Tea May be Healthy, but the Party Might Not be...

As Health Costs Soar, G.O.P. and Insurers Differ on Cause

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/index.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Across the country, premiums have more than doubled in the last decade, with smaller companies particularly hard hit in recent years, federal officials say.

In New Hampshire, where the population is among the healthiest in the nation, according to various surveys, the insurance market for individuals, families and small businesses is extremely fragile. More than 90 percent of private employers in New Hampshire have fewer than 50 employees. Small and medium-size employers try to shop around for health insurance, but have few alternatives from which to choose.

This year, groups of more than 20 workers have been experiencing premium increases of around 20 percent, insurance agents say, while smaller groups are seeing increases of 40 percent to 60 percent or more.

“The rate of increase is phenomenal,” said Jean Pierre La Tourette, owner of Flora Ventures, a florist with 11 employees in Newmarket, N.H., near Portsmouth. When he was recently notified that the monthly premium for single employees at his firm was going up by $229, or 40 percent, to $789, Mr. La Tourette said, he felt “a combination of anger and frustration....

James D. Bell Jr., the president of the EPE Corporation, which assembles electronic circuit boards at its factory here, said health insurance trends were starkly different from those of his other business expenses.

“Everywhere else I see a decrease in costs as a percentage of sales when the business grows,” Mr. Bell said. “We can buy raw circuit boards from hundreds of suppliers in the United States and overseas. But only two or three health plans make serious bids for our business.”

In an effort to save money last year, Mr. Zaremba’s company, RAM Printing, chose a health plan that required employees to pay more of the cost. The added expense had an immediate impact.

“I took a 5 percent cut in pay, because of the economy, and I was paying more for health care at the same time,” said Gary J. Silveira, a longtime print shop employee. “We still owe $1,000 to ourfamily doctor; I’m paying $100 a month. I’m three months overdue in paying physical therapists who treated my son. And I skipped a few months of blood pressure and cholesterol medications just to save money.”

Understanding the Indian Employer Mindset...

Two insightful stories about Indian firms' HR management..

'Foreign job seekers shun Indian cos'

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Foreign-job-seekers-shun-Indian-cos/736565/

"Job seekers from India rated Indian companies most positively, with a preference rating of 87 per cent... However Indian companies come last outside India; their preference rating drops to just 22 per cent," global HR consulting and outsourcing firm Aon Hewitt said.

The findings are based on a survey of nearly 13,500 job seekers spread across five Asian nations, including India. The participants were asked about their perception of companies from India and 11 other countries.

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Wipro gears up for talent war, scraps employment bonds for fresh graduates

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/wipro-gears-up-for-talent-war-scraps-employment-bonds-for-fresh-graduates/articleshow/7623507.cms

Preparing for the talent war this year, IT major Wipro Technologies has scrapped the upfront payment of 75,000 towards employment bonds for new recruits. Until last year, fresh engineering recruits at Wipro were asked to make a payment of 75,000 while signing employment contracts. But in a year when demand for software services is improving and the war for talent has reached peak levels, the company is changing policies to attract freshers.

Like most IT firms, Wipro has also been grappling with high attrition after the industry witnessed a return in demand in jobs last year following two years of lull during the economic downturn . During high-growth periods, IT companies increase hiring at the lower rung to manage costs and increase bench strength and Wipro has also talked about ramping up recruitment at the bottom of the employee pyramid. The company plans to offer double-digit wage hikes this April to attract talent.

Wipro still has a service level agreement in place for a period of 15 months, which the company feels helps in improving the quality of hires and ensures that it does not lose employees after putting in significant effort in training. "The training and development program entails a considerable investment in terms of manpower, training hours, infrastructure and technological knowhow. This investment makes it necessary for us to expect the fresher to stay with us for a period so as to obviate an adverse impact on ongoing projects. However, for FY12, we have done away with the upfront payment and there is only a service level agreement in force," Priti Rajora, Global Head-Talent Acquisition, Wipro Technologies said.

Company employees feel this move will result in higher productivity as it will ensure that employees are not working just because they have made a considerable payment. "If an employee pays upfront money he/she would work with a different mindset. They will work just because they paid money to the company. Sometimes companies miss the best talent by asking for upfront money. Wipro's move has come at the right time when HR heads are running to all corners scouting for talent," a Wipro employee in Chennai said.

Several IT firms ask freshers to sign employment bonds, that restrict job-hopping for these employees for a certain period of time. IT firms justify these barriers for the restless code-jockeys citing huge training costs. Most IT firms have a three-six month training period before assigning new recruits to live projects, following which these bonds ensure that the employees stays with the company for a while. While engineering graduates joining TCS sign a two-year service agreement, Infosys has a one-year agreement which starts from the date of completing training programme.

Picking and Choosing the Data, Richie's Way

Mayor Daley has come down hard on the unions, specifically on teachers. While his argument is legitimate, he does not come down on people like his brother who have made their riches using their government connections to enrich private enterprises. At a time when corporate profits are soaring, blaming the unions alone is unpalatable.

Daley: We're a 'country of whiners'

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/daley-were-a-country-of-whiners.html

Retiring Mayor Richard Daley contended today that America is a “country of whiners” that’s spent the last four decades fearing the impact of foreign governments on the nation’s economy instead of showing the confidence and sacrifice to lead on a global stage.

Daley also said he believed taxpayers can no longer finance the current level of government and suggested priorities need to be placed on municipal services that can be privatized or outsourced to cut costs. And he blasted a teachers’ union he argued was more concerned about pay than in taking responsibility for educating the less well off....

Saying he was pleased but not satisfied with the progress of Chicago Public Schools during his tenure, Daley recounted asking city teachers to spend 15 more minutes to teach to help disadvantaged students, but the union refused without additional pay.

“Our teachers work six hours a day. Six hours a day. What do you think of that? Thirty hours a week,” Daley said. “I’m not condemning all the teachers, but you know, there has to be a time and place for everybody to have to give to the less fortunate. … Unions have to understand, that you have a responsibility. It’s not just a paycheck.”

Certainly not the "Text"book strategy

SC bill sets $45 texting-while-driving penalty

SC legislators give initial approval to bill setting $45 penalty for texting while driving

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/SC-bill-sets-45-apf-1719133441.html;_ylt=AkUlfRTu3sZ.DI8B7Q0MQrGxba9_;_ylu=X3oDMTFldTVzbHVzBHBvcwMxOARzZWMDbmV3c0h1YkFydGljbGVMaXN0BHNsawNzY2JpbGxzZXRzNDU-?x=0

People convicted of texting and driving will have to pay $45 in penalties under legislation heading for debate by South Carolina lawmakers.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15-3 on Tuesday to approve a measure that requires a $20 fine plus a $25 state trauma care fund surcharge if the person is convicted. The bill now goes to the Senate floor.

The fines can be higher after court and other surcharges are added.

Police have to clearly see what a driver is doing and they can't charge drivers who are dialing phones or looking up a phone number. They also won't be allowed to take a driver's phone or search cars because they think the driver is texting.