Anne Patterson, Author at Word on Benefits

Telecommuting: Who Offers What and Why?

Anne Patterson

03 Nov 201703 Nov 2017

Solving tight parking lot situation, promoting work-life balance, decreasing carbon footprints . . . Organizations have many reasons for offering telecommuting, finds a new survey report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Flexible Work Arrangements: 2017 Survey Results revealed that […]

Employee Benefits Mental Health

Mental Health Support in the Workplace: Employers Respond

Anne Patterson

10 Oct 201723 May 2018

World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10th every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness on mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. The Day is a reminder that organizations throughout the […]

Employee Benefits Global Benefits

When Global Business Travel Goes Wrong

Anne Patterson

28 Aug 2017

The husband of an employee calls you to tell you that his wife was seriously injured in an auto accident while traveling in Moscow. You learn of a major earthquake in Nepal, where your organization tends to frequent for business purposes. It […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Health Care Legislative MPRA PBGC Regulatory Talking Benefits Podcast

Talking Benefits Episode 8: The Storm Before the Calm

Anne Patterson

09 Aug 201709 Aug 2018

Forget the cats and dogs—This month it’s been raining new paid family leave laws, fiduciary rule oral arguments, health care reform changes and MPRA approvals! While the International Foundation strives to be a little more accurate than the local weather reporter, we […]

Employee Benefits Wellness

Employee-Approved Wellness Trends

Anne Patterson

03 Aug 201703 Aug 2017

After catching several of my colleagues in the act of practicing healthy wellness activities over the past week, I thought it only appropriate to highlight my workplace, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, as an organization that not only provides education […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health Regulatory Wellness

ACA Ch–Ch–Ch–Changes: 71% of Employers Don’t Want Repeal

Anne Patterson

11 Jul 2017

David Bowie’s song “Changes” comes to mind as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) replacement morphed into the American Health Care Act and now the Better Care Reconciliation Act. Access to health care could be changing, and employers are reacting to possible workplace […]

Employee Benefits Wellness

Well-Being Takes the Lead Over ROI in Workplace Wellness Measurement

Anne Patterson

05 Jun 201705 Jun 2017

Unless we’re talking number of steps in your weekly Fitbit challenge with co-workers, using numbers to measure workplace wellness success is on its way to becoming a thing of the past, finds the International Foundation’s latest Workplace Wellness Trends: 2017 Survey Results […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Paid Leave Regulatory Retirement

Trump’s First 100 Days: Impact on Employee Benefits

Anne Patterson

09 May 2017

If you were presented with 100 days to work with, what would you try to accomplish? Train for a marathon? Cook your way through Julia Child’s The Art of French Cooking: Volume 1? Maybe it’s finally watching all five seasons of Breaking […]

Communication Employee Benefits

Parrothead Approach to Benefits Communication

Anne Patterson

02 Mar 2017

“I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and French-fried potatoes . . . ” Even if you’re not a Jimmy Buffet fan (a.k.a. Parrothead), you can appreciate the fact that everyone likes their burger a little different. Customization is also […]

DOL Employee Benefits Health Care Pensions Regulatory Retirement

Does Your Benefit Appeal Process Need a Tune Up?

Anne Patterson

28 Feb 201728 Feb 2017

Does your benefit appeal process feel like it’s on cruise control? It might be time for a tune up. In light of an increase in participant litigation and heightened DOL enforcement efforts, it is imperative that plans ensure their procedures and policies […]