Wellness Archives - Word on Benefits

Five Steps to Nurture Belonging in the Workplace

Guest Contributor

19 Sep 202319 Sep 2023

Benefits Magazine Extras articles provide you with bonus content on a mix of benefits topics as well as deep dives and analyses on the latest benefit trends and compliance issues. Visit ifebp.org/benefitsmagazine to see the latest Benefits Magazine Extras as well as the bimonthly print […]

Compliance DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Mental Health Regulatory U.S. Wellness

DOL Guidance on Mental Health Parity: Proposed Rules for NQTL Comparative Analyses

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

13 Sep 202313 Sep 2023

Many health plan sponsors continue to struggle to comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), particularly the requirement to conduct a comparative analysis of nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) that has been effective under the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act […]

Disease Management Employee Benefits Health Care U.S. Wellness

Employers Project 7% Rise in Health Care Costs for 2024

Cara McMullin

15 Aug 202315 Aug 2023

U.S. corporate employers project a median health care cost increase of 7% for 2024, according to International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans survey results. The 7% increase is on pace with cost trends projected last year in a similar survey conducted by […]

Communication Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) LGBTQ+ Mental Health U.S. Wellness

Addressing the Unique Needs of the LGBTQ+ Community

Anne Newhouse

03 Aug 202303 Aug 2023

Strategies for creating the best mix of employee benefit plans are as varied as the organizations that offer them. In the current business climate, especially coming out of the pandemic period, attracting and retaining the best employees feels like an art form […]

Employee Benefits Mental Health U.S. Wellness Work Life Balance

Grief in the Workplace

Cara McMullin

27 Jul 202328 Jul 2023

Supporting employees dealing with grief can be a challenging responsibility. While grief is a natural human response to loss, the experience varies from person to person and mental health issues can arise. As an employer or manager, it is crucial to approach […]

Communication Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Insurance Wellness

Health Insurance Caught in a New Pickle

Jonas Leyrer, CEBS

05 Jul 202305 Jul 2023

For anyone familiar with retirement communities, the rise in the popularity of pickleball is nothing new. The tennis-like game which was played by 3-4 million (mostly older) Americans in the late 2010s, has exploded in popularity to nearly 9 million US players […]

Communication Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Human Resources (HR) Paid Leave Paid Time Off (PTO) U.S. Vacation Wellness Work Life Balance

Hot Summer Topic—PTO and Vacation Benefits

Bella Tomaw

02 Jun 202302 Jun 2023

Whether it’s a family road trip with fruit snacks and beef jerky, getting another stamp or two on your passport, or enjoying your own community with a staycation, time off is a hot topic for many employees across the United States as […]

Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care Human Resources (HR) Insurance Prescription Drugs U.S. Wellness

The Rise of Gender-Affirmation Health Care Benefits

Anne Patterson

11 May 202311 May 2023

Gender-affirmation health care benefit offerings have been on the rise over the past seven years, according to survey data from the International Foundation. Up from 12 percent in 2016, 30 percent of U.S. employers now offer the benefit. I spoke with Julie […]

Compliance Dependent Care Disability Benefits Employee Benefits FMLA Health Care Human Resources (HR) Paid Leave Paid Time Off (PTO) Parental Leave Retirement Wellness Work Life Balance

In a Benefits Plan Far, Far Away

Julie Stich, CEBS

04 May 202309 May 2023

Over the past several years, May 4 has skyrocketed in popularity as Star Wars Day—as in, “May the Fourth be with you.” In honor of May the Fourth, we thought it would be fun to continue the rebellion against convention by using Star […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dependent Care Employee Benefits Flexible Work Options Mental Health Parental Leave U.S. Wellness Work Life Balance

Family Mental Health: How We Can Adapt and Better Understand Together

Tim Hennessy

20 Apr 202320 Apr 2023

Social exclusion, the closure of daycare centers and schools, and job insecurity combined to produce conditions at home and in the workplace that have never been seen before the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had major effects on […]