Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

Building a Positive Jobsite Culture

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

30 Nov 202130 Nov 2021

Some people think that having to “pay your dues,” perhaps by enduring a certain amount of hazing, harassment or unprofessional behavior from co-workers is a necessary part of learning a new job. That’s an outdated attitude that won’t—and shouldn’t—fly with many workers, […]

Employee Benefits Paid Leave Parental Leave

Designing an Inclusive Paid Parental Leave Program

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

19 Oct 202119 Oct 2021

Employers are increasingly sensitive to the need to create a more inclusive workplace culture. Could paid parental leave programs be one way to help meet that goal? In her article “Rethinking Paid Parental Leave” in the October issue of Benefits Magazine, author […]

Canada Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Education (Canada) Financial Education (U.S.) Financial Wellness U.S.

Eight Financial Wellness Strategies for Reaching the Financially Vulnerable

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

20 Sep 202117 Feb 2023

Financial wellness programs have gained prominence as an employee benefit and can be effective in reducing financial stress among workers. But it’s not always that easy to get employees to use them. That’s particularly true among populations that have a greater incidence […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

Weighing the Value of ACA Grandfathered Status

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

02 Sep 202101 Sep 2021

When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect in 2010, health and welfare plans had the option to maintain grandfathered status, making plans exempt from some ACA requirements. To retain grandfathering, plans have had to limit certain benefit plan design and […]

Employee Benefits Health Care HIPAA Human Resources (HR) U.S.

Happy Anniversary, HIPAA

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

09 Aug 202105 Aug 2021

August 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The main goals of the law were improving the portability of health insurance coverage for people who change jobs, preventing health care fraud, assisting […]

Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans DOL Employee Benefits Pensions Retirement U.S.

DOL Guidance on Lost Retirement Plan Participants

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

28 Jul 202128 Jul 2021

The issue of what to do about lost or missing participants is a frustrating one for plan sponsors. These participants often have terminated participation in a plan because they took a new job. They may have even moved. Because these terminated participants […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) U.S.

Four Lessons From 2020 Open Enrollment

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

08 Jul 202107 Jul 2021

As they’re looking ahead to the 2021 annual benefits enrollment, many benefits managers may also be looking back to their experience in 2020 to figure out the best approach. In his article “What 2020 Taught Us About Open Enrollment” in the May […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Flexible Work Options U.S. Work Life Balance

Employers Consider More Pet-Friendly Benefits in the Postpandemic Workplace

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

25 Jun 202122 Jun 2021

June 25 is officially National Take Your Dog to Work Day. Admittedly, for the last 15 months, every day has been Take Your Dog to Work Day—actually, Work From Home With Your Dog Day—for many people. But workers may soon have to […]

Canada Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health U.S. Wellness

What to Consider When Choosing a Mental Health Benefits Strategy

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

15 Jun 202115 Jun 2021

From traditional employee assistance programs (EAPs) to bots that use artificial intelligence, the range of options to address worker mental health challenges has grown. What should employers and plan sponsors consider when deciding which mental health benefits tools to use and promote? […]

Employee Benefits ERISA Investments Multiemployer Regulatory Retirement U.S.

Know Your Plan Custodian: What Does a Benefits Plan Custodian Do?

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

24 May 202120 May 2021

As the safekeeper of plan assets, custodians are among the service providers that multiemployer benefit plan trustees have a fiduciary duty to monitor. Yet plan custodians are not discussed as often as other service providers—especially those referred to as the A-Team: the […]