Employee Benefits

There are some employee benefits that are mandated by law, including minimum wage, overtime, leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, unemployment, and worker's compensation and disability. There are other types of employee benefits that employers choose to provide to their employees.

An employee benefits package includes all the benefits provided by an employer. Employers are required by law (federal and state) to provide some types of employee benefits. Others are optional.

You've interviewed at a company where the position sounds great, the salary is more than you expected, and the job offer is on the table. Before you say "yes" though, it's important to consider the employee benefit package.

For many of us, the most important factor in considering a job offer is salary. For others, job security is of primary importance. Also high on the list of considerations are benefits and perks. When evaluating benefit and perk packages consider those that best meet your personal situation and your lifestyle.

Information on overtime, minimum wage, severance pay, unemployment, giving notice, writing a resignation letter, health insurance, retirement plans, workers compensation, disability, references and more employment resources for people who are changing jobs.

Benefits are the employee benefits that are provided by employers in addition to salary.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can be of assistance if you need to take time off from work because of family responsibilities. The first step is to ask your employer what Family and Medical Leave Act benefits are provided to employees.

More and more employers are offering flexible benefit plans. When they are available, the employer will contribute a certain amount of money toward your benefits. You can then choose which benefits you want based upon your and your family's needs.

A flexible spending account (FSA) is a financial account set up by an employer.

Employers are not required to provide health insurance coverage to employees. Health insurance is typically a matter of agreement between an employer and employees.

The Federal Government provides employees with nine paid holidays each year. Private sector employees may provide holiday days off or holiday pay for working on a holiday, but the are not required to pay you extra for time worked on a holiday or give you a holiday off from work.

Some employers provide long term disability coverage to employees. Individuals can also purchase their own long term disability policy.

Family leave, which includes maternity leave or paternity leave and adoption leave, provides for paid or unpaid time off from work after the birth or adoption of a child.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act sets out requirements for employers to provide employees the time and space for nursing mothers to express breast milk throughout the work day for one full year after the birth of a child.

The details about how the American with Disabilities Act impacts job applicants.

Severance package information including what's included in a severance package, typical severance packages, and when you can negotiate a severance package.

Short term disability insurance coverage is provided by some states and/or by some employers.

Are you unable to work because of an injury or illness? If so, you may be eligible to receive workers' compensation or disability benefits.