Survey Shows Interest in Revising Rules about Benefit Plan Notification
June 9, 2011 —WASHINGTON — WorldatWork responded to a U.S. Department of Labor request for information regarding whether the federal government should revise its rules on electronic delivery of employee benefit plan information — and, if so, how.
A snapshot survey of WorldatWork members reveals that slightly more than half (51%) of HR professionals surveyed believe the rules should be revised.
Among the revisions suggested most frequently is the elimination of the requirement that employees must give their affirmative consent to receive information electronically before that information can be disseminated in that way. This requirement is seen by a majority of respondents as being overly onerous and one of the leading impediments to greater electronic distribution of plan information.
Survey respondents additionally responded that the primary methods of distributing plan information to employees are: a) storing documents on a company’s Intranet for participant access (92%); b) posting announcements of new or modified documents on company Intranet (55%); and c) e-mailing announcements of new or modified documents to participants (42%); and d) distributing documents to participants via e-mail (42%).
The survey, “Quick Survey on Electronic Benefits Communication,” was conducted from May 9-23, 2011. A total of 73 WorldatWork members participated; 95% of whom report using some form of electronic distribution to communicate benefit plan information to employees. Survey results were included in a comment letter, dated June 6, 2011, sent to the Department of Labor’s Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration.
About WorldatWork®:
The Total Rewards Association
WorldatWork (www.worldatwork.org) is a not-for-profit organization providing education, conferences and research focused on global human resources issues including compensation, benefits, work-life and integrated total rewards to attract, motivate and retain a talented workforce. Founded in 1955, WorldatWork has nearly 30,000 members in more than 100 countries. Its affiliate organization, WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals®, is the certifying body for the prestigious Certified Compensation Professional® (CCP®), Certified Benefits Professional® (CBP), Global Remuneration Professional (GRP®), Work-Life Certified Professional™ (WLCP®), Certified Sales Compensation Professional™ (CSCP™), and Certified Executive Compensation Professional™ (CECP™). WorldatWork has offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Washington, D.C.
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