Main Content
Syllabus
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
Required Course 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.
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.
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.
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 | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
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!
Assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday of each corresponding week.
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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
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Letter Grade
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Percentage
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| 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.
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
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 you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
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.