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The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
LER 425 Employee Benefits (3) The examination of employee benefits programs used by employers to meet the welfare needs of employees and their families.
Overview
Benefits, in the American discourse, are a very complicated matter. In the popular press there are endless articles on the topic, and many opinions on things such as cost, access, regulations or even the future of benefits. Recent laws regarding benefits will influence how they are regulated, paid for and administered, and in some instances what this means for benefits administration in the future is yet unclear. Regardless, as an HR professional (as well as a consumer of benefits) it is important to have a foundational understanding of benefits and how they work.
This course will provide you with a broad overview of benefits, specifically exploring social insurance (benefits granted through entitlement programs), group benefits (broadly defined as "healthcare benefits," generally offered in the workplace to employees) and retirement plans, or financial protection plans. While the course will be primarily focused on U.S. benefits and benefit laws and regulations, there will be some discussion and comparison with benefits offered in other countries as well. Additionally, the focus of the course will be on the practical application of the concepts.
Upon completion of the course you should have an understanding of the importance of benefit protection, how benefits are designed and the costing mechanisms, a basic understanding of regulations and laws that govern benefits and the potential role that HR professionals play in this specialty discipline.
Because benefits many times are linked to compensation, it might be helpful (but not necessary) for you to have some generalist or compensation experience.
Each lesson will begin with a narrative discussion of the week’s topic that will introduce and support the reading assignments. Throughout the course your understanding of the concepts will be evaluated via regular quizzes, small group projects, short individual essay and research assignments, a mid-course exam and a final exam.
Course Objectives
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
- Describe various basic benefit programs and their structures
- Demonstrate how benefits are used strategically in the workplace to support the employment relationship, e.g., as recruitment and retention tools
- Understand benefits in a larger, societal construct and as a business and personal imperative
Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Assignments
Quizzes
Each content lesson in the course includes a quiz consisting of 10 multiple choice questions. You may take each quiz only ONCE and graded feedback is immediate.
Essays
For six course assignments, you will be expected to write a 250+ word essay on the topic provided. Use your text and any other chosen materials to substantiate your statements. Cite your resources according to APA style. Guidelines for using APA style are provided in the Course Resources link on the left side menu.
Article Reviews
For three course assignments, you will be expected to review a 500 to 1000 word article and write a 500+ word essay, based on the guidelines provided. Support your statements according to APA style. Guidelines for using APA style are provided under in the Course Resources link on the left side menu.
Group Work
The course includes three group work assignments. Within your teams, for each group work assignment, you will be expected to create a paper of 1000+ words on the topic provided. Points are awarded for both individual and team work, so make sure to log in to the discussion forums early and make substantive, timely contributions to the group effort. Please read this helpful information on working in teams and groups.
Exams
- There is a Mid-Course Exam and a Final Exam in this course.
- Each exam is due by the date and time listed on your Course Syllabus.
- You have several days in which to complete each exam.
- Each exam consists of 24 multiple-choice questions and two essay questions.
- You may access the exam as many times as you choose during the time frame listed on the course Syllabus for their completion.
- Each exam is open book. To answer the questions, you may use content on the course Web site, your notes, lesson assignments, text, the Internet, etc. but COLLABORATION is NOT permitted.
Survey
You will be expected to complete a Mid-Course Survey. Please take the time to provide as much information as possible, as your input is used to enhance the course for future offerings. Responses to the survey do not affect your grade.
Students please note: The Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations does not view Wikipedia as a valid source for information cited in academic work. It can be a useful tool for quickly finding general information on subjects or as a starting point for research. However, students should not cite Wikipedia as a source in papers, reports, assignments, etc.
As a Penn State student, you have access to lynda.com, your one-stop shop for video tutorials on Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and hundreds more topics--all free to active Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. Take tutorials to help with coursework, learn techniques for your own projects, and build tech skills to boost your résumé. (Tutorials are not required or graded.)
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Lesson |
Reading Assignments |
Activities |
Lesson 01 Part 1: Getting Started/Orientation Activities |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 01 orientation activities |
Lesson 02: Social Insurance Programs |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 02 Quiz |
Lesson 03: Group Insurance Basics |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 03 Quiz |
Lesson 04: Medical Benefits |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 04 Quiz |
Lesson 05: Medical Benefit Plan Structures |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 05 Quiz |
| Lesson 06: Financial Aspects of Medical Expense Benefits |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 06 Quiz |
Lesson 07: International Social Benefits; Mid-Course Exam |
|
Complete and submit the Mid-Course Exam (open book, multiple choice w/ 2 short essays, covering up to Lesson 06) |
| Lesson 08: Non-Medical Benefits |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 08 Quiz |
| Lesson 09: Benefit Costing |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 09 Quiz |
| Lesson 10: Cafeteria Plans |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 10 Quiz |
Lesson 11: Introduction to Retirement Plans - Qualified Plans |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 11 Quiz |
| Lesson 12: Defined Contribution Retirement Plans |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 12 Quiz |
| Lesson 13: Defined Benefit Retirement Plans, and Qualified Plan Distributions |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 13 Quiz |
| Lesson 14 Part 1: Benefits as Part of Executive Compensation Structures Lesson 14 Part 2: Benefits Administration |
|
Complete and submit the Lesson 14 Quiz (there will be one quiz for both Lesson 14 Part 1 & Part 2) |
| Lesson 15: Final Exam |
|
Complete and submit the Open Book Final Exam |
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement
B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement
C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement
D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement
F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
Lesson |
Quiz |
Discussion Forum Assignment |
Drop Box Assignment |
Other |
Points |
01 Part 1 |
|
|
|
Orientation to ANGEL tools, Student Questionnaire, Academic Integrity |
Ungraded |
01 Part 2 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
01 Part 2 |
|
|
Essay |
|
20 |
02 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
02 |
|
|
Essay |
|
20 |
03 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
03 |
|
|
Article Review |
|
50 |
04 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
04 |
|
Group Work |
|
100 |
|
05 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
05 |
|
|
Essay |
|
20 |
06 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
06 |
|
|
Article Review |
|
50 |
06 |
|
|
|
Mid-Course Survey |
Ungraded |
07 |
|
|
Open Book Exam |
|
150 |
08 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
08 |
|
Group Work |
|
100 |
|
09 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
09 |
|
|
Essay |
|
20 |
10 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
10 |
|
|
Article Review |
|
50 |
11 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
11 |
|
|
Essay |
|
20 |
12 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
12 |
|
Group Work |
|
100 |
|
13 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
13 |
|
|
Essay |
|
20 |
14 Part 1 AND 14 Part 2 |
Quiz |
|
|
|
10 |
15 |
|
|
Final Exam |
|
150 |
Course Total |
|
|
|
|
1000 |
| Grading Criteria | |
| Quizzes | 130 points |
| Short Essays | 120 points |
| Mid-Course Exam | 150 points |
| Group Activities | 300 points |
| Article Research Activities | 150 points |
| Final Exam | 150 points |
| Course Total | 1000 points |
| Grade | Minimum % |
|---|---|
| A | 93 |
| A- | 90 |
| B+ | 88 |
| B | 82 |
| B- | 80 |
| C+ | 78 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | < 59 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate and Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
University Policies
Please note that course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. The course instructor and any teaching assistant(s), of course, have access to the course throughout the semester. Each course offered via the World Campus has several instructional design staff members assigned to assist in managing course content and delivery. These instructional design staff members have access to the course throughout the semester for this purpose. Also, World Campus technical staff may be given access in order to resolve technical support issues. In addition, mentor, department head, or program chair may be provided with course access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. Each of these individuals will keep confidential all student course and academic information.
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Photo Credits
All photos used in the lesson contents of this course: ©2009 Jupiterimages Corporation http://www.photos.com/en/
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.