Tip of the Day: Prepare your celebration for National Employee Benefits Day!

I love any excuse for a party, but this is a genuinely good reason: The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans is once again leading the celebrations for the annual National Employee Benefits Day (April 2).

Although the day is not as widely celebrated as New Year's Eve or Mardi Gras, amid the current recession, it's more important than ever to cheer the successes of employers and employees alike in maintaining and wisely taking advantage of benefits plans. Further, the day is an important one to focus on education and awareness about benefits.

This year, IFEBP is encouraging benefits pros to use the day as an opportunity to educate themselves and their participants on the importance of retirement security.

On April 2, IFEBP will offer on the Benefits Day site (www.ifebp.org/benefitsday) free videos featuring Dallas Salisbury, president of EBRI, and Brett Hammond, chief investment strategist with TIAA-CREF, reflecting on what the current economy means for benefit plan sponsors and the future of retirement security.

The site also provides free tip sheets for employees, online educational resources and suggestions for employers on how to celebrate.