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Daily news and information provided by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Cry for Help: U.S. Employers Urge Immediate Pension Funding Relief Roughly 300 U.S. companies and business groups are urging Congress to suspend the Pension Protection Act's accelerated defined benefit plan funding requirements, which they said could force them to make job cuts as they shift scarce money into ailing pension plans. Plus, a new survey indicates extent of pension funding woes. Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Declines for Seventh Year Employer-sponsored health coverage, the insurance most Americans receive, declined in each of the seven years following 2000. While many small employers say any price for providing health coverage is too high, there are steps they can take to help employees purchase individual coverage. Retention Compensation: A Stabilizing Force Savvy managers understand that the stabilizing force of retention pay can work wonders in settling staff members. Applied smartly, this form of compensation can keep them focused on business instead of worrying about their future. Executive Comp: Rethink Incentive Plans for Difficult Times The troubled economy is causing fundamental shifts in executive compensation bonus and equity-based incentives plans. Board compensation committees need to consider if and how they will address these issues without negatively affecting executive retention and motivation. Avoid Bonus Blunders as Economy Slows The end of the year brings bonus and performance review discussions for many employees. In 2008 those discussions are likely to be more difficult as the slumping economy prompts talks in which workers are asked to do more with less--including downsizing their bonus expectations.