Employer-Paid

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled 23,000 last week to 298,000, nearly a six-year low that shows companies are laying off fewer workers.

At a time when there's growing attention on economic disparities, labor unions, worker advocacy groups and Democrats hope to build public support to raise the federal minimum wage.

The carriers will provide dependent health coverage to same-sex spouses beginning Jan. 1, even though the National Railway Labor Conference does not believe it is required by law or by existing collective bargaining agreements.

El Camino Hospital in California's Silicon Valley adopted a corporate health plan built around social sharing and gamification, to dramatic effect.

Council members agreed on a first reading of legislation to tax city workers who smoke and funnel the cash into a wellness fund open to all covered city workers.

Manufacturing strengthened in most districts, helped by more production of cars, trucks and high-tech products.