Required:

Atchison, T.J., Belcher, D.W., & Thomsen, D.J. (2000-2013). Chapter 20: Employee benefit strategies. Internet based benefits and compensation administration [Online compensation textbook]. ERI Economic Research Institute. Retrieved from Chapter 20 Employee Benefit Programs.pdf
You can also access this chapter at https://www.erieri.com/dlc/onlinetextbook/employee-benefit-programs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012, April). How much do private industry employers pay for legally required employee benefits? Program Perspectives on Legally Required Benefit Costs, 4(1). Retrieved from program-perspectives-on-legally-required-benefit-costs.pdf

Senate Democrats (n.d.). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Detailed summary. Retrieved from Detailed Summary of The Affordable Care Act or - http://www.dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill04.pdf
You can also access this material at healthbill04.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Health plans & benefits: ERISA. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/erisa

U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. (2016, October). FAQs on COBRA continuation health coverage. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/cobra-continuation-health-coverage-consumer.pdf

Briscoe, B. (2015, January). Understanding health plan types: What’s in a name? Beyond the Numbers: Pay & Benefits, 4(2). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-4/understanding_health_plan_types.htm

Dworak-Fisher, K., & Wiatrowski, W.J. (2011, July). What is a benefit plan? Clarifying the NCS definition as health and retirement benefits evolve. Monthly Labor Review. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2011/07/art3full.pdf

Optional:

Monaco, K. (2015, February). Disability insurance plans: Trends in employee access and employer costs. Beyond the Numbers: Pay & Benefits, 4(4). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-4/disability-insurance-plans.htm

Wiatrowski, W.J. (2011, September 29). Changing landscape of employment-based retirement benefits. Compensation and Working Conditions. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/cwc/changing-landscape-of-employment-based-retirement-benefits.pdf

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012, June). How have health benefits changed in state and local governments from 1998 To 2011? Beyond the Numbers: Pay & Benefits, 1(5). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-1/how-have-health-benefits-changed-in-state-and-local-governments-from-1998-to-2011.htm

U. S. Government Accountability Office. (2007, March). Employer-sponsored health and retirement benefits: Efforts to control employer costs (GAO-07-355). Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-355/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-355.pdf

Wiatrowski, W.J. (2012, December). The last private industry pension plans: A visual essay. Monthly Labor Review. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/12/art1full.pdf