Employee compensation and benefits organizations education and training aid employees and employers alike. Employees need to be aware of their rights regarding insurance, sick leave, vacation time, and more. Employers should be aware of the same laws and regulations. Employers need information regarding employee benefit associations, because they work with these organizations in order to avoid lawsuits from violating employee rights.

Employee compensation organizations help employees gain benefits such as retirement plans, insurance, family medical leaves and vacation time. When looking into employee compensation and benefits organizations education and training, consider the following options:

1. Courses offer information regarding employee compensation plans as well as information about employee compensation and benefits associations.

2. Seminars provide information about employee benefits organizations and their membership.

3. Articles and manuals offer information from and about employee benefit associations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Enroll in educational courses regarding rules and regulations of employee compensation

Courses offer detailed information for employee benefits and compensation. These courses are good for those working in human services departments as well as for any employers that wish to learn more about offering benefits for their employees. Some course programs offer certificates after completion.

I recommend: UC Davis offers courses in business and management that discuss employee compensation. After three courses, students may earn a certificate. HR Training also offers a course in employee compensation. The course is a self-study course that gives specific rules for a particular state. Choose the state when purchasing the course.

Learn about employee benefits associations from attending seminars

Many employee compensation organizations offer seminars detailing information about their membership, events, and benefits. Attending these seminars increases knowledge in available organizations and resources for employees. Employees and employers both benefit from attending seminars. Check with an employee benefits association for events dates and details.

I recommend: The National Committee for Quality Assurance offers seminars detailing information about preserving employee benefits. Employee Benefit Planning Association also offers seminars discussing employee health care and other benefits.

Research manuals to gain employee compensation and benefit organization education and training

Employers can learn much from reading materials featuring employee benefit associations. Manuals help employers understand the guidelines that they must use for offering employee compensation plans. Articles discuss employee compensation organization events and news.

I recommend: Employees Benefits Institute of America offers a variety of manuals beneficial to employers; obtain a manual that discuss legal aspects of employee compensation. How Stuff Works Money gives business owners an insight into how employee compensation works. It helps owners determine which benefits to offer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When learning from an employee benefits organization, be certain to research information pertaining to maternity leaves. Not only mothers receive a family leave. Fathers also are entitled to family leaves as well as those who adopt children.

Employee benefit organizations provide the human resources professional with valuable insight into the compensation provided by other companies. This knowledge improves employee retention, satisfaction and the company's profits.

Before you join a employee benefits association, it is important to choose an organization that is a good fit. Because most associations charge a membership fee, it makes sense to select the organization that will offer you the most value.

1. Does the employee benefits organization offer classes and conferences in your area? While online information is helpful, to receive the most benefits from a professional organization, you should plan to put in face time.

2. Does the membership of the organization reflect your interests? Even if the group is open to everyone, if the majority of members are in the accounting field, and your company is in manufacturing, it may not be a good fit.

3. In a smaller city, there may be limited opportunities to join employee benefits organizations. Even if the situation is not perfect, you can enjoy the benefits of membership, continuing education and networking. It is your decision on how involved to become.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a professional benefits organization that meets your needs

The advantages of belonging to employee compensation and benefits organizations are numerous. These groups typically offer educational programs, professional development classes and opportunities for networking.

I recommend: The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans is a nonprofit organization for compensation professionals. Your company may want to join the Employee Benefit Research Institute. This group compiles and distributes research, along with government policy changes, on a regular basis.

Update your skills with help from employee benefits associations

Employee benefit organizations often offer training classes and seminars to keep their members updated on new trends and technologies. While some classes may only be available to members, other groups allow anyone interested to participate.

I recommend: World at Work holds an annual conference that offers classes, forums and round tables on information of interest to the compensation professional, as well as offering a wonderful networking opportunity. Review available local benefit compensation organizations, also available at World at Work. The American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries provides many web based courses. These classes are open to benefits professionals and are an excellent way to remain up to date on changes in benefit policies.

Use information gathered by employee benefit organizations

If you cannot regularly attend meeting with local employee benefits associations, you can still benefit from their expertise. Many employee compensation and benefits organizations provide employee compensation and benefit information online or in report form, available upon request.

I recommend: Mercer provides compensation packages by industry. The Economic Research Institute provides a compensation tool that you can download. It contains data for various industries and you can provide your own details as well.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The purpose of honing your skills as a compensation professional is to improve retention and productivity while at the same time maximizing profits. This is a delicate balancing act, and forging friendships with others in the same position will make you more effective.

If you are a human resources professional, more than likely part of your job is to handle employee compensation and benefits. Even though you might be part of an organization that allows you to further your knowledge by providing classes and round tables that focus on compensation and benefits, that education might be hampered if you don't have an understanding of some key terms that are used when talking about compensation and benefits.

Action Steps
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Compensation

Compensation is the way in which the employee or worker is rewarded for his or her contribution to an organization. The most common acceptable types of compensation are salaries, wages and/or tips.

I recommend: The Free Management Library gives more detail on employee compensation in the United States.

Human services

Human services refers to any department or group that is tasked with helping people get services, maintaining records, assisting in life skills or dealing with group activities.

I recommend: The Human Services Career Network has an article detailing what to expect in the field of human services.

Workers compensation

Workers compensation refers to insurance that the employer pays for to provide cash and medical care for those people who are injured or made sick on the job.

I recommend: For more detailed information on workers compensation, including steps to take when filing claims, visit NYS Governor's Office of Employee Relations.

Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA as it is more commonly known, is a benefit that applies when a employee or the employee's spouse either gives birth to a child, adopts a child, places a child in adoptive care or needs time off to care for a sick family member or themselves.

I recommend: For in-depth guidance on FMLA, visit U.S. Department of Labor and find out the latest updates to the act.

COBRA

The acronym COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. There is a federal law that mandates that all employers offer workers medical insurance that continues after the worker leaves the company. The worker is eligible to participate in the medical plan for up to 18 months as long as he or she pays the premiums.

I recommend: There is a brief summary of the COBRA law at Cobrahealth.com.

HIPAA

HIPPA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a federal law that focuses on health care for employees. It limits what pre-existing conditions can cause a person to be excluded from health care. It also lets employees enroll in health care when certain life events occur, such as divorce or childbirth. HIPAA also protects against health-status discrimination.

I recommend: The U.S Department of Health & Human Services has a large section of its website devoted to HIPAA.