The Tseng College of Extended Learning
Employee Benefits and Services
INSTRUCTOR:
PHONE:
LOCATION:
EMAIL:
Kalyan S Chakravarty
818.677.2435
Juniper Hall 1131
kalyan.chakravarty@csun.edu
TERM:
COURSE:
TICKET:
UNITS:
Spring 2011
XHRM 908
16791
3.0 CEUs
CLASS MEETINGS: Tuesdays 7 -10p January 18 – March 22, 2011
Course Description
You will explore the use of benefits and services as a means of attracting and retaining
employees, which should match your company's vision. You will review the history and
philosophy of benefits and services to learn why this area has become so competitive. You will
learn to create and administer a benefits and services program, develop and deliver it to attract,
nurture and retain talent in an organization. Recent innovative approaches to benefits and
services adopted by reputed companies shall be presented for analyses and discussions.
Themes
 History and philosophy of benefits and services
 Retirement, Health and Life Insurance
 Paid Time-off from work, Accommodation and Enhancement Benefits
 Creation and administration of benefits and services programs
 Linking benefits and services to other areas of HRM
Learning objectives
A. Understand the history of benefits and benefit challenges employers face
B. Describe various welfare benefits and pension plans
C. Describe different benefit pricing strategies
D. Analyze benefit packages
E. Acquire skills to develop benefits and services
F. Describe ways to use benefits and services to attract and retain employees
G. Describe benefits and services relative to total compensation
Textbook
Joseph J. Martocchio,
Employee Benefits: A Primer for Human Resource Professionals,
Fourth Edition (2011), ISBN: 0073530522
1
Syllabus: Employee Benefits and Services: XHRM908 Spring 2011
Participants should preferably have access to people in their respective organizations, who
are willing to share data related to employee benefits and services exclusively for academic
purposes.
The following assignments will be evaluated:
Individual Assignments:
Application Exercises (2)
Quizzes (2)
Team Assignment:
Group Project
Application Exercises: (comprises 20% of grade)
Throughout the course, there will be two case analyses/application exercises of 10% weightage
to each. They are intended to provide an opportunity to actively experience the reality and
complexity of the benefit issues facing practicing managers and human resource executives
today. Among other benefits, they would help the participants sharpen their analytical and
problem-solving skills.
Each participant will be required to submit a written report on each case, on those days
scheduled in the timetable, presenting a coherent and defensible analysis of the situation based
on employee benefits/services concepts and practices learnt. The report should be an individual
effort without any attempt to share analyses and ideas with others.
Quizzes (comprises 50% of grade)
While there will be three non-cumulative quizzes of 25% weightage to each, the two highest
scores shall be taken for the purposes of computation of final grade. Each quiz will consist of a
combination of multiple-choice questions, true/false statements and/or short essays, on topics
related to course curriculum.
Group Project (comprises 20% of grade)
Participants will form groups of five or less, and each group will conduct an in-depth analysis of
one Firm (a different one for each group). They will collect all relevant data, as much as feasible,
on employee benefits and services, welfare benefits, retirement, health, life insurance, and
pension plans, benefits pricing strategies, etc., pertaining to the firm and analyze them critically
while applying the knowledge and skills gained in the class.
The aspects to be covered should include:
(1) History, philosophy and key purposes of the firm in matters of
benefits and services offered;
(2) Types of employee benefits, both legally required and the
discretionary ones, and their implications;
(3) Different insurance plans and their critical appreciations;
(4) Critically examining different payments for time not worked;
(5) Strategic recommendations of the group based on their analyses.
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Syllabus: Employee Benefits and Services: XHRM908 Spring 2011
The outcome of the paper should be a better understanding of the practices of the firm and the
ability to understand broad issues relevant to management of benefits and services in general.
Each group will then make a formal presentation of the analysis in the class, with each member
of the group getting an opportunity to deal with a section of the presentation. The total time
allotted for each group will be thirty minutes. Further details shall be provided later in the course.
The completed report must be turned in on the day the group makes its presentation.
Punctuality, Attendance and Class Participation (comprises 10% of grade)
Please come to each class prepared to discuss the readings and assignments and to play an
active role in contributing to class discussions. Those making insightful comments that increase
the level of energy and interest in the topics discussed would definitely make a discernible
impact than others. A superior participation score is given to one who demonstrates the ability to
comment upon the content and the process of our discussions. Some questions to help illustrate
the preferred mode are:
 Does the group become more energized after this person contributes? Is this person
more focused?
 Does this person listen to others and build upon their ideas?
You are expected to attend each class meeting. In the unlikely event that you must miss a
meeting, you are accountable for the course material and class activities missed. Missing classmeetings could result in an adverse effect on your grade. You must attend at least 80% of the
class meetings in order to receive credit for the course
Grading Summary
Your final grade will be based upon the following:
20% Application Exercises (2)
50% Quizzes (2)
20% Group Project
10% Punctuality, Attendance and Class Participation
Grading Scale
The final letter grade assigned to each participant will be determined by the participants’
performance on the course components mentioned above.
Note
The reading and homework schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Should any changes be necessary, every effort will be made to communicate them quickly to
current participants. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure he or she has the current
schedule.
All participants must respect confidentiality of class discussions.
They will be expected to read all assignments before class and be prepared to participate
during the lecture portion each session. The text contains information critical to the class.
Assigned readings will be supplemented with supporting lectures.
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Syllabus: Employee Benefits and Services: XHRM908 Spring 2011
XHRM908 SPRING2011 - TIMETABLE
SESSIONS
TOPICS, TASKS, READINGS
Housekeeping, Course Introduction, Clarifying Mutual Expectations;
1/18
Introducing Employee Benefits
The Psychology of Employee Benefits
Establish Presentation Teams
Structured Guidelines for Group Project
Readings: Chapters 1 & 2
The Economics of Employee Benefits
1/25
Skill Practice Session I: The Medical Leave Problem
Readings: Chapter 3
Regulating Employee Benefits
Skill Practice Session II: Controlling Employee Healthcare Benefit Costs
2/1
Group Project – Update
Readings: Chapter 4
RETIREMENT, HEALTH and LIFE INSURANCE
Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans
2/8
Readings: Chapter 5
Quiz 1
RETIREMENT, HEALTH and LIFE INSURANCE:
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Programs
Employer-Sponsored Disability Insurance and Life Insurance
2/15
Skill Practice Session III: The Lost Vacation Days
Group Project – Update
Readings: Chapters 6 & 7
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Syllabus: Employee Benefits and Services: XHRM908 Spring 2011
XHRM908 SPRING2011 - TIMETABLE
SESSIONS
TOPICS, TASKS, READINGS
RETIREMENT, HEALTH and LIFE INSURANCE
Government- Mandated Social Security and
Workers’ Compensation Programs
2/22
Readings: Chapter 8
Application Exercise 1: Retiree Health and Pension Benefits
SERVICES
Paid Time-Off and Flexible Work Schedules
3/1
Readings: Chapter 9
Group Project – Update
Quiz 2
SERVICES
Accommodation and Enhancement Benefits
3/8
Readings: Chapter 10
Application Exercise 2: The Educational Leave Problem
EXTENDING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: DESIGN AND GLOBAL
ISSUES
Managing the Employee Benefits System
Global Employee Benefits at a Glance
3/15
Readings: Chapters 11 & 12
Final Preparatory Work for Group Project Presentation
Quiz 3
3/22
GROUP PROJECT: PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS
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Syllabus: Employee Benefits and Services: XHRM908 Spring 2011