Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

We all know that using data to make decisions is better than relying on assumptions and opinions. But we also know that exercise is better for us than kicking back with a stiff drink and watching television. Is that knowledge enough to make us choose exercise? Not usually -- unless we make a conscious effort to work it into our daily lives. People who exercise regularly tend to adopt habits such as putting their running shoes next to their bed or always working out at the same time, and data-driven people do the same thing. Here are five habits common among data-driven people. (Photo credit: iStock)

As open enrollment season approaches, benefit managers are moving into high gear as they prepare to answer employee questions and concerns about their 2015 benefits. And as employees take on more responsibility for their health care, it’s more important than ever for them to understand how they can make the most of the programs and benefits their employers are offering.

If anyone knows a thing or two about multitasking, it’s benefit managers. From understanding the compliance complexities of the Affordable Care Act to navigating the nuances of ERISA, benefit managers are experts at juggling several priorities. Yet multitasking and having to deal with constant interruptions can negatively affect work quality, according to a recent study from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Global correspondents for retirement travel site Live and Invest Overseas have picked some of the top retirement destinations for its 2014 Retire Overseas Index, which takes into consideration everything from climate to the cost of living to health care and taxes. Here are some of their top picks.

According to WalletHub.com research, these 10 cities ranked as the worst places to retire based on five key dimensions — affordability, jobs, activities, quality of life, health care — and a variety of metrics, including cost of living, job prospects for those over age 65 and the availability of recreational activities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 111 million workdays are lost because of seasonal influenza, costing employers approximately $7 billion annually in sick days and lost productivity.

Happy birthday ERISA! The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 turns 40 on September 2. Here’s a look at 11 important milestones, modifications and case law in the legislation’s 40-year history.

Whether it’s benefits enrollment time, or in between opt-in periods, benefit managers are finding that employees are starting to prefer digital options over traditional communication methods. A new Prudential analysis finds that while individual one-on-one meetings and group meetings are still the preferred ways for employers to communicate information, digital communications are gaining ground among employees.

Do you feel stuck in a rut? Expected to be shooting up the HR/benefit career ladder at this stage in the game? We all have bad habits, but bringing your baggage to the office can be the difference between soaring or stalling in your career. Ilya Pozin, an entrepreneur and founder of Pluto.TV, Open Me and Ciplex, offers six common workplace bad habits to break if you want to continue moving up the career ladder.

Brokers, employers, consultants and service providers are all sometimes guilty (knowingly or unknowingly) of bad behavior when it comes to dealing with each other. Here are six common scenarios and suggestions for ways to improve your working relationships with providers and clients from Rhonda Marcucci, CPA, partner and consultant with Gruppo Marcucci, an HR and benefits administration technology and outsourcing consulting firm.