Benefit management

About one in three Fortune 500 companies now offer the voluntary product, but demand is expanding because of rising veterinary costs and the close bond employees have with their pets.

The methods for counting employees are as varied as the laws that affect them, often creating confusion and frustration for plan sponsors, says Compliancedashboard’s Dan Bond.

Between taking on debt for dependents and the high demand for graduate degrees in today’s workforce, people of all ages are carrying student loan debt, making student debt repayment benefits more valuable than ever.

Well-being initiatives are becoming more about employees’ whole health rather than just physical aspects, two wellness experts said this week at the WorldatWork Total Rewards conference in San Diego.

The company’s seen substantial growth in the number of employers and employees using its health benefits platform, says Jiff CEO Derek Newell.

Sponsors of employee well-being month, including Virgin Pulse and WorldatWork, launch a free kit and online resources to help employers encourage healthy habits among workers.

Between taking on debt for dependents and the high demand for graduate degrees in today’s workforce, people of all ages are carrying student loan debt, making student debt repayment benefits more valuable than ever.

The season is often seen as a leisurely one, yet new research suggests time off doesn’t always translate into reduced stress.

The rules are expected to be designed to ensure that highly compensated employees and rank-and-file workers receive health benefits that are relatively equal in value.

The workplace plays a significant role in facilitating retirement savings, yet less than half of workers globally are offered a retirement plan with employer contributions, finds recent research.

New rules take effect next month, and health advisers need to consider how the directives affect matters of plan design and operation.

Thoughtful use of incentives and creating a strong network of supporters are ways to encourage participation, says UnitedHealthcare CMO Sam Ho.

Videos and quizzes may help workers retain health and wellness knowledge better than other forms of communication, according to Limeade.

Employees who expect to work longer are less healthy, more stressed and more likely to feel stuck in their jobs than those who expect to retire earlier, finds new data from Willis Towers Watson.

Thoughtful use of incentives and creating a strong network of supporters are ways employers can encourage participation, says Dr. Sam Ho of UnitedHealthcare.

To deliver real value for groups under 100 lives brokers must have more than a salesperson’s mindset, says Sutter Health Plus’s Monica Majors.

As plan sponsors try to reduce the costs associated with healthcare claims, many are turning to spousal surcharges or eliminating spousal coverage altogether, according to recent research from actuarial firm Conrad Siegel.

The robo-adviser announced this week a partnership with the state of Nevada and Ascensus to offer its own 529 plan.

Many of the ACA's nondiscrimination regulations will start to take effect this July, and employers that sponsor group health plans will need to consider the new rules and how they affect matters of design and operation.

Industry organizations , including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, allege that the DOL encroached on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s territory and overstepped boundaries for regulating broker-dealers that were established by Congress.