CEBS GBA Exam 1 with complete solutions

Broad view of Employee Benefits (Mod 1.1) - Answer- Considers Employee Benefits to be virtually any form of compensation other than direct wages paid to Employees (Ex: WC, Unemployment, State DI, SS, Vacation, Holidays, 401K/Retirement, Employer share of Medical, Severance Pay, Child Care, etc..) Narrow view of Employee Benefits (Mod 1.1) - Answer- Any type of plan sponsored or initiated by Employees and Employers and engaged in providing benefits that result from the employment relationship and that are not underwritten or paid directly by the government; (Ex: Benefits excluded include those legally mandated - WC, SS). Impact of Labor Unions on Employee Benefits (Mod 1.2) - Answer- Through Collective Bargaining, Employee Benefit Plans have been impacted. In 1948 ruling states that the duty to bargain in good faith over wages also included insurance and fringes (pension). In WW Cross & Co, NLRB ruled wages included health and accident plan. What is the Taft-Hartley Act? (Mod 1.2) - Answer- The Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 is a United States federal law that restricts the activities and power of labor unions. This set forth good-faith collective bargaining over wages, hours, terms of employment and benefits. 3 Examples of Tax Advantages of Employee Benefit Plans (Mod 1.2) - Answer- 1: Employer Contributions are Tax Deductible 2: Employer Contributions are not considered income to Employees 3: Certain Retirement Benefits Accumulate Tax-Free until distributed. Examples of Questions that should be addressed when creating benefit objectives (Mod 1.3) - Answer- Ex: What benefits should be provided? Who should be covered? Should Employees have options? How should plan be financed? How should plan be administered? How should plan be communicated to Employees? What is the Functional Approach to Employee Benefit Planning? (Mod 1.4) - Answer- Application of a systematic method of analysis to an Employer's Total Employee Benefits Program. It analyzes the organization's EBP as a whole in terms of its ability to meet various employee's needs and to manage loss exposures within the overall compensation goals and parameters. Why is the Functional Approach appropriate when planning, designing and administering Employee Benefits? (Mod 1.4) - Answer- 1: EE Benefits Significant Element of EE Comp and are a Tax-Effective Way to Compensate 2: EE Benefit Represent Large Labor Cost, so ER's should effectively plan/cost-control 3: In the past, EE Benefits were adopted on piece-meal basis; helps to now fill gaps/overlap 4: Systematic Approach to planning helps to keep the EBP current, competitive and in compliance with updated requirements (ACA) 5: Benefits to be integrated properly together Compare Compensation/Service Oriented Benefit Philosophy with the Needs-Oriented (Mod 1.4) - Answer- Compensation/Service: EBP comprised of primarily compensation, service or both. Level of benefits tied to salary or pay levels/years of service Needs Orientated: Focuses on Needs of EE's and their dependents Identify Steps in Applying Functional Approach (Mod 1.4) - Answer- 1: Classify EE/Dep Needs & Objectives (in logical/functional categories) 2: Classify Categories of EE's to be protected 3: Analyze present benefits in terms of functional categories of needs/objectives, persons to benefit, and regulatory requirements 4: Determine any gaps or overlap in benefits from all sources in terms of functional categories of needs & the persons to be protected 5: Consider recommendations for changes 6: Estimate costs/savings from each recommendation 7: Evaluate alternative methods of financing for those recommended benefits (and existing ben)