Benefit strategies

Starbucks plans to spend $250 million on new employee benefits, including a pay boost for domestic workers, in the wake of the federal tax overhaul.

Entertainment company also plans to put $50 million into a fund to help hourly employees with tuition costs and plans to provide as much as $25 million annually for that purpose afterward.

Brokers clinging to ways of doing business in the past, such as insurance spreadsheeting, are headed toward a quick retirement.

Employer groups applaud pushing ACA provision’s implementation to 2022 in funding bill, call for full repeal.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act removed employer deductions for most commuting expenses, including for tax-exempt companies.

The online retailer joins companies including Cisco, Facebook and Google to make the move as pay equity complaints take hold of the national conversation.

Digital onboarding, personalized benefit videos and Apple Pay capabilities for health savings accounts will be available for employees enrolled in employer-sponsored UHC plans.

Cost and lack of understanding are the top reasons employers don’t provide perks to their workers.

Human-machine balance, personalized communications and hospital indemnity are among the offerings expected to grow next year, according to MetLife.

Self-funding, Form 5550s and picking the right HSA vendor are some topics employers should consider in the coming year.