Employee Benefits Report – October 2024
Navigating the Benefits Buffet: How to Choose the Right Mix for Employees
With the number of potential employee benefits rising swiftly, employers face tough choices deciding which perks provide the highest value. Read on for details.
GLP-1s without Lifestyle Changes May Not Lead to Sustained Weight Loss
The popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic has skyrocketed in recent years due to their effectiveness for weight loss and treating type 2 diabetes. Read on for details.
Employees Cut Back on Their Own Benefits amid High Inflation
As inflation continues weighing on employees, new research released just ahead of open enrollment reveals what some industry experts call a troubling trend: evidence that employers would be wise to step up their benefits education and communication. Read on for details.
Pay Raises Expected to Slow in 2025 as Labor Market Cools
As the white-hot labor market of the past few years shows signs of cooling down, pay raises for U.S. workers in 2025 are projected to be slower than recent trends. Still, most employers will give salary bumps above the 3% threshold that has become the norm in the pre-pandemic economy.Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – September 2024
New Moms Need More than Just Time Off: The Case for Postpartum Benefits
As any new parent knows, bringing home a newborn is exhausting and overwhelming. But for many moms in particular, it can also be isolating and stressful, and lead to serious mental health issues like postpartum depression or anxiety. Read on for details.
Court Halts FTC Non-compete Rule for Plaintiffs: A Win for Employers?
Unexpected injuries can lead to financial stress for many workers. With accident insurance, employers have an opportunity to provide additional financial support to employees. Read on for details.
Family Fitness Is the New Frontier for Employee Wellness Programs
As companies look to improve employee health and productivity while lowering healthcare costs, many are realizing the benefits of expanding wellness initiatives individual employees to include their families as well. Read on for details.
Enable Healing from Pet Loss with Thoughtful Bereavement Policies
As the number of American households welcoming pets continues its 30- year climb, now including more than 66% nationwide according to recent surveys, their role in our families and fabric of daily life has transformed dramatically. Consequently, the grief inflicted by losing these furry loved ones can be devastating. Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Fall 2024
Who Will Care for You? Long-Term Planning for Your Golden Years
As you enter your golden years, it’s crucial to have a plan for how you’ll pay for long-term care if you need it. Read on for details.
Getting the Most from Medicare: When Medigap Makes Sense
As you evaluate your Medicare coverage options, you may be wondering whether purchasing a Medigap policy is right for you. Medigap is supplemental insurance that helps pay for costs left uncovered by Original Medicare, which includes Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance.Read on for details.
Ambulatory Surgery 101: What You Need To Know About Costs and Coverage
As more routine medical procedures move out of hospitals and into outpatient centers, you may find yourself considering an ambulatory surgery center, or ASC, for your next elective procedure.Read on for details.
Are You Making These 4 Life Insurance Mistakes and Putting Your Family At Risk?
When it comes to life insurance, it’s easy to make mistakes that could put your family’s financial future at risk.
Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – July 2024
Everything Employers Need to Know About Overtime Pay Rule Changes
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently implemented the first phase of a two-step update to overtime pay regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will substantially impact American workplaces. Read on for details.
Working Moms Mean Business: Supporting Your Parent Workforce
Balancing parenting duties while holding down a full-time job is no easy feat. But with some strategic support from employers, working moms and dads can find greater success both at home and in the office. Read on for details.
How Well Are Current Employee Benefits Programs Meeting Needs of Modern Families?
When it comes to supporting employees with families, traditional benefit offerings may no longer cut it. As concepts of family expand beyond the nuclear unit, benefits must evolve to meet a wider range of needs. Read on for details.
Mixed Signals on Retirement Savings: Higher Balances But More Hardship Withdrawals
Americans have made strides in retirement savings account balances early this year, but financial strain continues to lead some to dip into those funds to make ends meet. Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – June 2024
Anxiety Now Top Employee Mental Health Issue
Anxiety has reached unprecedented levels among U.S. workers, according to new data, now topping the list as the number one mental health issue impacting the American workforce. Read on for details.
How Lifestyle Savings Accounts Can Unlock Higher Retention
As the competition for talent continues, employers are searching for new ways to attract and retain top employees. They’re finding that outdated, one-size-fits-all benefits packages no longer cut it. Read on for details.
How Targeted Wellness Programs Can Reduce Workers Comp Claims
Employers pay a high price for workplace injuries. ccording to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers’ compensation costs U.S. employers nearly $1 billion per week, including indirect expenses like lost productivity, human resources support, replacement employee training, and reputational damage. Read on for details.
2024 Pay Raises: Employers Navigate Tight Job Market as Year Unfolds
Six months into 2024, U.S. employers are immersed in a delicate high-wire act as they finalize compensation budgets and pay raise plans. Though inflation has moderated to around 3% after peaking at 8% in 2022, the job market remains fiercely competitive, forcing companies to carefully balance salary hikes against rising costs and profitability pressures. Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – April 2024
The Personalization Mandate: Tailoring Benefits to Boost Retention
Generation Z is primed to take over as the largest generational group in the workforce. This seismic shift means employers must get creative in how they attract and keep top talent across diverse ages and life stages. One area ripe for a refresh is employee benefits communication and personalization. Read on for details.
Prioritize Care While Cutting Costs
As 2024 rolls on, employers expect healthcare costs to continue rising, making for the steepest increase in a decade, according to recent projections. With employer healthcare expenses anticipated to jump 8.5% nationwide, finding innovative solutions to reduce expenditures while supporting employee wellness has become paramount. Read on for details.
Navigating Compensation in the Era of Transparency
As healthcare costs continue their meteoric rise, employees are struggling under the weight of medical expenses. But a novel new benefit offers employers a way to attract top talent while empowering staff to manage costs. Read on for details.
Early Cancer Detection Saves Lives, Lowers Costs
A recent report reveals that early cancer detection through screenings can improve survival rates and reduce healthcare costs for employers. However, many organizations struggle to get employees screened due to a lack of awareness, time constraints, and reliance on third parties for care. Proactive efforts by employers to promote screening compliance can lead to better outcomes. Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – March 2024
2024 Benefits Trends: What Employers Need to Know
As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes into the rearview mirror, employers are shifting their focus to new challenges in the benefits space. With medical costs projected to rise 8.9% in 2024, many companies will need to make difficult decisions about their health and welfare offerings. They’ll also face growing pressure to support employees’ financial, physical and mental well-being. Read on for details.
SECURE 2.0 Means Major Retirement Changes in 2024
With the start of 2024 comes a wave of substantial changes to the retirement landscape caused by the rollout of version 2.0 of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which was passed by Congress in 2022. The legislation contains provisions aimed at increasing retirement savings and preparedness for millions of U.S. workers. Read on for details.
Stricter New Rules Limit Independent Contractor Hiring
As healthcare costs continue their meteoric rise, employees are struggling under the weight of medical expenses. But a novel new benefit offers employers a way to attract top talent while empowering staff to manage costs. Read on for details.
4-Evolve Your Benefits as Your Workforce Ages
The makeup of the American workforce is changing drastically. As baby boomers age, the number of employees over 75 continuing to work is skyrocketing at an unprecedented rate. Employers must now reevaluate their benefits packages to meet the needs of an older, more diverse population. Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Spring 2024
8 Top Tips from Millionaires for Growing Your Retirement Nest Egg
When it comes to saving and investing for retirement, millionaires tend to do things a bit differently than the average American. With their substantial net worth and investing savvy, they employ unique strategies to continually build their wealth over time. By modeling some of their habits, you can put your retirement savings efforts on the fast track.Read on for details.
What Is First-to-Die Life Insurance and Do You Need It?
You and your spouse may rely on both incomes to afford your mortgage, save for retirement or college, or pay other monthly bills. So what would happen financially if one of you passed away prematurely? First-to-die life insurance could provide income replacement or pay off debts to support the surviving spouse.Read on for details.
How to Pick the Best Health Plan at Work
When open enrollment comes around, you may feel overwhelmed evaluating the health insurance options your employer offers. However, arming yourself with key information can make navigating this decision much smoother. Follow this practical guide to choose the plan that best fits your needs and saves you money. Read on for details.
Important Retirement Trends to Keep an Eye On
Retirement is never static. From side hustles to soaring prescription costs, the nature of retirement continually evolves. As a retiree or soon-to-be retiree, staying apprised of the latest retirement trends is essential for financial security. Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – January 2024
Sick Days Have Doubled, but Morale Is Up
In the last few years, employers across the nation have seen a dramatic shift in how their workers approach sick leave. Read on for details.
New Solutions for Employee Mental Health
More than one in five U.S. adults suf¬fer from mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. An estimated four percent have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Read on for details.
Healthcare Credit Cards: The Employee Benefit That Pays You Back
As healthcare costs continue their meteoric rise, employees are struggling under the weight of medical expenses. But a novel new benefit offers employers a way to attract top talent while empowering staff to manage costs. Read on for details.
Government Tips for Accurate EEO-1 Reporting
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released new guidelines to assist employers in correctly submitting their 2022 EEO-1 reports. Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – December 2023
What’s Driving Benefit Costs Up 7% for 2024?
U.S. employers should brace for a 7% hike in healthcare costs next year, fueled largely by chronic conditions, costly prescriptions, and catastrophic claims, according to new data. Read on for details.
How Loss of Childcare Funding Will Impact the Workplace
A crisis is looming for working parents across the country as federal pandemic relief funding for childcare expired on September 30, threatening affordable care op¬tions. Employers stand to face major workforce disruptions if they don’t take action to support employees with childcare needs. Read on for details.
How Claims Data Analyses Can Make Healthcare More Affordable
Employer-sponsored health insurance represents the single largest source of healthcare coverage in the U.S., accounting for roughly $1.3 trillion in annual spending. Read on for details.
Support Your Staff As They Transition Back to Making Student Loan Payments
Now that federal student loan payments have restarted after a nearly three-year pause, HR teams can play a key role in supporting employees through this transition. With over 45 million Americans holding $1.77 trillion in stu¬dent debt, many workers face renewed financial burdens from monthly payments. Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Winter 2023
Retirement Planning When You’re Your Own Boss
Being your own boss comes with perks like flexibility and freedom. But it also means you lack access to traditional employer-sponsored retirement plans.Read on for details.
The Self-Employed Person’s Guide to Navigating Health Insurance
When you decide to strike out on your own and start a business, one of the first things you need to figure out is health insurance. You do have options, but navigating the world of private plans, public programs, and alternative arrangements takes some homework.Read on for details.
Five Life Insurance Don’ts: How to Avoid Putting Your Family at Financial Risk
Making sure your family is financially protected if something happens to you is one of the most important things you can do. That’s where life insurance comes in. But, buying a policy comes with potential pitfalls. Avoid these common mistakes when getting coverage so you don’t inadvertently put your loved ones at financial risk.Read on for details.
New 401(k) Superpowers: How Your Plan Will Work Smarter for You
Your 401(k) is getting ready for a high-tech makeover. Cutting-edge upgrades are arriving that will supercharge these workplace retirement plans like never before. Artificial intelligence, new savings options, and simplified lifetime income choices are some of the new capabilities coming soon from 401(k) providers across the industry. Read on for details.