Lee Hafner

Lee Hafner

Editor

Connect with Lee

Lee joined the EBN team in 2022, and covers areas including caregiving, employee health and wellness, healthcare innovation, and company culture. She created EBN’s popular Benefits in Action and Manager Diaries series, interviewing top leaders from Walmart, AT&T, Aflac, DoorDash, and EY. Her reporting on EBN’s podcast, Perk Up!, earned the team a regional silver award from the AZBEE Award of Excellence in 2025. She has also interviewed several winners of EBN’s Excellence in Benefits Awards, including top CEOs and CHROs from Hyatt and Hendry Marine Industries.

Her favorite parts of the job are connecting with people who are passionate about providing great benefits and a positive work environment, and writing about strategies and tools that help them do this. Previously, she taught high school and middle school, and worked as a freelance writer in healthcare and advertising. She has a BA in English from George Mason University.

Two women in office looking at paper, smiling

Financial wellness

Essential benefits that support women’s financial wellness

"Your financial future is not DIY," says certified financial planner Cary Carbonaro. Here's how to build a financial plan for women at work.

By Lee Hafner

June 3

Politics and policy

How Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill could boost benefits enrollment

The CEO of Sunny Day Fund points to ways benefit managers can help workers use extra income wisely.

By Lee Hafner

May 30

Benefits in Action

How telehealth is saving this employee thousands in vet bills

Thanks to her company's offering, Kris Jackson is able to care for her two dogs while saving money and time.

By Lee Hafner

May 28

Female graduate hugging dad

Financial wellness

This 529 benefit platform offers gift cards for college

Understanding how a 529 works and learning how to maximize the benefit to employees will set families up for success.

By Lee Hafner

May 27

Male employee standing, managing, talking to table of employees

Professional development

Put a stop to micromanaging

Managers need to understand the difference between helping and hovering, says this leadership skills expert.

By Lee Hafner

May 22

Pregnant woman looking at sonogram image on ipad

Fertility benefits

The best benefits to support an employee’s IVF journey

WIN's chief strategy officer shares how to make sure women going through a fertility journey have the best chance of staying present at work.

By Lee Hafner

May 21

Two male employees talking, one with laptop

Employee benefits

Do your benefits support cancer survivors?

The president of Color Health talks about the important role benefit managers play in helping cancer survivors transition back into the workplace.

By Lee Hafner

May 20

Doctor listening to little boy's heart, mom in background, smiling

A less high-maintenance healthcare plan? Yes, please

The CEO of Centivo shares how to reduce healthcare costs without increasing burden on employees.

By Lee Hafner

May 19

Manager Diaries

How this KinderCare exec leads by example to support working parents

Dan Figurski's life-long love for education and people-first leadership style help him meet the needs of company staff, employer partners and families.

By Lee Hafner

May 14

person adding money to their savings for future

How benefit managers can maximize 401(k) plans

Benefit managers can help their workforce avoid today's grim retirement projections by including lifetime income solutions in their offerings.

By Lee Hafner

May 13

Mom and daughter, clinking drinks with coffee and orange juice, smiling

Employee benefits

Working moms share their favorite employee benefits

Moms discuss the company offerings, policies and programs that help them be their best both at work and at home.

By Lee Hafner

May 9

Mom holding young baby, smiling

Employee benefits

Benefit managers: Get with the postpartum program

With the right parental benefits, employers can improve the chances of a healthy postnatal experience and boost business outcomes.

By Lee Hafner

May 7

Workforce management

‘Motherhood doesn’t shrink you’: A top executive’s new outlook on leadership

Tope Ajala is a leader in inclusivity, and is using her own experience to tackle the challenges faced by working mothers.

By Lee Hafner

May 6

Family with two small children sitting on couch looking at smart phone

Financial wellness

Why your financial wellness benefits should include micro-investing

By offering access to micro-investing, employers can remove the financial barriers that keep many from long-term savings.

By Lee Hafner

May 1

Group of young people standing near shelf of books talking

Benefits in Action

Why Fidelity Investments has offered a workplace volunteer program for decades

The company's partnership with Common Impact allows employees to participate in skills-based volunteering efforts that lead to community and professional growth.

By Lee Hafner

April 30

Woman handing pharmacist card, standing at pharmacy counter

Pharmacy benefit management

Why this benefit leader switched to a more modern, transparent PBM

Rice University's executive director of HR operations ditched a traditional model for one that's providing lower costs and better customer service.

By Lee Hafner

April 29

Woman sitting at desk wearing blazer and black shirt, engaging with someone on laptop; online meeting

HR tech trends 2025

How AI is improving workplace wellness offerings

Benefit leaders can get more out of health and well-being solutions that incorporate technology for high-touch, comprehensive access.

By Lee Hafner

April 25

Man sitting at kitchen table with hand on mouth, looking at paper, worried, calculator on table

Student loan debt is stressful. Benefit managers have the power to help

The CEO of Summer and the CHRO at LEARN discussed why offering expert help is a benefit with a big impact at EBN's virtual financial wellness summit.

By Lee Hafner

April 24

Hand holding white pill, pink background

Employee benefits

GLP-1s are evolving — how benefit managers can prepare

The president of Omada Health talks about why decision makers need to be thinking about holistic weight-management care as the demand for related medication grows.

By Lee Hafner

April 23

Surgeons operating, lights overhead

Benefits in Action

Stage 4 kidney disease led this employee to life-changing surgery — without the price tag

After a surprise diagnosis, access to an end-to-end surgery benefit gave one employee a "new lease on life."

By Lee Hafner

April 16