Benefits Think

Core components of an effective benefits package include meaningful health and wellness programs, work-life balance initiatives and professional development.

Updating benefits to include things like automatic enrollment and savings tools can improve employees' financial wellness.

Key strategies include seeding emergency savings to cover six months' worth of expenses with the help of a financial adviser and matching contributions.

FSA, HRA and HSA plan administrators must beware of companies that are misrepresenting which food and wellness expenses can be reimbursed.

Understanding the Letter of Medical Necessity guidelines and process can save valuable time and quicken communication with employees who need them.

Mounting pressure to manage the competing demands of school-related expenses and ensuring a family's long-term financial stability can lead to stress and anxiety.

Making it easier for employees to put money toward the things they need has payoffs for businesses as well.

Creating a work environment that makes this growing segment of the U.S. labor force feel valued and included will help lower turnover and burnish workplace culture.

A specific policy that fills that gaps left by traditional leave can help employees during major life transitions.

Extended and intermittent leaves of absence that leverage state mandates allow new parents to ease their return to work and also improve talent management.