspects of the programs. And they try to realize optimum value from consultants and third party providers.
Learn more about how to achieve efficiencies by viewing this free, one-hour recorded web briefing with Mercer's Giles Archibald and Bob O’Brien.
Final FLSA “white collar” regulations
Many employers struggle to comply with the current FLSA “white-collar” exemptions. When they fail, back pay liability and penalties can quickly add up to millions of dollars.
In the next few months, all employers will need to assess their current classifications under the new FLSA regulations and determine whether they need to make conforming changes. This is the case even if the Congress blocks those portions of the regulations that would cause certain nonexempt employees to no longer qualify for overtime.
This free, one-hour recorded briefing features Andrew Klein, Nancy Shallow and Tracy Thurnell.
Changing retirement environment in China, Hong Kong & Taiwan
China's economic growth continues to capture the world's attention. The country’s transition from a state-planned to a market-driven economy, coupled with its one-child policy, means that the "Iron Rice Bowl" – the cradle-to-grave provisions for the Chinese – can no longer be assumed.
In particular, pension issues are a growing concern for the government, employers, and the general public. Recently, the government has undertaken pilot pension programs in selected parts of China and is keen to rollout a national private pension program called the Enterprise Annuity.
Join Mercer experts Bruce Rigby, Phil Shirley and Allen Wu for a free, recorded web briefing to hear about developments affecting retirement plans in these three geographies. Learn more about what companies are doing and understand the changing pension landscape.
US Health Savings Accounts – What you need to know
On 8 December 2003, President Bush signed into law a Medicare Reform bill that in addition to sweeping changes to Medicare, created additional opportunities for employers to rethink their current employee health plan designs.
One important outcome of the new law is the creation of tax-favored Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to pay medical expenses. But taking proper advantage of this product requires that you understand the complex legal and financial issues involved.
Join Mercer's Mark Hamelburg, Ray Hershman and George Wagoner us for a free, one-hour recorded web briefing on this important topic, as Mercer’s experts give you the rundown on Health Savings Accounts.
Download the briefing presentation
Unfinished business: Mastering HR business design
Over the past 10 years, the HR function has made significant progress in gaining a strategic voice. Today, the most respected HR leaders are business executives first and HR specialists second. These executives are partners with and confidants of their CEOs and leadership teams.
They often find themselves at the epicenter of corporate change, and many of them get credit for enabling the toughest of business transformations that generate growth, profit, and sustainable shareholder value. It is a remarkable feat given today’s volatile markets and the maelstrom of increasing global competition.
Join senior Mercer consultants Robert Schuetz and John Koob with David D. Jones of Bon Secours Health System, Inc. for a free, one-hour recorded web briefing on how to close this gap.
Keeping golden parachutes afloat: New risks, new strategies
As the economy perks up, acquisitions are back on many companies’ agendas. This brings renewed attention to change-in-control protections from both the acquiring company’s and the target company’s point of view.
In this new era of stricter corporate accountability and responsible executive compensation, simply complying with the law and the “business judgment rule” on change-in-control protections is not enough. This “bare minimum” approach might help companies avoid litigation, but it won't maintain investor confidence.
Join Mercer experts Moira Donoghue, Mark Borges and Carol Silverman for a free, one-hour recorded web briefing for practical advice for HR in handling change-in-control issues.
Get the most from your health care and group benefits outsourcing partner (Stanley Works)
Deciding to outsource health care and group benefits administration can be a stressful decision for any company. But once a company decides to take this approach to help them reach their business goals, what are the next steps? How do they form a successful relationship with the outsourcer and ensure that their employees are getting quality service, while still moving their strategic HR initiatives forward? You’ll hear firsthand these employers' experience with outsourcing health care and group benefits - from vendor selection to initial planning, implementation, and ongoing engagement.
This free, one-hour recorded briefing features Randy Belair, Directory of Employee Services, Stanley Works and Richard Wolfe and Pamela Hunz of Mercer.
Cardinal rules: Boosting HR customer satisfaction and HR service
Spend an hour hearing HR leaders from Cardinal Health, Inc., the world’s largest provider of health care products and services, explain how they transformed their HR service delivery strategy and implemented it across several lines of business.
For Cardinal Health (as for many other jumbo employers), implementing an enterprise-wide technology solution and outsourcing benefit plan administration came only after a careful evaluation of how these decisions would affect its HR operating model.
Cardinal Health decided to design and build an employee service center – whose success has enhanced HR’s role within Cardinal Health significantly.
Join Don Moseley and Kim Masteller of Cardinal Health and David Knapp of Mercer for a free, one-hour recorded briefing to discuss the extraordinary process Cardinal Health went through and their key learnings.
Why HR governance matters
Most HR leaders have not been challenged to think formally about functional governance issues. Governance is seen as Boardroom-focused; HR governance, if considered at all, often is limited to plan compliance.
HR ultimately is responsible for managing human capital – an investment that averages 36 percent of a company’s operating revenues. Given the magnitude of HR’s responsibility, and the potential bottom line impact, Mercer believes that HR governance has not received the attention it deserves.
You are invited to watch a free, one-hour recorded web briefing with senior Mercer consultants Rhonda Davis and Robin Szumyk on HR governance where they explore HR governance’s emerging practices, risks, and opportunities.
Getting HR ready for M&As
A successful merger or acquisition is well planned and addresses the key people issues during pre-deal strategy, due diligence, and integration phases. More than ever, executive leadership will rely on the HR function to ensure that the organization achieves integration success while maximizing resources throughout the transaction.
Does your HR function have the resources, skills, and knowledge to support your company’s next M&A transaction? Will your team be able to address employee issues, ensure that the “people strategy” is aligned with the merger rationale, and manage potentially significant organizational change within the company and the HR function itself – while continuing to deliver on-going services?
To help get your team ready, watch a recording of a free web briefing featuring Mercer experts Doug Brown, Len Gray and Moira Donoghue to hear about how HR teams are rising to the challenge and getting prepared for their next deal.
Exploring the power on online rewards delivery
Even with the stock market beginning to rebound, many executives remain budget-conscious as they try to stretch the corporate dollar and do more with less. For the human resource function, that means focusing on a key issue: how to create a total rewards strategy that will both support the business design and manage costs.
Mercer believes the answer hinges on three critical and connected fronts: strategy, program design, and program delivery.
You can watch the recording of our free, one-hour web briefing to delve deep into the challenges and the power of effective online rewards delivery with Mercer presenters Joe Loya, Sarah Charlesworth and Debbie Slappey.
Pension accounting looking forward: Sweeping changes to pension plans
Changes in pension plan accounting standards could alter not only how companies disclose pension plan costs in their financial statements but also the very structure – and prevalence – of retirement programs.
Pension accounting has drawn criticism on many fronts for several years. These criticisms came to a head during the adverse capital markets through 2002. The analyst community now realizes how large an effect pension plans can have on corporate financial performance. In the short term, this has led to a call for more transparent disclosure of pension plan information in corporate financial reports. The Financial Accounting Standards Board responded with new disclosure requirements that apply to most companies’ 2003 annual reports.
While no additional changes are imminent, the lively pension accounting debate continues in the US and abroad. Signs point to a more “marked-to-market” accounting standard that would introduce even more volatility into financial statements. Human resource and finance executives should monitor this accounting debate, and the implications, so they can appreciate the opportunities and risks of maintaining a pension plan now and in the future.
The presenters for this free, one-hour recorded web briefing that will help you understand these emerging trends are Mercer's Don Fuerst, Chris Levell, Chuck Longiotti, Wendy McFee and Mike Young.
What’s working in health promotion and disease management
Following an introduction by Arnold Milstein MD, Chief Physician for Mercer, Medical Director of the Pacific Business Group on Health, the presenters for this free one-hour recorded web briefing are:
- Seth Serxner PhD, MPH, a Mercer thought leader in health
promotion and disease management.
- Betty Barnett, a senior Mercer communication consultant
specializing in education and communication to promote employee
health.
- Helen Chaves, Director, Corporate Health Services & Disability Management, Avery Dennison.
UK pensions tax simplification proposals
Over recent months, there has been a mass of speculation about the UK Inland Revenue’s latest tax simplification proposals – much of it ill-informed. Here’s an opportunity to find out the truth and dispel the myths now that the second consultation document has been released.
This recorded one-hour web recorded briefing will help those in HR and finance and any others whose responsibilities include UK retirement issues. You will find out more about the details of the new proposals and the wide-ranging implications, which will affect every type of UK pension plan and many aspects of remuneration strategy for senior employees.
Mercer consultants have begun to work with employers on developing HIPAA Security Compliance strategies. This one-hour recorded web briefing provides an overview of the rules and focus on what employer plan sponsors must do to be in compliance with these new rules.
Turning the corner on health care costs: What’s working in health care benefits delivery, vendor offerings and consumer education tools
Many US employers have taken drastic steps to cut health care costs – increasing employee premiums, reducing covered services, and dropping costly plans. But cost-shifting is a temporary solution at best. And it can have some negative results ... namely, unhappy employees.
Some employers have moved ahead to implement long-term health care strategies. As a result, we now have a practical experience in health care strategies that were merely theories a few years ago.
Following an introduction by Arnold Milstein MD, Chief Physician for Mercer, Medical Director of the Pacific Business Group on Health, the presenters for this free one-hour recorded web briefing are:
- Alexander “Sander” Domaszewicz, a national Mercer health
care resource specializing in emerging benefits, health care strategy, and
consumer directed health care.
- Amy Heiserman, Mercer’s Communication Practice leader in
the western US and an expert in effective health care consumer
strategies.
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Kathy Bartow, Director, Benefit Programs, Fujitsu North America Shared Services.
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