Benefit strategies

A lot has been made about the changes at Zenefits, but what shouldn’t get lost in this week’s news is all the things the benefits software company has been doing right.

The company has determined some key insights for the next phase of benefits administration, secrets employers would do well to learn from, writes RFP365’s Dave Hulsen.

They’re a ‘great resource' to ensure employers keep up with compliance obligations and know where they stand, says The Principal’s Aaron Friedman.

When employers educate the youngest generation in the workforce about benefits, they must focus on technology-driven tools."

Baxter International, a global manufacturer of healthcare products, launches workplace mentoring programs and uses employee resource groups to better engage its diverse workforce.

Employers and brokers agree that more integration between systems is critical. But what are they to do?

One-on-one enrollment meetings result in higher participation rates and are highly valued by workers.

There is a huge (and often missed) opportunity where brokers and consultants can step in to help and keep their value proposition at the forefront of clients’ minds.

Dependent eligibility verification audits are sometimes tough to communicate to employees, but as employers look for financial savings in their health plans, many are contemplating them.

Hospital consolidation is driving up public exchange bills in mostly urban areas and could jeopardize quality of care.

Commentary: Is it possible to look at the tea leaves and forecast possible disruptions to the way health care benefits are delivered to employees over the next five to 10 years?

Benefits and HR professionals are generally optimistic about the job prospects in their field, yet express lingering concerns about job security.

More small and midsized employers are looking at self-funding, but it’s not a winning formula for everyone.

Culture is the single most important factor in your organization’s success or failure.

A healthy if not spectacular jobs report from the Department of Labor supports mid-market employer plans to bolster training programs to keep employees from jumping ship.

Employers expect the new rules to ‘fundamentally change’ the way they approach executive pay disclosures.

Consumer engagement in health care is the magic interaction that employers are striving for, yet for most it remains elusive.

Employers are falling short on adequate systems and training to provide employees with in-the-moment critical feedback. But all is not lost as some experts have a few steps employers can take to get back on track.

Commentary: Numbers can tell you if your internal communications are effectively engaging employees, and resulting in a stronger culture and higher benefit participation rates.

If you talk to a benefits administrator or human resources professional, odds are they’re going to tell you they’re overwhelmed with trying to keep up with the pace of change and the demands of today’s benefits landscape. It seems like just about everybody is, at best, treading water.