Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

DEI Programs: What Employers Need to Know About New Federal Guidance

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

17 Apr 202517 Apr 2025

In March, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released two technical assistance documents on the subject of discrimination related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at work. These documents are informal guidance that show how the agency may approach what it […]

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Hardship Distributions: Five Questions for Plan Sponsors

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

27 Dec 202427 Dec 2024

It’s become easier for plan participants to take distributions from their defined contribution (DC) retirement plan account balances, but plan sponsors still have a fiduciary duty to ensure that the need for these distributions is real. In the November/December issue of Benefits […]

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Top Five Risks for Fiduciaries in 2024

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

19 Dec 202419 Dec 2024

The landscape of risks for employee benefit plan fiduciaries includes some fresh wrinkles on longstanding issues and some brand-new developments, such as last summer’s Supreme Court ruling overturning the Chevron doctrine. Attorney Todd Solomon, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP […]

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Promoting Health Equity: Six Best Practices for Employers

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

10 Dec 202410 Dec 2024

Offering health insurance benefits to employees is a key step toward ensuring that they have access to health care. However, employers likely need to take additional steps to guarantee health equity, particularly for marginalized populations, one expert says. In her article “Promoting […]

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Strategies for Mental Hygiene and Psychological Safety at Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

22 Oct 202422 Oct 2024

What actions can you take to maintain your own mental health and to ensure that your workplace is psychologically safe? Reaching these goals requires deliberate effort, according to the presenters of “Developing Leaders to Support Total Worker Health,” a recent International Foundation […]

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Five Tips for a Successful Benefits Open Enrollment

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

17 Sep 202417 Sep 2024

The arrival of fall signals the start of benefits open enrollment season for many organizations. According to the International Foundation’s Trends in Benefit Open Enrollment and Communication survey report, benefits open enrollment periods most often begin in October and November—which means open […]

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Looking Back on ERISA’s Journey

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

26 Aug 202426 Aug 2024

Nearly 50 years ago—on September 2, 1974—President Gerald Ford signed the Employee Income Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) into law. The International Foundation has been providing education on this landmark legislation ever since. That education includes ERISA Insights: Voices From the Early […]

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The Supreme Court and the Chevron Doctrine: Key Takeaways for Employee Benefit Plans

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

14 Aug 202414 Aug 2024

Employee benefit plan sponsors and administrators may feel the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the so-called Chevron doctrine for many years to come, predicts Katherine Hesse, CEBS, an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney. Hesse, who is […]

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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 […]

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What Health Plan Sponsors Should Know About the Emerging Mental Health Needs of Youth

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

24 Apr 202424 Apr 2024

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, dial or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support. Isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing academic and social pressures, and traumatic events are contributing to a growing […]