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.

Man smiling putting money in piggybank

Financial wellness

A new partnership brings financial wellness access to 7 million employees

Employers who use isolved's employee management system will now have the option to offer their workers access to FinFit's financial platform.

By Lee Hafner

August 23

Someone getting blood pressure checked

This HR exec brought preventative care to her company’s front door

On-site access to healthcare keeps workers and their families up to date on their health and ahead of major issues.

By Lee Hafner

August 20

Woman running on treadmill at gym

Employee benefits

Professionals reveal their favorite wellness benefits

Four workers explain how employer-sponsored meditation apps, work flexibility and stipends boost personal health and job performance.

By Lee Hafner

August 19

Woman being interviewed for job facing male interviewer

This Marine Corps veteran and CEO has a strong message for employers

Jim Rowley talks about his own professional experience and explains why former service men and women make exemplary employees.

By Lee Hafner

August 16

Woman sitting at desk on video meeting call with coworkers

Manager Diaries

How ezCater’s CTO uses empathy to break down creative barriers

Erin DeCesare gets her team's emotions out on the table, leading to better business results.

By Lee Hafner

August 14

Young woman looking at phone worried hand on head

Health and wellness

6 tips for minimizing stress

Concerns over the election, the economy and day-to-day challenges can be reduced with mindful, consistent actions.

By Lee Hafner

August 13

Man taking pills sitting at desk

Weight loss, election anxiety and addiction: Employees need multi-tiered support

Awareness, a strong workplace culture and diverse benefits can make all the difference in workers' short and long-term wellness.

By Lee Hafner

August 9

Employees working together, team, fists on top of each other, comradery

Employee benefits

3 ways to establish an addiction recovery-ready workplace

A survey from Pelago emphasizes the importance of reducing stigma and providing the support employees need to get healthy.

By Lee Hafner

August 9

Surgeons performing surgery, two surgeons observing

Holistic healthcare benefits can cut down surgery spend

Quantum Health and Carrum Health are working together to improve health outcomes while reducing unnecessary costs.

By Lee Hafner

August 7

Parents with newborn

Employee benefits

This platform is campaigning for better parental leave benefits

Having a baby shouldn't leave working parents in an emotional and financial crisis.

By Lee Hafner

August 6

Father holding daughter's hand on the way to school; work bag; outside

Employee benefits

4 professionals share why workplace flexibility is so important

Caring for loved ones and time for professional growth are just some of the reasons employees appreciate a flexible work life.

By Lee Hafner

August 6

People picking up trash on beach

Going Green 2024

Communication is essential for making ESG impactful

Paycor's CHRO shares how making small moves and keeping open communication can catapult ESG efforts.

By Lee Hafner

August 2

Many people's hands together; employees working together

Manager Diaries

Staffbase’s CPO makes community top priority in the workplace

Neil Morrison shares why connection is a foundation of any good business, and ways to promote it across a global workforce.

By Lee Hafner

July 31

Doctor examining patient with stethescope

Employee benefits

How Seattle Children’s Hospital prioritizes the health of its workers

By providing advanced primary care through Apree Health, the hospital ensures access to holistic physical and behavioral health and well-being resources.

By Lee Hafner

July 31

Man standing outside in business suit, wearing glasses, smiling, arms crossed

Employee retention

What motivates us at work: 6 professionals share why they love their job

Business victories, creating new tech and helping others succeed make up some of the reasons these people thrive in their workplace.

By Lee Hafner

July 25

Podcast Giving birth, then back to work: Building better parental leave policies

HPE's CPO shares how the company's generous parental leave policy helps support and retain their workforce.

By Lee Hafner

July 24

Woman sitting at desk with laptop hands on eyes stressed out tired

Professional development

77% of workers say AI tools have decreased their productivity

A survey from Upwork found that workers need better guidance on how to use the AI tools that are supposed to be helping them.

By Lee Hafner

July 23

Employees sitting at restaurant table, cheers, toast, happy

Workplace culture

5 leaders share best practices for bringing employees together

From friendly competition to recognition to making salsa from scratch, workers thrive when they participate in intentional relationship-building experiences.

By Lee Hafner

July 22

Woman sitting at desk meditating smiling with computer

Workplace culture

An ‘anti-hustle’ culture drives success at The Honey Pot

Letting employees know it's okay to slow down and focus on wellness has helped the company retain talent and grow their brand.

By Lee Hafner

July 19

Woman sitting at desk wearing glucose monitor looking at phone

Benefits in Action

How Twin Health is helping employees combat diabetes and obesity

Science, AI and a personal touch come together to provide a long-term solution for chronic conditions, leading to a healthier lifestyle.

By Lee Hafner

July 17