Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

What is it? Nope, not your vending machine/cafeteria options. Not employee engagement (or lack thereof). The answer is most likely right in front of you.

Author Michael McIntyre caused a bit of a stir last week with comments about how he sees the corporate world as “exceedingly benefit-less” and that job seekers shouldn’t ask about benefits unless. I asked him about these comments in a new EBN podcast.

According to a poll of 642 18- to 29-year-olds conducted by the Strategic Research Institute at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., 50% don’t believe Social Security will exist by the time they become age-eligible for the program at 67.

“Don’t worry about benefits,” says Michael McIntyre, president and CEO of Benefits America. Further, McIntyre adds, “never ask about benefits, unless you are applying for a C-level position with a Fortune 500 company.” He’s kidding, right? Right?

A bill introduced Oct. 5 by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) would waive the 10% early withdrawal penalty on 401(k) hardship withdrawals up to $50,000 to prevent home foreclosure.

The White House is counting long-term care premiums collected under the CLASS Act as $80 billion in deficit reductions over the next decade. However, AP reports, CLASS has yet to be funded while the administration tries to figure out how to keep the program solvent — while still claiming the savings.

According to Walgreens, last flu season resulted in 100 million lost work days and nearly $7 billion in lost wages. In addition, Walgreens projects that nearly 2 million business trips were cancelled last flu season.

I know of someone who is surviving the unthinkable, the impossible. Perhaps an indication that I've been in this business too long, her loss made me wonder about bereavement policy.

I love hearing about random national holidays—like National Banana Day and National Hug Day. The latest I heard about actually occurs today (Oct. 4): Get out your party hats for National Improve Your Office Day!

My way of helping to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month is through today’s guest post from Deborah Sternberg, EVP at Always Care Benefits and Starmount Life Insurance Company, who articulates better than I could the important role your benefits plans play in combating breast cancer. Enjoy, and as always share your thoughts in the comments.