SavvySugar

Where Do Workers Receive the Most Vacation Days?

SavvySugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:30:41 -0700

Ah, vacation. There never seems to be enough time away from it all, but that's not necessarily the case for workers everywhere. In some places there's no pining for days off because they are plentiful. Wondering where they're most generous with days off? Take the quiz!

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Reality Check: Working at Starbucks, Just For the Health Care

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:30:52 -0700

Health insurance has become an invaluable benefit - if an accident were to occur and you didn't have coverage, you could be paying off a mountain of medical debt for years to come. A Reuters article highlights just how important insurance is for Americans when considering employment opportunities, and profiles a mother of three in Texas who has taken a part-time job just for the medical benefits.

That's right, full-time real estate agent Lisa DeWaal spends the first four hours of her days serving coffee at a Starbucks before heading to her office. DeWaal sought out employment with Starbucks solely for the affordable health insurance the company offers. Private insurance plans are burdensome for most households, and health experts say they've met plenty of people like DeWaal who are motivated to take or stick with a job because of the health benefits.

DeWaal begins her daily Starbucks shifts at 5 a.m, but those early mornings are worth it. The 20-hours a week at serving coffee allows her to rest easier at night because, for $180 a month, her family is insured. She commented, "Health insurance is exactly the reason why I have taken the extra job. It's company health insurance, which is a lot better than a private plan. I would put these extra hours into real estate if I had affordable health insurance."

Your Two Cents: Do You Have Health Insurance?

SavvySugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Big changes could be in the future for health insurance. Are you currently insured?

I'm Asking: How Much Paid Time Off Do You Get Per Year?

SavvySugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:41 -0700

It's always interesting to look at how many paid days off employees receive at various companies, because the numbers are all over the place. Vacation days are often skewed according to the time an employee has been with the company, but it can take a while to acquire additional days. How much paid time off do you get every year?

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Vacation Days Around the World: How Money Are You?

SavvySugar — Sun, 31 May 2009 08:30:29 -0700

A travel bug has gotten me thinking globally lately, and wishing that I had more vacation days to satisfy the urge to get away. If I were employed internationally, the shortage of available time off wouldn't be much of an issue. Other countries allow employees generous time to "go on holiday" - do you know how much time workers are allowed off around the world? Take the quiz!

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Maternity Leave Around the World: How Money Are You?

SavvySugar — Sun, 10 May 2009 09:00:26 -0700

Happy Mother's Day! It's one day that all moms should have off, and not just because it's a Sunday.

One of the things to find out before having a baby is how much leave you'll be granted and how much you'll be paid for that time off. It will vary from company to company, but the differences are extreme when comparing leave policies in different countries. What do you know about maternity leave around the world? Take the quiz!

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I'm Asking: Do You Keep Up With Routine Dental Care?

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 -0700

Fresh off the news that dentists have noticed an uptick in client visits, a new study suggests many Americans forgo routine dental care because it is considered a "luxury item."

A consumer adviser for the American Dental Association warns (just like your mother!) that prevention is always cheaper than fixing problems later, so anyone attempting to skimp out on routine visits is only hurting herself down the road.

I happen to be a little compulsive about dentist visits and take advantage of my dental coverage every six months, but I know many people don't have coverage and struggle to make room in their budget for routine work. Have you let it slide?
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Employers Experimenting With a 24-Hour Work Week

SavvySugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:15:44 -0800

The four-day work week has been a popular option for employers looking to save money without losing employees, and some companies have started slashing hours even more, going as low as 24-hours per week. A three-day work week means part-time pay, making it harder for many workers to make ends meet.

The difference in maintaining health benefits at some companies is a mere eight hours - a 32-hour week could mean continued coverage, while a 24-hour week could mean you're out of luck. New York employers cutting hours may have more incentive to keep health benefits in tact. A state program allows employees to collect unemployment benefits to help cover the difference resulting from reduced salaries, but their employers must not have cut benefits in order for them to qualify for the program.

Some workers are embracing the three-day work week, particularly if they have kids at home, but others struggle with the financial hardship it causes and are having trouble adjusting to a choppy schedule. I would definitely need to find additional work if my salary were slashed by 40 percent. How would you handle a huge pay cut?

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6 Things About COBRA Under the New Stimulus

SavvySugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:30:13 -0800

As if having to search for a new job after a layoff isn't enough stress, jobless workers must consider how they'll get health care coverage without their old employers' plans. COBRA, short for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act passed by Congress in 1986, requires most group health care plans to provide a temporary continuation of coverage that an employee would typically lose after termination.

The downside to COBRA has been cost, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 calls for a 65 percent subsidy toward group health insurance premiums for laid-off employees. Here are six facts about the COBRA subsidy under the stimulus plan.

The subsidy only lasts for nine months.
You're eligible if you were laid off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.
To qualify for the subsidy, individuals must make less than $125,000 and families can't earn more than $250,000.
You are not eligible for the subsidy if your employer went out of business.
If you’ve already made COBRA payments, there's no provision for a retroactive credit for the previous payments.
If you missed your 62-day window for signing up for COBRA coverage (but were laid of in the eligible time period), the door is open for you to sign up again.

Are you currently paying for COBRA coverage?

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I'm Asking: Have Your Healthcare Expenses Increased in 2009?

SavvySugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:30:43 -0800

I feel lucky to have health insurance because I know that so many Americans are living without it. That being said, it really hurts when necessary expenses increase while our salaries stay the same. Updated healthcare packages typically come with the new year, and as the costs of those packages increases, it's only natural that employers pass them on to their employees. Are you contributing more for health insurance than you have in the past?

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