Word on Benefits

Mental Health and COVID-19 Challenges in Apprenticeship Programs – New Survey Reveals Issues and Solutions

Cara McMullin

03 Feb 202203 Feb 2022

Apprenticeships play an essential role in the development of a highly trained workforce. Today, apprenticeship programs face new challenges while building on their successes, according to recent survey results from the International Foundation. The 2022 report Top Trends in Apprenticeship Programs reveals […]

Communication Compliance Coronavirus (COVID-19) Education Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

Everything Employers Need to Know About Current COVID-19 Compliance

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

02 Feb 202209 Feb 2022

We kicked off 2022 with two big developments for employers across the U.S. regarding COVID-19 compliance— vaccine-or-test mandates and at-home testing coverage. Here’s everything employers should know about these major developments. Read on for practical compliance tools, samples, checklists and communication tips. […]

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Tackling Canada’s Retirement Crisis: An Interview With Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald

Alyssa Hodder, GBA

31 Jan 202217 Feb 2023

Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald is the director of financial security research at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), Ryerson University(Toronto). She is also a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and the resident scholar at Eckler Ltd. Her research focuses on the […]

Apprenticeship Programs Communication Education Employee Benefits U.S.

Mentorship in Apprentice Programs

Cara McMullin

27 Jan 202227 Jan 2022

January is National Mentorship Month in the U.S. and Canada! Mentors can be found in virtually every profession, and mentor/mentee relationships can be formed during any stage of a career. However, more formalized mentor relationships are often found in apprenticeship programs. Skilled […]

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Update on the No Surprises Act

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

25 Jan 202225 Jan 2022

On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 was signed into law and included the No Surprises Act (the Act). With so much guidance already published addressing the Act, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) […]

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The Multiemployer Retirement Plan Landscape: 10 DB Plan Takeaways

Justin Held, CEBS

24 Jan 202201 Feb 2022

According to the most recent data from The Multiemployer Retirement Plan Landscape: A Fifteen-Year Look (2004-2018), demographic trends in multiemployer plans have become less favorable as the number of actively working participants have decreased relative to the number of inactive and retired […]

Diversity and Inclusion Education Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Wellness Health Care Insurance U.S.

What Health Plan Sponsors Should Know About Social Determinants of Health

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

20 Jan 202220 Jan 2022

The events of the last two years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, have increased awareness of the impact certain social determinants can have on people’s health. In their article, “Benefit Plan Design: Focusing on Social Determinants of Health” in the […]

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Challenges of Mental Health Parity Compliance

Cara McMullin

19 Jan 202219 Jan 2022

Mental health and substance use disorders continue to be a concern for employers. As the pandemic is about to enter its third year, many express a heightened need for mental health care. Additionally, insurers report increased claims and demand for mental health […]

Communication Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance U.S.

Telehealth: Lessons From the Pandemic

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

13 Jan 202213 Jan 2022

With the Omicron variant causing a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, access to telehealth visits is likely a benefit that many plan members are continuing to value and use. Nearly two years into a sort of forced experiment with telehealth, […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Mental Health U.S. Wellness Work Life Balance

Five Ways to Bring a Little Hygge to Your Workspace

Anne Patterson

11 Jan 202210 Jan 2022

The concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) has been gaining popularity across the U.S. and Canada over the past couple of years ,and I’m here for it. It’s a Danish word roughly translated into English as “coziness.” Practicing hygge help lower anxiety, depression […]