Benefits Think

It’s Earth Week! And regardless of your position on the reality and/or cause of climate change, this week is one set apart for being kinder and gentler to Mother Earth. Some companies best known for making green are taking bigger strides to go green — or, in the case of Kaiser Permanente, go greener.

The final ruling for the insurance exchange portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is out. The 644-page rule mandates that all 50 states must be ready with an exchange by October 2013. “So far, there are only about 20 states making measurable progress toward the deadline,” says Bob Laszewiski of Health Policy Strategy Associates, LLC. “Most conservative states – 29 states have Republican governors – are sitting on the sidelines waiting to…

In a recent company infographic/blog post, “The case for Facebook,” Keas cites survey data that show a group of employees who browsed the web or used social networks for 10 minutes were 16% more productive than employees who took a regular 10-minute break, and 39% more productive than the control group.

Survey results from AMA Enterprise, a division of the American Management Association, finds that as many as two-in-five employees feel they hardly ever know what’s going on at their organization.

Changing physicians' attitudes toward low-value services will mean counteracting a powerful force — the profit motive. Physicians, like most economically rational people, generally tend to recommend tests and treatments that reward physicians financially.

Wellness and health management programs can be scaled to fit the needs of companies of almost any size, as long as you have the data to help identify what the needs are. In today’s BeAdvised Mercer’s George Lane shares three simple programs that will not only heighten awareness of health issues to employees but will send the message that their employer’s concern for them extends beyond what’s included in their job description.

A new study finds that expatriates face a higher overall risk for mental health problems and substance abuse disorders. Specifically, 50% of expatriates in the study were at high risk for problems like anxiety and depression, a rate 2.5 times their U.S.-based counterparts.

According to Glassdoor, for the first time in the four years it has been conducting the employment confidence survey, more employees expect a pay raise than those who do not — 43% of employees expect a raise in the next 12 months while 38% and 19% say they don’t know (but likely harbor secret hope).

What is one of our fundamental roles as an adviser? In today's BeAdvised Andrew Torelli challenges you to an exercise that will help you become better simplicity maven.

Because so much of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is still unclear, one specific caveat must be made. BeAdvised contributor Sam Fleet addresses how PPACA will effect fixed indemnity plans.