HR65 Benefits Administration, Fall 2016 Course Syllabus (Section 4292)

Course Description

Fundamentals of employee benefits programs and leaves of absence requirements. Interpretation of California and Federal law to correctly administer employee benefits and leaves of absence.  Topics include the administration of group benefits including medical, dental, life insurance, worker's compensation, unemployment, COBRA, stock options, 401(k), 403(b), and retiree benefits, as well as family, medical, and pregnancy leaves of absence.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Develop a comprehensive and legally compliant benefits plan suitable for today's diverse employment base in the context of the employer's size, industry and budget.
2. Determine which leaves of absence apply to specific situations, including a description of the limitations and requirements.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Differentiate between the various health plan formats and describe the strengths and weaknesses.
2. Determine and describe the cost to the employer of an employee benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans.
3. Describe the steps necessary to administer the Affordable Care Act (ACA)  requirements, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA),  Workers Compensation, State Unemployment Insurance (SUI), and other legally mandated entitlement/benefits plans.
4. Identify the most common leaves of absence available to employees in California and describe their mandated and optional characteristics.
5. Demonstrate the ability to select the appropriate leave of absence to an employee's real-life situation.

Class Meetings

This course does not have any required meetings. All material and activities be offered asynchronously, meaning the students can access them anytime.

Instructor Contact

Eleanore Webster

Email: ewwebsterco@msn.com (primary); ewebster@santarosa.edu (secondary). I generally respond to emails sent to my primary email address within 24 hours.

Phone: (707) 579-1390

Office Hours: by arrangement

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Textbook

No textbook required for HR65.

NOTE: If you are planning to take HR66, please review this important information.

In 1911 to 1913, Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott both set out to lead the first expedition to reach the South Pole. Both reached their destination, although Amundsen arrived four weeks ahead of Scott. Amundsen and his team returned to their base safely. Scott and his team died on their return journey.

The reasons for one team’s success and the other team’s failure have been the subject of much discussion since then. The reasons for Scott’s failure to return are highlighted often (transportation selection, nutrition, route, etc.). I believe there are lessons to be learned here in terms of human resources and leadership, especially if you view the team members as employees. Both Scott and Amundsen had to make decisions regarding recruitment, training, supplies, safety, employee relations and performance management.

As part of your grade in HR66, you will be required to turn in a two page paper that briefly reviews the highlights of both expeditions, and then identifies the human resources decisions that led to the success of one mission and the failure of the other. There are a number of readings that compare and contrast these expeditions. There is no one required selection. Books are available in the library as well as online and in book stores. The book that I enjoyed was written by Roland Huntford (1985), The Last Place on Earth. There are others, but be sure to select a work that discusses both expeditions. While the internet provides some interesting articles on this topic, I would not rely only on internet sites such as Wikipedia; there is not sufficient detail in these readings.

You must come to class the first day in HR66 ready to discuss this topic with a group of your fellow students, so the required reading must be accomplished prior to the beginning of class.

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course.

• Adobe Reader

Important Dates

 

Date Class Begins:	10/24/2016		Date Class Ends:	12/23/2016
Last Day Add w/o add code:	10/27/2016		Last Day Add with add code:	11/3/2016
Last Day Drop for Refund:	10/27/2016		Last Day for P/NP option:	11/10/2016
Last Day Drop w/o W:	11/3/2016		Last Day Drop with W:	12/14/2016

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, the instructor must drop a student after the second Module if he/she has not participated..

Pass‐No Pass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the date stated above. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates or of instructor.

Attendance

Students who do not log-in to an online class after the second week will be dropped from the class.

Late Policy

All assignments are due 11:59 PM PST on the due date. A late submission will downgraded. Submissions later than the final acceptance date will not be accepted without prior arrangement.  

List of Assignments

WRITTEN AND ORAL WORK:  Assignment instructions are in each Module. Assignments include the following:

1. Write a 3 to 4 page paper about how Health Care Reform has impacted your family (worth 150 points).
2. Pass quizzes for Module 1 (10 points) and Modules 2 through 10 (20 points per quiz). A total of 190 points.
3. Submit an orientation outline (100 points). Comment on two student outlines via discussion.
4. Answer questions about the website www.coveredca.com (Links to an external site.) (100 points).
5. Submit a premium statement in Excel (100 points).
6. Participate in graded discussions as instructed in each Module (20 points each for Modules 2 through 9 and 3 points for Module 1; a total of 163 points)

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade by module and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

 

A	90%	720 points or more
B	80%	640 to 719 points
C	70%	560 to 639 points
D	60%	480 to 559 points

 If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism: SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism SRJC's statement on Academic Integrity

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.