Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Americans believe discussing stress with their health care providers is important, yet many aren’t having the conversation, reports a recent study from the American Psychological Association. Richard Citrin, Ph.D., and president of Citrin Consulting, and Dr. David Ballard, assistant executive director for marketing and business development with the American Psychological Association, offer five suggestions for helping your employees start having those conversations. [Images: Shutterstock]

“I used to be caught up in the spin cycle of thinking that net worth automatically afforded me life worth,” says Gary Kunath, an entrepreneur, speaker, former CEO and author of “Life ... Don't Miss It. I Almost Did: How I Learned To Live Life To The Fullest.” However, Kunath adds, “At a certain point you realize that money doesn't make you rich, it just allows you to buy more stuff.” U.S. workers seem to have achieved a similar realization, as most employees prioritize satisfaction over salary and prize work-life balance. Kunath offers professionals five ways to achieve balance and improve their “life worth.” [Images: Shutterstock]

Shrinking HR departments, coupled with increased regulatory complexities, are leading organizations like Hawaiian Airlines to outsource their benefits administration. Tim Clifford, president of ADP Benefit Services, shares five considerations employers need to think about when hiring a provider to handle their benefits administration. [Images: Shutterstock]

For many human-resources professionals, getting buy-in from the C-suite can be a challenge when top-level executives are strapped for time. Further, HR and C-suite representatives communicate in fundamentally different ways. In a CareerBuilder article, Beverly Flaxington, a certified professional behavioral analyst, shares her tried-and-true tips for HR professionals to effectively communicate with executives and gain leverage to achieve their goals. [Images: Shutterstock]

The Employers Resource Association receives more than 8,000 calls each year to its human resources hotline. For the third consecutive year, ERA data show, the highest demand for phone-in expertise was not about health care reform or retirement plans, but HR “staples” like performance management, fair labor issues and immigration. On ERA’s top 10 list of most-questioned topics, the Family and Medical Leave Act remains No. 1.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer may have banned working from home for her company but winners of this year’s Work-Life Rising Star recognition awards prove that teleworking and other flexible work programs are alive and well.

The Supreme Court in March hears oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and the validity of California’s Proposition 8. In advance of an anticipated summer SCOTUS ruling on these same-sex marriage issues, Rich Stover, a principal at Buck Consultants offers four tips to help employers discern what they should be doing right now to prepare for same-sex marriage developments. [Images: Shutterstock]

Drug spending declined 1.5% last year, according to Express Scripts’ most recent drug trend report, fueled in part by the release of many lower-cost generic drugs. The cost of generic medications dropped last year by 24%, while the cost of the most-used brand name drugs increased by 12.5%, the widest disparity in the past five years, according to the pharmacy benefit manager. Here are 10 of the top brand-name drugs that lost their patents in 2012. [Images: Shutterstock]

Pressure is high on HR/benefits managers to keep health costs in line, and wellness program vendors promise to relieve that pressure — too many of them through “get well quick” schemes like the 6 outlined here. Knowledge is power, as the saying goes, and knowing the truth behind these common wellness myths could be the key to unlocking untold health cost savings. (Compiled by Linda K. Riddell, frequent EBN guest blogger and principal of Health Economy LLC.)

More than 1,400 retirement plan advisers enjoyed three days of insights from their colleagues and leading retirement plan providers at the 2013 National Association of Plan Advisors/American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries 401(k) Summit. Here are some highlights. [Photos: © James Tkatch, 2013]