More than 70 percent of companies indicated they allowed employees to take sick leave in order to care for an ill spouse, child or parent, BLR recently reported.

According to the annual survey of consumer behavior conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Americans earned and spent less for the second year in a row in 2010, while healthcare costs rose.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employer Costs for Employee Compensation survey, private industry employers paid approximately 3.7 percent of total compensation in the form of retirement and savings benefits in June.

Companies often need to grant employees leaves of absence to deal with health issues.

Cross-training can be a good way to keep employees motivated and engaged, BLR recently wrote.

One issue that seems to cloud the pursuit of low-cost benefits for many employers is the role of labor unions.

The Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust 2011 Employer Health Benefits Survey was recently released, revealing annual premiums for family health plans have increased 9 percent and now average more than $15,000.

A recent survey by Towers Watson found that of 368 midsize and large companies, respondents generally expect healthcare costs to increase by 5.9 percent, a smaller jump than the 7.6 percent growth seen this year.

A report by Financial Engines recently indicated employees get much better returns on their 401(k)s when they take advantage of employer-provided investment help.

In the wake of ongoing insurance legislation, many employers have found that it is financially appealing for them to forgo a relationship with an insurance carrier.