Word on Benefits

Proposed HRA Regulations Could Change Employer Health Plan Landscape

Lois Gleason, CEBS

08 Nov 201827 Jun 2019

On October 29, 2018, the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services (the Departments) together issued a proposed rule that could in the future allow employers to use health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to reimburse employees for the cost of individual […]

Employee Benefits

Rocking the Vote—Leave Considerations for Employers

Anne Patterson

02 Nov 201801 Nov 2018

The excitement of midterm elections is upon us but before that “I voted” sticker can be proudly displayed, it’s a good idea to review and communicate your policy for employees taking time off to vote. Here’s the deal—There’s no federal law that […]

Employee Benefits Mental Health

5 Steps for Building an Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program

Robbie Hartman, CEBS

01 Nov 201831 Oct 2018

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of psychosocial intervention in which negative thought patterns are challenged in hopes of altering unwanted behavior patterns, is increasingly being offered online. The online format offers the potential to increase member accessibility, reduce plan costs through […]

Canada Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Pensions

What You Need to Know About the New DBplus and OPTrust Pension Plans

Guest Contributor

24 Oct 2018

“Secure, predictable, pensions for life”—Something that was, until recently, only accorded to civil servants and those few in the private sector with a defined benefit (DB) pension plan is now on offer to all working Canadians through two new pension plan programs: […]

Behavioral Decision Making Canada Employee Benefits Financial Education

How to Overcome 5 Big Challenges and Improve Your Workers’ Health and Finances

Staff

17 Oct 201817 Oct 2018

As a plan sponsor, you offer a variety of benefits to help your employees stay physically and financially well, but like the old saying goes: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” That’s right—Despite your best […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Prescription Drugs

Strategies for Controlling Prescription Drug Costs

Justin Held, CEBS

15 Oct 201810 Oct 2018

Benefits practitioners have grown accustomed to headlines addressing escalating prescription drug costs. A recently released congressional report stated that the prices of commonly prescribed brand-name drugs have risen at a rate of nearly ten times the annual rate of inflation over the […]

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits Details to Consider When Disaster Planning

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

11 Oct 201810 Oct 2018

From hurricanes and tornadoes to wildfires and volcanic eruptions, natural disasters have affected millions of people in the United States this year. When people are dealing with the destruction of their homes and communities, they don’t want to have to worry about […]

Canada Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Mental Health

Happy and Healthy World Mental Health Day!

rebeccae

10 Oct 201810 Oct 2018

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Before you run to your local card store—This is NOT one of the holidays where you need to send a card and chocolate, but you can! Recently I wrapped up the International Foundation Mental Health and […]

Canada Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Wellness

How to Measure Financial Education ROI

rebeccae

09 Oct 201827 Feb 2019

Providing financial education to workers isn’t free: it requires planning and resources and requires participants to step away from their work. How can you tell if it is working? In the recent International Foundation report Financial Education for Today’s Workforce: 2018 Survey […]

Canada Employee Benefits Mental Health

Top 10 Mental Health Conditions Employers Are Covering

Anne Patterson

04 Oct 2018

Organizations across the U.S. and Canada are reporting a rise in mental health and substance abuse issues among workers. It’s a continuous challenge for employers to measure the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse, but by providing a range of preventive […]