Good books on HR / benefits, join SHRM?

[m***@yahoo.com]

I'm looking for some good Human Resources books and/or text books that
focus specifically on benefits - e.g. cafeteria plans, paid time off
versus traditional vacation and sick time, holidays, unpaid leave, etc,
etc.

Are there any HR books that deal specifically with benefits, rather
than merely possess a chapter or two on benefits?

Also, is there a HR newsgroup out there or other online discussion
forum that would be helpful in learning more about benefits? Not sure I
have the money to join SHRM right now.

Any good trade magazines on HR that are free, or cheap, to subscribe to?

[m***@yahoo.com]

Any HR professionals out there? If not, where may I find HR
professionals elsewhere on the Internet?

Thanks very much.

[n***@iname.com]

Post by m***@yahoo.com
I'm looking for some good Human Resources books and/or
text books that focus specifically on benefits - e.g. cafeteria
plans, paid time off versus traditional vacation and sick time,
holidays, unpaid leave, etc, etc.

I doubt you'll find one that does not require an accounting or law
degree to understand. This area is a huge borderland between
management (what works best as a motivator?), law (what are the
benefits the employer is required to provide?), and accounting (how to
properly document benefits, what are their tax consequences for both
the employer and the employee, and how must they be reported to tax
authorities?). As a result, everything is complicated, and mistakes
are expensive. The field is dominated by large companies that offer
benefits administration and related consulting services (Hewitt
Associates, Watson Wyatt, etc.) Talk to your accountant and see what
they say...

Cheers,
NC