The Benefits Discipline deals with the various forms of indirect employee compensation—commonly referred to as “benefits”—that employers use to attract, recognize and retain workers. It includes designing and administering benefits such as paid leave, insurance, retirement income and various employee services, as well as various benefits mandated by federal, state or local laws and regulations.
It also includes matters that focus on benefits-related careers, communications, legal and regulatory issues, technology, metrics, and outsourcing, as well as effective benefits practices and global benefits issues.
It does not include “direct benefits,” i.e., various forms of employee pay, which are encompassed in the Compensation Discipline. Nor does it cover flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting and flextime, that employees may perceive as benefits. These are included in the Staffing Management Discipline. It also does not include equal employment opportunity matters that deal with incumbent employees’ terms and conditions of employment, which are encompassed in the Employee Relations Discipline.
