Word on Benefits

COVID-19 Highlights the Need for Workplace Emergency Savings Programs

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

20 Aug 202017 Feb 2023

About 31% of people in the United States have faced negative economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report from the Commonwealth Fund. Those economic effects include being unable to pay for basic necessities like food, heat or rent, […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Global Benefits Mental Health U.S. Wellness

Supporting the Mental Health of Your Global Workforce

Alyssa Hodder, GBA

19 Aug 202019 Aug 2020

It’s no surprise that the global pandemic has had a significant impact on employees’ mental health. But even before the pandemic, mental health was on many employers’ radars. According to the Global Business Group on Health Survey 2016-2019, mental well-being was one […]

Employee Benefits Multiemployer U.S.

Best Practices in Trustee Recruitment, Selection and Retention

Justin Held, CEBS

17 Aug 202016 Aug 2020

Significant expected turnover on multiemployer benefit fund trustee boards and the increasing complexity of serving as a trustee are among the key challenges faced by these boards. To address this changing landscape, trust funds are deploying a wide range of initiatives to […]

Canada Communication Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) Mental Health U.S. Wellness

Repackaging Existing Resources Could Increase Usage of Employee Assistance Programs

Robbie Hartman, CEBS

06 Aug 202022 Sep 2020

When the children of your employees go away to school for the first time, even under ordinary circumstances, it can be tough on the parent, the child—and the employer. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional uncertainty surrounding school and work, these […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Talking Benefits Podcast U.S. Wellness

The Benefits of Sleep: A to ZZZZZZ

Anne Patterson

05 Aug 202003 Aug 2020

This month, the Talking Benefits team and I chatted about a topic that was important before the coronavirus pandemic but is feeling more relevant now amid new stressors and uncertainty—SLEEP. Everyone’s situation is different, but for many employees, the pandemic has forced […]

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

Medicare and COBRA Coordination During COVID-19

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

04 Aug 202004 Aug 2020

Maintaining access to health insurance is a huge priority for both employers and employees right now. With some employers having to make hard decisions about layoffs, furloughs and terminations, one of the situations plan sponsors should be mindful of is the integration […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits

A Closer Look at Canada’s Return-to-Work Dilemma

Alyssa Hodder, GBA

29 Jul 202029 Jul 2020

As the pandemic continues to impact workplaces across Canada and around the world, the Federal government has taken action by providing financial support for both employers and employees. Benefits available include: The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which provides approximately $500 per week to […]

Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Employee Benefits Multiemployer Pensions Retirement U.S.

Multiemployer Pension Actuarial Certifications Revisited

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

28 Jul 202028 Jul 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted benefit trust funds and will continue to have a marked effect on these plans. With volatile market performance that has not been seen since 2008, many plans are finding that their funding levels are suddenly in […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits

Questions Canadian Employees Are Asking During COVID-19

rebeccae

27 Jul 202027 Jul 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact both home and work life, employees and plan members are contacting their human resource departments for information and help. According to a recent survey of Canadian organizations conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care

Latest COVID-19 Survey Shows Heightened Interest in Virtual Care

Alyssa Hodder, GBA

23 Jul 202022 Jul 2020

With the pandemic limiting Canadians’ ability to access much-needed healthcare services, many organizations are looking for alternatives. The Impact of COVID-19 on Pensions and Benefits in Canada survey, conducted in June by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, finds increased uptake […]