Calming Los Angeles Times Employees Down

Memo from Los Angeles Times editorial hiring and development director Susan Denley.

Many of you-not everyone but a whole bunch of folks-are going through a "Mercer Audit" to prove that dependents on your insurance policies are really, legally dependents.

A lot of people have questions about this, so I'll fill in a little background:

This idea came up about a year ago, when it came to Tribune's attention that some other major companies conduct audits and have found an apparently surprising number of ineligible dependents on insurance policies. This drives up costs.

So in the Spring, Tribune hired Mercer to conduct an audit of 10% of the employees who claim dependents. I don't know what they found, but subsequently they decided to audit the other 90% of employees who claim dependents. It is that audit that is taking place now.

If you don't claim any dependents you're not affected.

If you were audited in the Spring, as I was, you're not affected. (And if you were audited, you know it because you had to pull all kinds of documentation to prove that your dependents are legit.)

If you have dependents and were not audited in the Spring, then you're being audited NOW. You should have received a letter from Mercer by now. If you didn't, or think you might have thrown it out with the junk mail, or you've been away from home on assignment and not getting mail, please let me know.

You have until Oct. 5 to file proof. Don't wait till the last minute. It's a pain, but if you don't do it, your dependents will lose coverage. It's too important to procrastinate.

SOURCE: LAObserved Kevin Roderick

(editors message) I was contacted by a colleague tonight regarding Mercer’s audit of Tribune employees, and the caller stated he mailed in his son’s birth certificate as I had instructed him, via certified mail. When his receipt arrived last week, he called Mercer and was told his paperwork had indeed arrived, and his son would be covered by the health insurance plan the company offers next year.

Today a second notice from Mercer arrived in his mail, requesting the same information a second time, what gives he asked?

Sure seems as if Tribune is attempting to remove our dependents by any means possible, to save a few dollars.

How do Tribune Employees find out if their dependents have passed the test, and will be covered with health insurance next year? Many employees are asking this question as October 5th approaches.