Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

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 […]

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Educating DC Plan Participants for the Long Hike to Retirement

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

16 Apr 202416 Apr 2024

Many years ago, I visited Grand Canyon National Park with my mom and aunt. It was unseasonably hot, but I wanted to walk down into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. My companions were not up for the hike, so I […]

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How to Start a Recovery-Ready Workplace: Key Steps

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

05 Mar 202405 Mar 2024

What is a recovery-ready workplace, and why should employers consider establishing one? In an article in the January/February issue of Benefits Magazine, author Isabelle Wettergren explains that “a recovery-ready workplace is a compassionate and supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being of employees. […]

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What’s Going On With Health Information and Cybersecurity

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

14 Feb 202421 Feb 2024

Health plan sponsors should take note: Regulators are increasing their focus on the privacy and security of health information. And failure to comply with the latest guidance on these areas could prove costly. In their article “Risks Abound: What’s Going on With […]

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Three Ways to Use AI in Employee Benefits

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

05 Dec 202325 Jan 2024

It’s open enrollment time, and your plan participants have questions about which health plan they should choose or whether a new voluntary benefit might be right for them. Your benefits staff is stretched thin trying to answer questions. What if you had […]