Benefits Think

I know of an employer — which shall remain nameless — that began communicating its benefits enrollment period the day enrollment began. No, I’m not kidding. Yes, it’s a real company.

I find Walmart to be a wholly disconcerting place. I just find it very strange that it sells tires, toothpaste, turkeys, tinsel and t-shirts all under the same gigantic roof — and markets this as a good thing. One-stop shopping is one thing, but sheesh. Anyway, Walmart has confused me once more, with two recent developments. Last month, the nation’s largest retailer and private employer announced it would stop providing health benefits to its part-time workforce.…

I know of an employer — which shall remain nameless — that began communicating its benefits enrollment period the day enrollment began. No, I’m not kidding. Yes, it’s a real company. I know — I couldn’t believe it either (obviously, why I’ve withheld the employer’s name; it would just be too shameful otherwise). …

Last month, Walmart announced it would stop providing health benefits to its part-time workforce. Then, just days later, it quietly issued an RFI seeking a partner to provide more health clinics in its stores — offering medical services that wouldn’t be covered for its part-time employees. Anyone else think that’s a bit two-faced?

In the current broker/client business model local relationships are clearly preferred. However, that does not take into account the new health care landscape. Consider the advent of insurance exchanges. If Massachusetts is an example, a state’s exchange could gain a 30% market share in 3-4 years. So the client may purchase a health plan online without a local broker; the broker won’t necessarily be the only access point for products. So the question becomes, what…

Apparently, teleworkers were more exhausted and most likely to feel conflicted about work and family responsibilities. Well, duh! That’s not the fault of telework; that’s just called parenting.

We are all in search of the next new client……that’s what hunters do! As we approach 2012, most of us are creating next year’s business plan. Typical items to be in included are: Gross Revenue Expenses Net Profit New Business Revenue And a host of other plans and objectives unique to your business. What is the one activity that will have the greatest impact on all of the above 4 items? …

A research study showed that overweight teen girls who exercised continued to drink soda daily, and many of the overweight boys didn’t exercise at all, in favor of playing video games. I’m no scientist, but it seems to me there’s a work-ethic problem that's derailing their weight-loss progress.

Even though today’s Great American Smokeout (Nov. 17) might seem like a day that’s just sandwiched between Halloween and Thanksgiving, it can be more than that. It can be a day — maybe the day — that someone in your workplace knows better and decides to do better.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is part of the national Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, which brings together community cornerstones like the Y, health insurers, retail pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, federal agencies and national nonprofit groups to increase awareness and education about diabetes, as well as increase treatment compliance for those with the disease.