New training developments based on your survey responses

In the September issue of AbraTalk, Sage Software asked you to share your thoughts and experiences with Abra Training. Based on your survey responses, the Sage training team is evaluating new training topics to develop additional content that you have requested. They’re also pursuing more online courses through Abra Realtime Learning, to match your preferences for travel and your training budget.

Training Participation
Many of you have already attended at least one Abra training class – 84% of respondents reported receiving training. Based on this fact, we are researching new and innovative topics to present you with additional training opportunities. We want to hear from you, our valued Sage Abra customers! To suggest training topics that you would be interested in, call 866-888-6070.

Effectiveness of Abra Training
Everyone who attended training rated it effective, with 58% rating it extremely effective (9 or 10 on a scale of 10). 89% rated training effectiveness at a 7 or higher on a scale of 10. As you return to your office after Abra training, you’re finding that training has measurably improved your job productivity. This corresponds with the in-class satisfaction surveys that we conduct at Abra training. We’re committed to continuing to provide expert instructors, highly relevant content, and an effective training format.

Training and Travel
The majority of survey respondents preferred not to travel far to attend training. In fact 26% preferred not to travel at all. And another 41% would prefer not to travel further than 60 miles from the office for training. You also indicated a strong preference for online training sessions. 75% of respondents reported they were “somewhat likely” or “very likely” to attend online training.

Sage Software has responded to your travel and budgetary needs by introducing convenient, affordable Abra RealtimeLearning. These two-hour online classes easily work into any schedule – and you can learn from the convenience of your own office! We’re adding new classes all the time, so be sure to visit www.sagesoftware.com/trainabra.

New Training Topics
Finally, we asked you what additional content you would like to see covered in online or classroom training. You gave us some great suggestions that we are analyzing for future course development. Here are the topics that you submitted in the survey:

Please keep your suggestions coming! Call 800-517-9099 to give us your thoughts on Abra training. We value your input about what we can do to continue to help you increase your effectiveness in your job and get the most out of your Sage Abra solution.

If you struggle to send electronic files, with multiple customized formats, to each of your benefits carriers, Abra Benefits Connect will save you time and frustration. Abra Benefits Connect integrates with Abra HR and simplifies the back-end of the enrollment process between the employer and the carriers.

Sage Abra customers have two choices for submitting benefits enrollment information to their carriers. You can submit the data electronically, according to each carrier’s formatting and data specifications, or you can submit paper forms. Electronic files offer many advantages, including the ability to automate the process, thus saving time, as well as a reduction in errors since your carrier imports the data you provide directly into their system without any manual data re-entry. It also helps ensure that no employee fails to enter the system, creating a “missed enrollment” and causing confusion for the carrier, corporate benefits administrator and employee.

Currently, most carriers indicate a strong preference for electronic submission – especially for companies with more than a small number of employees. Some carriers push the issue even further, offering a discounted rate for electronic processing, or charging a fee for manual data entry if your company cannot successfully submit data electronically.

Yet, for many small and medium-sized businesses, the responsibility for creating these electronic submissions falls entirely on the HR staff. If you have a limited IT staff, it may be difficult to get them involved in extracting data from your HRMS, and if your company does not have in-house IT resources, the only help available may be from an outside consultant.

To help make your job easier and remove the headache from electronic benefits submissions, Sage Software recently introduced a new service, Abra Benefits Connect. This service extracts benefits data from Abra HR and securely automates communication of employee benefits enrollment data with insurance and benefits carriers, eliminating the need to submit paper enrollment forms or create and maintain customized electronic file formats. Abra Benefits Connect is secure, and supports the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) ANSI X12 834 specifications for benefit enrollment and maintenance transactions.

• Raises the age ceiling on food stamp recipients through 39
• Combines WtW into the WOTC program
• Eliminates the earnings test for ex-felons
• Increases the paperwork filing deadline from 21 to 28 days
  

• Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) / Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Ex-Felons
• Food Stamps Recipient
• High-Risk Youth
• Summer Youth Employee
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient
• Veterans
• Vocational Rehabilitation Referral
  

• CMS will identify eligible employees.
• CMS understands all the Federal and State guidelines for your company to obtain the eligible tax credits
• CMS handles all the administrative duties necessary to obtain WOTC in your state.
• CMS protects your organization from asking the sensitive questions necessary to obtain the WOTC tax credits.
  

Labels: WOTC

Attend this educational Webcast to learn from Kenya Wiley, SHRM’s Manager for Regulatory and Judicial Affairs, all about the 2007 EEO-1 report changes, and how you can prepare your company to address them by establishing new best practices.

January 10, 2007 2:00PM - 3:00PM (Eastern Time).