DQ2: What are legally required benefits and why are they required by law? HRM 635 Topic 7 DQ 2 What are legally required benefits and why are they required by law? Can any of these benefits be waived? Provide an example. Provide one additional benefit that should be made into a legally required benefit.

DQ2: What are legally required benefits and why are they required by law? HRM 635 Topic 7 DQ 2 What are legally required benefits and why are they required by law? Can any of these benefits be waived? Provide an example. Provide one additional benefit that should be made into a legally required benefit.

REPLY TO DISCUSSION

Companies and the government are required to provide certain benefits to their employees and citizens. There are benefits required by the federal government and some required by state governments. The federally required benefits are social security, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation, and family and medical leave. They are required by law in order to protect employees and help them prepare for retirement and were made in response to workers’ rights and welfare movements. Benefits that companies are required to provide, such as family and medical leave, can be waived if the company has less than 50 employees. An addition to these required benefits could be that companies should be required, by federal law, to provide maternity leave to both the mother and father of a newborn. Currently this benefit is only provided to the mother through the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. However, if the federal government was to extend this to the father, it could help reduce gender discrimination within recruitment and help provide families with the support they need.

Armstrong, Sharon, Mitchell., & Barbara. (2019). The Essential HR Handbook, Tenth Anniversary Edition. https://library-books24x7-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/assetviewer.aspx?bookid=141667&chunkid=970802763&noteMenuToggle=0&leftMenuState=1

Good thoughts!  There are many driving factors that influence employee motivation. One of the most overlooked factors is the powerful influence that one’s immediate supervisor has on job satisfaction levels which drive motivation. No matter how good benefits and compensation are, if one has a poor relationship with their immediate supervisor this can drastically demotivate employees and negatively affect organizational commitment. Sometimes this can lead to turnover.

Here is some great information regarding the power and influence a direct supervisor has on the engagement and satisfaction of employees.  http://www.dalecarnegie.com/assets/1/7/Enhancing_Employee_Engagement-_The_Role_of_the_Immediate_Supervisor.pdf