Meet the 2013 I-COMM Award winners
Tapping technology and enhancing wellness are common denominators among this year's honorees.
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3 tools for reducing the mental health stigma
The World Health Organizations World Suicide Prevention Day was this month, with a theme of Stigma: A Major Barrier to Suicide Prevention. Now in its 10th year, Suicide Prevention Day aims to combat the 800,000 suicides a year, and stigma is one of the areas where employers can really help. [Images: Shutterstock]
4 facts on employees’ financial wellness and 3 ways employers can help
The financial well-being of employees affects both their health and their productivity. In addition, employees' financial problems become employers' financial problems. Employers who understand the current status of this stress can help improve the financial wellness of their employees and improve the company's bottom line at the same time. In a new nationwide survey, Purchasing Power found four powerful dynamics of financial stress for full-time employees. Elizabeth Halkos, chief revenue officer at Purchasing Power, offers three solutions for employers to help workers overcome financial obstacles and maintain their focus, engagement and productivity. [Images: Shutterstock]
The workplace goes back to high school
If youre feeling nostalgic for the good old days as kids return to school this September, remember the workplace can still offer its share of high school drama to make you glad you've graduated. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, the social dynamics in a typical U.S. workplace aren't all that different from a U.S. high school. In the survey, many employees admit their office has cliques and workers rank which departments are smartest and most attractive, suggesting that popularity contests dont stop, even in the real world. [Images: Shutterstock]
3 steps to a better 401(k) loan program
A well-designed program helps reduce account leakage and better prepares employees for retirement.
Welcome to the 2013 Benefits Forum & Expo
Questions abound in todays employee benefit industry and there is understandable skepticism about whether the winds of change bode well or ill for plan sponsors.
3 things that might surprise you about telework
Telecommuting and working remotely remains a very popular draw for employees of all ages. Flexible work arrangements though under fire from some well-known companies can be a draw for high-value workers, as well as helping everyone achieve work-life balance. [Images: Shutterstock]
3 things business must do to save American jobs
The Great Recession has masked the fact that employers and employees are headed for a jobs cliff at breakneck speed. In these excerpts from his new book, Future Jobs, workforce development expert Edward Gordon describes the danger of the coming talent train wreck and how to prevent it. [Images: Shutterstock]
5 ways to up the grade on college saving
American colleges and universities continue to outpace inflation with verve, but the investment in a college education remains sound: according to the Census Bureaus 2011 data, those with college degrees earned more than $10,000 a year more than those with no college. Still, according to the College Board, the average annual cost of a four-year college in 2020 will be $46,368, so if you have children you aren't saving for, yesterday is the time to start. [Images: Shutterstock]
Benefits Think Would you quit your job over the ACA?
The No. 1 HR concern with the Affordable Care Act is employee communication and questions, says a recent survey from Keas.
Benefits Think Stress affects work performance of nearly half of employees
For managers and benefits professionals to effectively address stress in the workplace, it's important to understand how stress affects employee productivity, and whether it affects men and women differently.
Singing for your job: Creative or desperate?
Unusual interview tactics that helped candidates land the job.
6 questions employees should ask their aging parents
About 70% of people will need some form of long-term care at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and planning ahead is key. But having discussions with aging family members can be a source of stress for your employees, who may not know where to begin. [Images: Shutterstock]
9 tips to help employees transition to public exchanges
According to the Obama administration, the state insurance marketplaces set up under ACA are on schedule to begin open enrollment on Oct. 1. To aid in communicating health care reform changes this fall, here are nine tips for transitioning employees into the public marketplace from Sara Taylor, health solutions development leader at Aon Hewitt. [Images: Shutterstock]
Benefits Think 10 attributes of a retirement-ready 401(k) plan
A significant part of helping employees achieve retirement readiness is providing a 401(k) plan with features that guide participants down the path to retirement readiness.
Benefits Think PBMs save employers on Rx costs
According to a recent Visante study, from 2012 to 2021, PBMs will save plan sponsors and consumers almost $2 trillion, or about 35%, compared with drug expenditures made without pharmacy benefit management.
5 traits of a flexible worker
Job-hunters that want an option with work-life balance need certain traits to make themselves appealing, says business and workplace expert Alexandra Levit. Levit and FlexJobs, an online service for part-time and telecommuting work, say there are certain qualities that a person must have in order to make this type of job work. [Images: Fotolia]
5 ways to improve your 401(k)s compliance test results
Annual compliance testing for 401(k) retirement plans is done to ensure employee contribution eligibility requirements are being met and employees are contributing appropriate amounts. Low participation rates in employer-sponsored retirement plans can be especially problematic when it comes to annual testing. Ascensus offers five tips to boost participation and put your plan on track to successfully pass this years compliance test. [Images: Shutterstock]
4 calls for medical help from employees
The Grand Rounds recent Employee Benefit Expectation survey, the results of which were announced Wednesday, emphasizes the high value employees place on medical plans that can extended to newer shapes of families same-sex couples, aging parents and medical dependents much older than 21. "The modern employee," the survey reads, "is looking for employers that recognize the changing state of familial responsibilities." [Images: Shutterstock]
Benefits Think Is your 401(k) loan program state-of-the-art?
Many recent studies have shown that major obstacles to employee attainment of retirement readiness include the loss of account balances due to loan defaults and hardship withdrawals. This account leakage can be reduced by a well-managed participant loan program.