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We’ve all heard the legend that depression and suicides spike in December due to holiday stress, but that’s just what it is: legend. Research shows that depression and anxiety actually do not peak during the holidays; in fact, some studies show these rates actually decrease in December. Client calls related to anxiety, depression, substance abuse and stress spike after the holidays each year, according to health care consumer services company Accolade.

With all the implications that the Affordable Care Act has on employer’s health insurance obligations, it’s easy to overlook its effects on workplace wellness programs. Yet these programs are very much affected by Obamacare.

With 2014 here, has everything in the health care landscape changed? Is there joy and jubilation in the streets as the disenfranchised are at long last offered opportunities to join in on the full range of health care services we office-worker types have enjoyed?

The strength of a business relies on its bottom line, and it takes a productive and engaged workforce to help meet those financial goals, particularly for a client-focused organization, such as EPIC, an employee benefits brokerage firm in Petaluma, Calif. With this in mind, EPIC has implemented a wellness program to improve its employees’ health and has watched it grow and positively influence employees’ lives.

A notice (2014-1) was issued on Dec. 16 expanding on the previous Internal Revenue Service guidance on changes to treatment of same-sex married couples following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on United States v. Windsor.

Part of President Barack Obama’s health-care law is on hold in a Colorado case until at least tomorrow, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers contentions from religious groups that say they don’t want to facilitate coverage for contraception.

About 2.1 million people have medical coverage as of yesterday through Obamacare after a late surge in enrollment helped regain ground lost to the botched debut of insurance exchanges created by the U.S. health-care overhaul.

Among benefits-related cases in 2013, courts addressed offerings to same-sex couples, statute of limitations, remedies under ERISA and 401(k) plan fees. Here’s a look at five cases that could have implications for your benefit plans in the year ahead.

From ACA compliance to better employee communications, now is the time to look ahead to 2014 and make the most of your benefit plans.

With a national election on the horizon, it’s not likely much will be done legislatively to address the nation’s retirement crisis in 2014. However, EBA spoke with several industry insiders who share their predictions for what will be on the table in the coming year. [images: Fotolia]