Voluntary Benefits Archives - Word on Benefits

Fertility Treatment Benefits as Excepted Benefits Coming for Employers

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

28 Oct 202529 Oct 2025

A new fact sheet from the White House discusses a “New Benefit Option” for employers to offer fertility benefits to employees in the future as a standalone plan, regardless of if benefits for fertility treatments are also included under an employer health plan.

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Paid Family and Medical Leave Legislative Developments

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

14 Mar 202414 Mar 2024

Proposals for paid family and medical leave at the federal level historically haven’t had enough support to become law. Many states have added paid leave mandates since 2017, creating a challenge for multistate employers seeking to deliver consistent benefits to their entire […]

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Supporting Lower Income Employees

Guest Contributor

26 Jan 202413 Feb 2024

Many employers have increasing numbers of lower income employees who may struggle with day-to-day issues of transportation, housing, food insecurity and inadequate health care. Employers can support lower income workers with benefits such as health care navigation and quicker access to pay. […]

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Employer Considerations to Support Menopause in the Workplace

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

12 Dec 202310 Jan 2024

Destigmatizing menopause has been a hot topic in 2023 and is a trend that will continue in the years ahead. Within recent years, it’s involved increasing awareness in the workplace about the menopause transition, the symptoms and the effects those symptoms can […]

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Five Tips for a Successful Benefits Open Enrollment

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

07 Sep 202307 Sep 2023

The arrival of fall signals the start of benefits open enrollment season for many organizations. A 2020 International Foundation survey found that benefits open enrollment periods most often begin in October and November—which means open enrollment starts in just a few weeks […]

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Employee Attraction and Retention Through Voluntary Benefits

Justin Held, CEBS

21 Feb 202310 Mar 2023

From traditional benefits like life insurance and vision care to trendier offerings such as insurance to cover pets or protect against identity theft, voluntary benefits can serve as a cost-effective method to attract and retain workers. Voluntary benefits are administered by the […]

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3 Ways to Support Employees Dealing With Cancer

Bella Tomaw

18 Oct 202225 Oct 2022

Imagine…Your employee comes to you with a devastating cancer diagnosis. Are you prepared for the questions and concerns that follow? Do you have resources readily available? In honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, encourage your organization to take inventory of your […]

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Why Vision Benefits Are Nothing To Bat an Eye About

Anne Patterson

23 Aug 202223 Aug 2022

August is National Eye Exam Month, which makes it a spectacular time to review vision benefit offerings and communicate to employees/plan participants the importance of eye care. More than half (64%) of U.S. employers offer vision benefits (2020 Employee Benefit Survey), and […]

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Fertility Benefits on the Rise

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

25 Jul 202225 Jul 2022

A growing percentage of employers are adding fertility benefits to their employee benefits packages as they look for ways to boost recruitment and retention as well as to fulfill other goals such as supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). International Foundation research […]

Communication Employee Benefits U.S. Voluntary Benefits Wellness Work Life Balance

Pet-Friendly Workplaces: A Paw-fect Employee Retention Tool

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

23 Jun 202223 Jun 2022

Offering pet-related perks has been touted as one strategy for employers trying to get a leg up (or a paw up!) when competing for employees. In honor of Take Your Dog to Work day on June 24, here’s a roundup of pet-related […]