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Vermont Seminar for HR Professionals

April 14th, 2008 Posted by Amelia

A free half-day conference in Montpelier, Vermont on Monday, April 28 will help women identify and secure their employee benefits – and help employers learn more about benefits compliance.

The free seminar, “Healthy, Wealth and Wise?” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The event, scheduled from 8:30 am to 1 pm at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center on State Street, will demystify retirement benefits, healthcare and pension rights for female workers.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women’s lives are often impacted by events such as job loss, illness, widowhood, divorce, pregnancy, single parenthood, caring for an elderly parent, starting a first job and retirement. While a number of laws protect women’s rights, they are administered by different agencies of the government. Obtaining needed information and assistance can be challenging and confusing, for both employers and employees.

“Healthy, Wealthy and Wise?” seeks to minimize such difficulties by being a ‘one stop’ information source for service providers to women. Experts will discuss real-life stories of how women are impacted by health care, retirement savings and employment issues.

Attendees will receive comprehensive information on those topics, and resource materials on services available to help Vermont’s women address health, financial security and workplace challenges.

The conference is designed for community workers, case managers, human resource professionals, counselors, Employee Assistance Program specialists, health care providers and advocates, legal advocates, faith community representatives, state and local agencies, labor union staff, legislators and their staff, and other concerned women and men.

It is sponsored by the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health.

Participating conference partners include: the University of Massachusetts Gerontology Institute, the Vermont Department of Labor, the Vermont Commission on Women, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Works for Women, the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Small Business Development Center.

Other participants include the Vermont Business and Professional Women, the Vermont Women’s Fund, the Central Vermont Community Action Council, the Vermont Alliance of Non-Profit Organizations, JSI Research and Training Institute, Northeastern Vermont Area Health Education Center and the Vermont Women’s Business Center.

This event builds on the EBSA’s recent pro-active efforts in assisting employers, especially small employers, in offering benefits to workers. This is a marked contrast to the EBSA’s former emphasis on punishing wrongdoers.

On April 8, 2008 the U.S. Department of Labor introduced an online video to help small employers select retirement options for workers.

The video helps employers, managers and accountants understand the different options available for small companies to provide retirement programs to workers.

“Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business” introduces employers to the three most popular retirement arrangements in a brief, user-friendly video format.

The video portrays real-life experiences of four small employers with different retirement options. The employers depicted operate simplified employee pension (SEP), savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement arrangement (SIMPLE IRA) and 401(k) plans.

The video focuses on the ease in setting up a retirement program appropriate for small business owners as well as the advantages of sponsoring a retirement plan, including tax breaks.

In late February, the U.S. Department of Labor unveiled a new online resource to help American employees chart their retirement finances.

This is a great tool for employers to make workers aware of. It will assist workers of all ages in planning for retirement.

The tool is aimed at helping workers who are 10 to 15 years away from retirement to prepare for financial security after they quit working.

“Americans are living longer, healthier lives and need to plan for their retirement,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “These interactive worksheets will give workers and their families a better perspective on how much they need to save to ensure that they can realize their retirement dreams.”

The website builds on a 2006 US DOL publication, “Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning.” That booklet used worksheets to help workers calculate income and savings, as well as expected expenses, during their retirement years.