2020 felt like the year that would never end. Yet while vaccines offer hope for a pandemic endgame, employee burnout and stress (which was mounting even before the pandemic) remain at an all-time high. The historic stress of this period has elevated the importance of supporting employee health and well-being in the workplace. Even [...]

So much changed in 2020: employers and employees contended with the challenges of remote work, unprecedented stress, radical changes in the economy, new strains to work/life balance and ongoing uncertainty. Through it all, work has remained a constant for many people, which is why employer support and employee health benefits matters more than ever. [...]

A challenging year is drawing to a close. As we embark on 2021, forward-thinking employers are recognizing that business continuity and recovery are closely tied to employee health. Supporting employee well-being will be a key priority for 2021. Here is what recent research says about the historically unprecedented stress of this period and the [...]

Bags of cranberries and cans of pumpkin have appeared in in grocery stores nationwide. In the wake of a difficult year, plans to safely gather with others this holiday season and give thanks, are starting to materialize. Amidst the many trials and tribulations of this past year, gratitude for the good things is more [...]

Facing the realities of healthcare plan costs, employers are increasingly turning to high deductible health plans (HDHPs) as a way to manage costs. While a solution to control benefit budgets, these plans shift more of the healthcare cost burden to employees. As premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket spending on healthcare rise, employees face increasing financial [...]

As the pandemic passes the six-month mark in the US, new trends and insights in benefits are emerging. Employees are grappling with unprecedented stress and continued uncertainty. Faced with difficult choices in business continuity planning, employers are focusing on the cost-benefit of support for employees. Here’s a closer look at what advisers and employers [...]

These are stressful times. Employees face tremendous strain at work and home, which is often now the same physical place. Not surprisingly, the pressure and fatigue are affecting employee mental health. Let’s take a closer look at the factors driving employee stress, why employer empathy matters so much and how employers can show it. [...]

As the ongoing pandemic hits the half-year mark, workers across industries are under historic pressures. Employees are facing a great deal of uncertainty about their jobs, remote work environments and the future. In our always-on culture, the pandemic has further blurred the lines between work and home, pushing the workday nearly 50 minutes longer [...]

The cost of healthcare is a major concern for employers and employees alike. And for good reason: employee benefits account for about one-third of employers’ total compensation costs.[1] This is why employers focus on cost control and on strategic benefit planning to ensure maximum return on investment. Coverage gaps and unexpected medical bills can [...]

This year is unlike any other. Amid great uncertainty, it’s more challenging than ever for advisers and employers to make decisions for improved benefit planning. Public health and economic responses to the pandemic have thrown the traditional benefit planning cycle off course this year. Flexible gap-coverage solutions have never been more important in delivering [...]