Compensation
U.S. Workers Can Expect to See Slight Recovery in Salary Increases for 2010
The economic downturn prompted U.S. companies in 2009 to grant employees the lowest base salary increases in 33 years. According to a recent Hewitt survey, employees can expect to see a similar mix of compensation payouts in 2010, with variable pay budgets projected to remain stable and base salary increases rising only slightly.

  Compliance
Q&A: U.S. Form 5500 Preparation
Generally, all U.S. organizations that offer employee retirement and welfare benefit plans are required to file a Form 5500 each year. Significant changes have been made to filing procedures for 2009, including the requirement to report both direct and indirect fees and to file electronically instead of by mail. We asked our expert to respond to the latest developments in this area.

Q&A: Dependent Audits
Dependent audits are one-time or ongoing events that allow employers to validate the eligibility of dependents covered under their health and welfare insurance plans. Learn more about how they can save you money.

  Corporate Transactions
Joint Ventures: Minimizing Risk and Maximizing Success
As stock becomes a less valuable deal-making commodity and merger and acquisition activity declines, joint ventures (JVs) are becoming increasingly popular as a means for companies to form strategic alliances. Read how JVs present a unique opportunity for HR to step up and make a strategic and bottom-line impact on the organization.

  Health Care
Hewitt’s Point of View: Health Care Reform
Even while Congress enjoyed the August recess, health care reform continued to dominate both the political and social debate. Ken Sperling, Hewitt’s global health management leader, shares why an "all-payer" system would encourage healthy competition.

Reform Recap: This Week in Washington
Check here weekly for the latest news and notes on the proposed health care reform efforts. You'll receive the latest inside information from inside and outside the beltway as our expert consultants report on what you need to know.

Health Care Cost Trends
Health care costs continue to be a priority and a concern for employees and employers. Along those lines, Hewitt monitors health care costs through numerous tools and resources to analyze their impact on both employers and employees. This Hewitt trends bulletin explores employers' strategic approaches and cost-shifting trends.

Ask Our Expert: The Links Between Employee Health and Well-Being and Engagement
Data from the latest Best Employers in Canada study looks at whether focusing on employee health and well-being can lead to higher overall employee engagement.

  HR Effectiveness
Managing HR on a Global Scale
What does it mean to be a global HR organization? In this newly released research, Hewitt explores how HR organizations are evolving to meet the needs of a global business and workforce.

  Pension Risk and Investments
U.K. Longevity Swaps: The First Pension Fund Deals
Following the announcement of the first longevity swap deals with a U.K. pension fund, Hewitt's Martin Bird looks ahead to the future and explains what longevity swaps can do.

Hewitt Global Report: Significant Increase Expected in German Pension Insolvency Premiums
As a result of the recent economic crisis and ensuing bankruptcies, the German pension insolvency insurer (PSV) has issued an informational bulletin that warns that insolvency premiums for 2009 are likely to be multiple times higher than in recent years. This Global Report provides more details on the PSV bulletin.

  Leadership
Building a Company of Great Leaders
Finding and developing leaders will become increasingly difficult. The future poses new challenges and demands greater speed and complexity, but it also provides opportunities to develop leadership capability more effectively. Here we provide tips on how your company can respond.

  Outsourcing
It's Annual Enrollment Time
Despite years encouraging employees to get actively involved in benefits enrollment decisions, most still show little interest. Help employees navigate through complicated choices to make smart decisions.

Ten HR Administration Cost-Reduction Strategies for Tough Economic Times
While reducing HR costs is a challenge in the current environment, the mandate to reduce costs has created a burning platform for HR, opening up new opportunities that may not have been available in the past.

Best Buy Builds Awareness of Total Value of Rewards Packages
The solution came in the form of an employee intranet site developed by Hewitt. Read about this single source of personalized total rewards information, providing employees with a holistic and accurate view of what's offered today, plus tools and information that encourage the employee to take action to maximize value tomorrow.

  Retirement
Trends and Experience in 401(k) Plans—2009
Hewitt's biennial survey of employer 401(k) plans is open for participation. All participants will receive a copy of the survey report at no charge.

Global Retirement Update—July 2009
Hewitt's monthly report summarizes recent legislative developments and trends related to retirement and financial management, and highlights recently passed and pending legislation that may require employers to take action to comply with new rules or review existing plans.

Company-Sponsored Retirement Plans More Important Than Ever
Read the latest issue of InFocus, Hewitt’s regular retirement and financial management newsletter.

  Talent and Performance
Rethinking Performance Management as a Business Tool to Spark a High-Performance Culture
Authors Scott Cohen and Nidhi Verma present a new direction for developing and implementing a successful performance management process that creates a high-achievement/high-engagement culture to drive business results.

Communicate Now: Five Tips to Help Keep Employees Engaged
If there’s no good news to talk about, why talk about anything? Stop—and think again. During times of uncertainty, silence can harm your employee engagement, making it more difficult to keep the top talent you’ll need to climb out of the downturn.

  New From Hewitt
Hewitt to Provide Delegated Investment Services to Crawford & Company
We will provide delegated investment services to Crawford & Company, the world's largest independent provider of claims management and related solutions to the risk management and insurance industry.

State of Georgia Selects Hewitt to Provide Benefits Outsourcing Services
We have been selected to provide HR benefits outsourcing services to the State of Georgia. Under the agreement, Hewitt will provide Flexible Benefit Administration services to approximately 130,000 State of Georgia employees.

Hewitt Acquires Remaining Shares of BodeHewitt in Germany
Hewitt acquired the remaining interest in BodeHewitt AG & Co. KG, a German pensions and benefits consulting specialist, from Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG (HVB). Together, BodeHewitt and Hewitt will have 230 associates working from offices in Munich, Stuttgart, and Wiesbaden.

Hewitt Global Report—Second Quarter Themes
Legislative activity during the second quarter 2009 was characterized by attempts to reduce problems created or exacerbated by the economic crisis. This Global Report highlights developments in time off, executive compensation, retirement, and health care.