U.S. Archives - Word on Benefits

Human Nature: Wellness Benefits of the Outdoors

Rebecca Plier

26 Jul 202426 Jul 2024

It should come as no surprise that the spaces we occupy every day have a huge impact on our overall wellness. The Environmental Protection Agency and Vancouver Coastal Health report that Americans and Canadians spend about 90% of their time indoors. But […]

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Cyber Insurance: Do You Have It? Do You Need It?

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

23 Jul 202423 Jul 2024

The frequency and costs of data breaches continue to rise globally, with the average price tag of a data compromise reaching US$4.45 million in 2023, according to a recent report from IBM Security. Cyber insurance can help protect your organization from bad […]

Canada U.S. Wellness Work Life Balance

Shaping Human-Centered Workplace Cultures

Rebecca Plier

18 Jul 202418 Jul 2024

In recent years, there have been dramatic societal transformations that have affected the workplace. From the increased necessity for remote work to trends in employee turnover and new generations entering the workforce, work as we have known it is changing. Although these […]

401(k) Plans DOL Employee Benefits ERISA ERISA50 Health Care Legislative Regulatory U.S.

Understanding ERISA Liability in the Context of Pharmacy Benefits

Anne Newhouse

17 Jul 202417 Jul 2024

Fiduciary responsibility has always been a concern for retirement plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The language on the Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Responsibilities webpage explains, “The primary responsibility of fiduciaries is to run the […]

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ACA Litigation Update: Preventive Services Requirements Upheld

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

12 Jul 202412 Jul 2024

What’s new? On June 21, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Braidwood v. Becerra that the lower court had overreached when it struck down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive services mandate nationwide. The Fifth Circuit held that federal […]

Canada U.S. Wellness

Building Meaningful Relationships

Rebecca Plier

11 Jul 202411 Jul 2024

In recent years, a startling trend has emerged: We are feeling lonelier than ever, especially at work. BetterUp reports that 69% of U.S. employees are not satisfied with the opportunities for connection in their workplace. This is especially troubling because most of us spend […]

401(k) Plans Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

Three DOL Developments for Retirement Plan Sponsors

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 Jul 202409 Jul 2024

So far in 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released proposals for plan administrators to populate a missing participant database and automatic portability of retirement plan accruals when employees change jobs. The DOL also finalized a retirement security rule package and […]

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Multiemployer Plan and Public Employer Coverage of GLP-1 Drugs

Cara McMullin

26 Jun 202426 Jun 2024

New Survey Data Reveals Total Reported Annual Claim Representation for GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss Is Almost Ten Percent A new survey report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans reveals updated U.S. employer and plan sponsor coverage surrounding glucagon-like peptide-1 […]

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Spotlight On: Women’s Health in the Workplace

Anne Patterson

26 Jun 202426 Jun 2024

In June 2023, the labor force participation rate for women in their prime working age (ages 25-54 according to the data) reached an all-time high of 77.8%. Crafting benefits and a supportive work environment for women at every life stage can help create […]

Defined Benefit (DB) Plans DOL Employee Benefits Investments Multiemployer Pensions Retirement U.S.

The Multiemployer Retirement Plan Landscape: DB Takeaways

Justin Held, CEBS

24 Jun 202426 Jun 2024

According to recent data from Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the fifteen-year period between 2006 and 2020 was turbulent for multiemployer defined benefit (DB) pension plans. Financial markets were volatile, and 2008 saw the biggest […]