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Benefits
Where Do Workers Receive the Most Vacation Days?
Ah, vacation. There never seems to be enough time away from it all, but that's not necessarily the case for workers everywhere. In some places there's no pining for days off because they are plentiful.
Reality Check: Working at Starbucks, Just For the Health Care
Health insurance has become an invaluable benefit — if an accident were to occur and you didn't have coverage, you could be paying off a mountain of medical debt for years to come. A Reuters article highlights just how important insurance is for Americans when considering employment opportunities, and profiles a mother of three in Texas who has taken a part-time job just for the medical benefits.
That's right, full-time real estate agent Lisa DeWaal spends the first four hours of her days serving coffee at a Starbucks before heading to her office.
Your Two Cents: Do You Have Health Insurance?
Big changes could be in the future for health insurance. Are you currently insured?
Your Two Cents: Do You Have Health Insurance?
I'm Asking: How Much Paid Time Off Do You Get Per Year?
It's always interesting to look at how many paid days off employees receive at various companies, because the numbers are all over the place. Vacation days are often skewed according to the time an employee has been with the company, but it can take a while to acquire additional days. How much paid time off do you get every year?
Vacation Days Around the World: How Money Are You?
A travel bug has gotten me thinking globally lately, and wishing that I had more vacation days to satisfy the urge to get away. If I were employed internationally, the shortage of available time off wouldn't be much of an issue. Other countries allow employees generous time to "go on holiday" — do you know how much time workers are allowed off around the world?
Maternity Leave Around the World: How Money Are You?
Happy Mother's Day! It's one day that all moms should have off, and not just because it's a Sunday.
One of the things to find out before having a baby is how much leave you'll be granted and how much you'll be paid for that time off.
I'm Asking: Do You Keep Up With Routine Dental Care?
Fresh off the news that dentists have noticed an uptick in client visits, a new study suggests many Americans forgo routine dental care because it is considered a "luxury item."
A consumer adviser for the American Dental Association warns (just like your mother!) that prevention is always cheaper than fixing problems later, so anyone attempting to skimp out on routine visits is only hurting herself down the road.
I happen to be a little compulsive about dentist visits and take advantage of my dental coverage every six months, but I know many people don't have coverage and struggle to make room in their budget for routine work.
Employers Experimenting With a 24-Hour Work Week
The four-day work week has been a popular option for employers looking to save money without losing employees, and some companies have started slashing hours even more, going as low as 24-hours per week. A three-day work week means part-time pay, making it harder for many workers to make ends meet.
The difference in maintaining health benefits at some companies is a mere eight hours — a 32-hour week could mean continued coverage, while a 24-hour week could mean you're out of luck.
6 Things About COBRA Under the New Stimulus
As if having to search for a new job after a layoff isn't enough stress, jobless workers must consider how they'll get health care coverage without their old employers' plans. COBRA, short for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act passed by Congress in 1986, requires most group health care plans to provide a temporary continuation of coverage that an employee would typically lose after termination.
The downside to COBRA has been cost, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 calls for a 65 percent subsidy toward group health insurance premiums for laid-off employees.
I'm Asking: Have Your Healthcare Expenses Increased in 2009?
I feel lucky to have health insurance because I know that so many Americans are living without it. That being said, it really hurts when necessary expenses increase while our salaries stay the same. Updated healthcare packages typically come with the new year, and as the costs of those packages increases, it's only natural that employers pass them on to their employees.
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