Benefits Buzz: Recent Episodes
WEX
Benefits Buzz keeps you up to date on the world of employee benefits. Learn from industry experts on a variety of topics including leadership, how to attract and retain talent, health savings accounts, lifestyle spending accounts, COBRA, compliance, effective communication, marketing and more!
WEX is in the business of simplifying benefits for everyone. Focus on the things that matter most to you. We’ll take care of the rest. That's the WEX difference.
Welcome to today's episode, where we dive into the election year's impact on employee benefits. As political campaigns ramp up, proposed policy changes can directly affect everything from healthcare coverage to retirement plans. What does this mean for employers and HR professionals? How can you prepare for potential shifts in regulations and employee expectations? Chris Byrd, senior vice president, health executive and, more broadly, head of Government Affairs at WEX, joins us as we break down the key issues, explore past election trends, and discuss what might be coming next for employee benefits.
Welcome to today’s episode, where we’ll explore the ins and outs of FSAs and HSAs. Joseph Giordano, compliance manager at Health-e Commerce, breaks down the compliance details, eligibility requirements, and the perks these accounts offer—everything HR professionals need to know.
Visit HSA Store and FSA Store to learn more about eligible items!
HSAs are far from a one-size-fits-all solution—they meet a variety of needs and strategies, whether you're a spender, saver, investor, or someone who hasn’t yet tapped into your HSA's potential. Join us on our Benefits Buzz podcast as we dive into the real-life experiences of HSA users and share expert insights to help you and your employees make informed decisions that improve health and secure financial futures. Check out our HSA Day webpage to learn more!
In this episode, we explore the world of benefits selection, offering practical advice for those choosing their employee benefits for the first time. Adam Dellaneva, customer service business partner here at WEX, joins us to share his tips on how to make informed decisions that align with your needs and future goals.
In this episode, we’ll discuss tips for switching benefit administration providers. From evaluating new vendors to ensuring a smooth transition for employees, Lisa Bauer, director of implementation here at WEX, joins us as we cover practical tips and expert insights to make the changeover as seamless as possible.
In this episode, we explore how employers and HR professionals can craft effective employee benefits enrollment experience goals for open enrollment. Shannon Hernandez, Manager of Client Services at WEX, joins us as we discuss practical steps for identifying employee needs, enhancing the enrollment process, and ensuring clear communication.
In this episode, we'll explore valuable tips and strategies for employers considering offering voluntary benefits to their employees. Hugh McDaniel, Manager of Channel Partnerships here at WEX, joins us to share his tips on how to craft an effective voluntary benefits plan for your company, ensuring your employees make the most of these valuable benefits.
As the workforce becomes increasingly diverse, the one-size-fits-all approach to benefits is becoming obsolete. Matt Dallahan, Vice President, Product Management, Benefits here at WEX, joins us as we explore how to leverage data and technology to personalize benefits packages to meet the unique needs of your employees.
In this episode, we'll explore valuable tips and strategies for employers considering offering a flexible spending account (FSA) to their employees. Zac Johnson, regional sales director here at WEX, joins us to share his tips on how to craft an effective FSA plan for your company, ensuring your employees make the most of this valuable benefit.
Welcome to this episode where we dive into how to nurture employee engagement throughout their entire career journey, from onboarding to retirement, especially when it comes to optimizing employee benefits to create long-term loyalty and satisfaction in the workplace. Melanie Tinto, chief human resources officer here at WEX, joins us to share actionable strategies and insights to ensure your employees feel valued and motivated every step of the way.
Welcome to part 2 of our “Top Benefits Challenges HR Teams Face Today” webinar, which will include discussions on:
- How technology is evolving to take work off of HR teams’ plates
- What to look for in a benefits provider
- Q+A
And don’t forget to check out our guide on how to overcome the benefits engagement barrier.
From the rising costs of healthcare and benefits packages to retaining and recruiting to helping employees understand their benefits to the ever-changing regulatory landscape, HR teams face many challenges that present obstacles to organizational success.
We’re opening season 7 of our Benefits Buzz podcast with a webinar covering:
- Top benefits challenges HR teams face today
- Strategies HR teams can use to overcome these challenges
- Real life examples of increasing employee engagement
Part 2 of our webinar is coming soon! And don’t forget to check out our guide on how to overcome the benefits engagement barrier.
The 20th anniversary of HSAs marks a significant milestone in the life of these accounts that empower tens of millions of Americans to save for current and future medical needs and make more informed healthcare decisions.
As we celebrate this anniversary, it is evident that HSAs have become an integral part of the employee benefits landscape and will continue to play a vital role in improving the medical and financial needs of your employees. Chris Byrd, senior vice president health executive at WEX, joins us to discuss the growth of HSAs over the past 20 years, HSA misconceptions that still exist, and his predictions for how HSAs will continue to evolve in the future. Check out our HSA Day webpage to learn more!
Is your in-house benefits administration team struggling to juggle the multitude of complexities behind running a successful benefits administration program? Are you spending too much time and resources trying to keep up to date with compliance changes and providing the technology and services your employees need for a positive benefits experience? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may be considering outsourcing your benefits administration. Steve Carroll, senior vice president of client services at WEX joins us to talk about the perks of outsourcing your benefits administration and upcoming 2024 benefits administration trends to keep in mind as you prepare for open enrollment.
Would you like to learn more about the perks of outsourcing benefits administration? Check out our handout.
When we conducted a survey among our participants and asked them what benefit they’d like to learn more about, pet insurance received the third-most responses. Recognizing the importance of pets in employees' lives, companies that implement pet-friendly policies and benefits foster a stronger bond between their staff and the organization. Additionally, pet-friendly initiatives can attract and retain talented individuals who appreciate the flexibility and understanding shown by their employer. Bridgit Moszer, Regional Sales Director, Direct Sales, at WEX and Jessica Shawn, Sr. Manager, HR Business Partner, at WEX join us to talk about the importance of pet-friendly policies and benefits in the workplace.
Voluntary benefits provide employers with an opportunity to support employees with additional benefits that meet their individual needs. And they serve as an excellent cost-effective recruitment and retention tool for employers as they look for ways to improve their benefits offerings. In fact, 76% of employees in a recent survey said voluntary benefits would entice them to stay at their current company. Chris Wiley, director of partnerships at WEX, joins us to share his tips on offering voluntary benefits to your employees.
Employee surveys are an essential tool for organizations to gauge employee engagement and gain valuable insights into their workforce. By gathering feedback from employees through surveys, companies can assess various aspects of the work environment, including job satisfaction, work-life balance, and employee benefits experience. Melanie Tinto, chief human resources officer here at WEX, joins us to talk about how you can level up from basic engagement surveys to a comprehensive employee listening program.
Open enrollment is just a couple months away for many of you. And that means you are already in the throes of planning for it. We surveyed our participants earlier this year to learn more about their benefits needs, with nearly 60,000 responding to the survey. The information they provided can help inform your open enrollment planning as you look to better support your employees while boosting your retention numbers. Hayden Goethe, who is our senior content marketing strategist at WEX, joins us to discuss the results of the survey.
Subscribe to our blog to discover more findings from our participant survey!
HR plays a crucial role in onboarding remote and hybrid employees, ensuring a smooth and successful integration into the organization. HR teams need to design and implement a tailored onboarding process that addresses the unique challenges and needs of remote and hybrid work environments. Hannah Jabar, talent acquisition program manager at WEX and Justine Thompson, talent acquisition manager at WEX join us to share their tips on onboarding remote/hybrid employees.
Incorporating DEI into hiring strategies has become increasingly more important to companies over the last few years. In fact, a 2020 survey showed 51% of employers surveyed have formalized a DEI strategy for their company and 44% have made changes to their hiring policies. Laura Shen, chief diversity and inclusion officer here at WEX, joins us to talk about acquiring talent from a DEI perspective.
What is an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and why is it so important for your company? Sherry Olson, vice president of global employee experience at WEX, joins us to discuss her experience with launching a new EVP at WEX, her tips and tricks she learned along the way, and the importance of an EVP when it comes to recruiting and retaining valuable employees.
Did you know that about half of employees don’t understand their benefits, and 80% of employees never even open communications about benefits? Many employees often feel confused about their benefits plans options, especially if their employer is using “complicated HR jargon” in their benefits messaging. Bri Boerner, Senior Operational Writer, Global Talent Development at WEX and Hayden Goethe, Senior Content Marketing Strategist at WEX, join us to talk about their tips on how employers can effectively communicate benefits messaging to their employees in a way that’s relatable and easy to understand.
A potential upcoming recession means companies are looking for ways to cut costs, but employee wellness still remains top of mind for many employers. In a recent survey, 55% of businesses said they will not reduce salaries if there is a recession, and 47% said they will not reduce benefits. Ryan Filipek, lead benefits analyst here at WEX, joins us to share his advice on how to advocate for employee benefits and justify your expense plans during benefits budget conversations with leadership.
At the end of January, President Biden informed Congress that he planned to end the two COVID-19 national emergencies on May 11, 2023. Recently, House Joint Resolution 7 passed the House and Senate and was delivered to President Biden on April 5, 2023, resulting in immediate termination ahead of the expected May 11th date. From an employee benefits and COBRA perspective, this means that temporary extensions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic will also expire. Let’s talk with Jill Longo, Director of Compliance, Health at WEX, about what the end of the COVID-19 national emergencies means for COBRA, FSAs, and more.
Disclaimer:This episode was recorded prior to President Biden signing legislation to seemingly end the COVID-19 National Emergency effective April 10, 2023.
HSAs offer an excellent opportunity for participants to save money on healthcare expenses and for employers to support their employees’ wellness needs in a cost-efficient way. But it’s important to remember that there are HSA rules and regulations you and your employees need to follow in order to stay compliant. Join us as we talk with Jason Cook, Vice President of Healthcare Emerging Markets at WEX, about HSA rules for employees, designing an HSA program, and how to keep HSAs exempt from ERISA.
Now that a new benefits plan year is underway, it's time to shift participants from how to "choose" their benefits to how they "use" their benefits to ensure a positive experience. We’re opening Season 6 of our Benefits Buzz podcast with a webinar recording hosted by our new Benefits Buzz host Nathan Coverstone. Our guests share tips and best practices to help you best support your employees in the new plan year.
Inflation and a declining financial market have resulted in nearly half of Americans unable to cover a $400 emergency medical expense. Compound that with 50% of employees leaving jobs for mental health reasons and many HR professionals are facing a perfect employee wellness storm. As employees turn to their employers for financial, physical, and mental support, HSA Day 2022 aims to provide meaningful tools and educational resources on one particular benefit that meets the needs of a variety of employees: the health savings account (HSA). Check out our HSA Day webpage to learn more!
Our guests:
Tori Dunlap: Globally-Recognized Money Expert and CEO/Founder of Her First $100K
Jennifer McClure: CEO of Unbridled Talent & DisruptHR
Inflation and a declining financial market have resulted in nearly half of Americans unable to cover a $400 emergency medical expense. Compound that with 50% of employees leaving jobs for mental health reasons and many HR professionals are facing a perfect employee wellness storm. As employees turn to their employers for financial, physical, and mental support, HSA Day 2022 aims to provide meaningful tools and educational resources on one particular benefit that meets the needs of a variety of employees: the health savings account (HSA). Check out our HSA Day webpage to learn more!
Our guests:
Tori Dunlap: Globally-Recognized Money Expert and CEO/Founder of Her First $100K
Jennifer McClure: CEO of Unbridled Talent & DisruptHR
While HSAs can be used for saving, spending, and investing, many HSA participants are simply using the accounts to save on their needs today. Valeria comes from a family full of past and current HSA users who leaned on these accounts specifically for spending to save on expenses such as copays and dentist appointments. Plus, she’ll share her experience growing up in a Spanish-speaking family and her role on our implementation team and what that means for HSA and benefits education.
HSA Day is October 15! Learn more about the benefits of an HSA.
ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. In the second episode of our two-part series, we take ESG reporting a level deeper by talking with two of our HR representatives who worked directly with our report. How were they involved? And why is this something every HR team should be thinking about?
Check out WEX’s ESG report here.
ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. In the second episode of our two-part series, we take ESG reporting a level deeper by talking with two of our HR representatives who worked directly with our report. How were they involved? And why is this something every HR team should be thinking about?
Check out WEX’s ESG report here.
ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. In the second episode of our two-part series, we take ESG reporting a level deeper by talking with two of our HR representatives who worked directly with our report. How were they involved? And why is this something every HR team should be thinking about?
Check out WEX’s ESG report here.
ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. What is ESG? And why is showing your ESG data externally important? In the first of a two-part series, we introduce why ESG has become such a business-critical topic in 2022.
Check out WEX’s ESG report here.
ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. What is ESG? And why is showing your ESG data externally important? In the first of a two-part series, we introduce why ESG has become such a business-critical topic in 2022.
Check out WEX’s ESG report here.
The tax law for VEBA has been around for nearly 100 years, but VEBA usage and popularity has evolved over time. Funded HRAs with a VEBA trust are a really popular benefit for unions and within the public sector. How well do you know VEBAs? Can they make a difference for those who depend on you? We’ll talk through the basics of VEBAs. Listen/watch to learn more, or check out our blog post.
The tax law for VEBA has been around for nearly 100 years, but VEBA usage and popularity has evolved over time. Funded HRAs with a VEBA trust are a really popular benefit for unions and within the public sector. How well do you know VEBAs? Can they make a difference for those who depend on you? We’ll talk through the basics of VEBAs. Listen/watch to learn more, or check out our blog post.
Benefits decision-making can be a daunting task for employees during open enrollment season. And our current inflation rates make these decisions even more important. What can HR leaders and employers do to ease some of this stress and make open enrollment a positive experience for employees? How can you prepare and educate your employees about the benefits you’re offering? We talk with Liz Hill, account executive at WEX, on ways you can improve your employee benefits experience this open enrollment season.
A pandemic. The Great Resignation. Flexible work arrangements. Employee wellness. The last two-plus years have increased the demand for talent acquisition and transformed what employees are looking for from their employers. What has changed? And how should you be changing your approach to hiring in today’s environment? We sit down with our global head of talent acquisition to discuss these issues and so much more.
Just because you participate in an HSA doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the savings potential of an FSA. Limited FSAs are eligible to be paired with HDHPs and HSAs. We chat with Mike Hagen on our sales team about his experience participating in a limited FSA. You may be surprised to learn how big of an expense his limited FSA was able to cover! Check out our blog post to learn more.
Last week, we shared the story of one family that leaned on their health savings account (HSA) when surprising expenses came up. Today, as part of our open enrollment series, we asked another WEXer to join us to talk about how he takes an investment-heavy approach with his HSA funds. You’ll be amazed by the results he’s experienced by investing his HSA funds over the long haul.
Open enrollment season is here for many of you. We kick off our open enrollment series this season with the first of two episodes taking a deeper look at health savings account (HSA) participation so you can better understand their capability. Today, you’ll hear how Jessica Shawn of the WEX human resources team and her husband, Brian, leaned on their HSA when surprising expenses emerged.
To learn more about the basics of an HSA, check out last season’s episode.
What are the trending topics our partners and their audiences care about in the world of employee benefits? Chris Byrd and our panelists share their insight and perspective on a wide range of trends surrounding employee wellness, market trends, and more! This episode was recorded live from WEX SPARK 2022 in Hollywood, Fla.
With hundreds of partners and hundreds of thousands of employers using WEX benefits technology, we have a large pool of data available to support our partners, employers, and participants as they make decisions that will keep them on the cutting edge of today’s employee benefits trends. So what is trending? We break down some of the most interesting trends we’re seeing to help you stay informed on how to support your employees. For more trends, go to our webpage at https://www.wexbenefitsyou.com/2022-wex-benefits-trends
Our "Build Your LSA Your Way" episode was one of the most popular episodes we've recorded this season. We take the lifestyle spending account (LSA) plan design conversation a step further in this webinar recording hosted by Benefits Buzz host Eric Piela. Our guests answer some common questions and share plan design examples to help you build an LSA that meets your employees' needs.
Everyone can make an impact. That’s at the heart of creating a purpose-driven workforce. And that’s one reason diversity and inclusion are so important in the workplace, because you can’t be your best unless everyone has a voice. We’ve invited WEX’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer onto Benefits Buzz so she can share her story with us.
Check out WEX's inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion report to learn more.
We’re not wired to be loyal to products or services, no matter how well they perform. We’re only capable of being loyal to people and to well-managed brands that successfully humanize their presence by creating emotional resonance with us. Imagine the value to your company when you create an experience that compels loyalty. And that applies to your customers and your employees. Ken Schmidt shares his experience building tattoo-worthy customer relationships during his time at Harley-Davidson. To learn more about Ken Schmidt, visit https://kenspeaks.com/.
The time is now to celebrate your employees. With so much change in how we work, where we work, and who we work for, developing an employee recognition program is vital to supporting and retaining employees. And when it comes from the top of the organization, even better! WEX Chair and CEO Melissa Smith is here to tell you about the impact reimagining employee recognition can have on your business or organization.
With employees leaving their jobs in record numbers, HR professionals are looking for ways to stay informed on their employees’ needs so they can better support them. One way they’re learning more is through people analytics. With this data, HR leaders can make informed decisions that lead to higher employer retention rates, reduced bias in the workplace, and improved employee wellbeing. Our own Melanie Tinto talks through her experience with people analytics, including the capabilities, learnings, and other considerations.
WEX’s Benefits Buzz podcast reached an important milestone, with over 25,000 views/listens of episodes all-time. Over the years, we’ve found new ways to reach you and brought on exciting guests, but our mission has remained the same. We wanted to share five big takeaways we’ve learned with our audience of HR professionals and benefits decision-makers.
Since the start of the pandemic, mental and behavioral health requests increased 100 percent. For the youngest employees, that increase was even higher. While the mental wellness need was always there, employers are increasingly taking notice. One specific area we’re seeing is simply removing the stigma around mental health and illnesses and making sure we all know how to talk about it.
That’s why we’ve invited Marna Canterbury, HealthPartners Senior Director of Community Health & Engagement and Joel Spoonheim, HealthPartners Senior Director of Worksite Health & Population Well-being, who help lead and support Make it OK, which is a community campaign to reduce stigma by increasing understanding and creating caring conversations about mental health and illnesses.
Visit www.makeitok.org for resources that can help you.
Putting out fires. Not enough time for strategy. Even less time to focus on the personal and professional growth of yourself and your team (if you manage one). These are real issues. And the churn of Zoom calls in the last couple years has only compounded the issue for many. We want to talk through time management and prioritizing growth with a real expert in Jones Loflin, who is an author, keynote speaker, and coach. For more on Loflin, go to jonesloflin.com.
The data is clear: In many ways, women have been more disproportionately affected by the pandemic than men. From February 2020 to January 2022, male workers regained all jobs they had lost due to the public health crisis, according to one analysis. However, 1.1 million women left the labor force during that span, accounting for 63 percent of all jobs lost.
And 42% of women and 35% of men have felt burned out in the last few months (up from 32% and 28% respectively, last year). So what is going on? What challenges are unique to women in the workplace? And what can we do to better support them? Elayne Fluker from the “Support is Sexy” podcast is here to share her insight on how to better support working women. Check out Elayne's work at elaynefluker.com.
Fluker's book: “Get Over ‘I Got It’”,
Fluker's podcast: “Support is Sexy”
Record-breaking job turnover has become a monthly headline. Fortunately for health savings account (HSA) participants, their HSAs stay with them even when they switch jobs. But now what are the options? We break down these options with an HSA when changing jobs. Or check out our blog post for more information.
Open enrollment might be the biggest moment on the benefits calendar year. How soon are you letting employees know it’s coming? And how can you get their attention early so they research now and save later? We talk with our own Steve Carroll, who will share his suggestions on building a year-round benefits communication plan to prepare for open enrollment.
You can learn about your workplace culture through exit interviews, but your active employees might provide even more valuable insight. WEX recently started conducting “stay interviews” to learn why employees keep working here. What was the motivation behind it? And how do they work? Chelsie Camp from our HR team joins us to provide you with potentially another way to collect employee feedback.
As employers explore new ways to support employee wellness, lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs) are a trendy benefit and a versatile way to show employees you care. LSAs are completely customizable by employers. With so many options, where do you begin? Arika Palloch on our sales team is here to talk through her experience in designing an LSA that’s a perfect fit for each employer. Get five ideas on how to better support employees' wellness needs. Download your free guide today!
Did you know that more than half of Americans do not have enough savings to cover an unplanned expense of $1,000? While HSA funds can be invested, the vast majority of participants need these accounts to save on today’s expenses. One of our subject-matter experts on HSAs shares his insight on HSA messaging so employers can better connect the perks of these accounts with how participants typically use them.
Most employers are a couple months into their new plan years. Are your employees engaging with their accounts? Do they even know how best to get started? We’re opening Season 5 of our Benefits Buzz podcast with one of our resident experts, who will give you some tips on supporting participants just getting started in a new plan year.
Check out our blog post for more tips!
Bonus episode! Hybrid and work-from-home opportunities have combined with the Great Resignation to make recruiting and retention a greater challenge for human resource teams than possibly ever before. We assembled a panel of experts to talk about this challenge and what they are doing during this unique time in HR. For more from HSA Day, go to https://www.wexbenefitsyou.com/hsaday/
There’s a common story in HR. You wear a lot of hats and those hats come with a lot of questions. Recruiter, therapist, referee, party planner, and benefits guru. Need we say more?
Education is your ticket to fewer emails, IMs, and knocks at your door. The more employees understand their benefits, the more quiet time for you. HSA Day is a day to learn. Let’s change the HR story.
Get everything you need for HSA Day at https://www.wexbenefitsyou.com/hsaday/
From mental health awareness to COVID risks to decreased medical costs, there’s value in you incentivizing employee wellness. What wellness initiatives should you focus on? And what are your incentive options? Jim Miller of KrowdFit talks to our hosts about his extensive experience with wellness incentives.
This is a time of change for employee benefits. Mental health is getting much-needed attention. And with more employees working from home, inside-the-office games and events are no longer appealing. Employers are needing more flexibility in how they address benefits and employee wellness. Lifestyle spending accounts and wellness HRAs are two options employers can turn to. But which is the right one for you? We’ll break down these two accounts.
Innovation can come from anywhere! That’s why it’s important all of your employees are engaged and feel like they have a voice in what your business is doing to provide the best products and services for its customers. We’ve brought on a pair of guests to discuss the inspiration behind our innovation challenge and provide just one example of how that challenge has made a difference for our partners, clients, and participants.
Check out our video to learn more about EOB smart scan.
There are hundreds of expenses that are eligible for your HSA and FSA funds. And what is eligible may surprise you! We quiz our guests to educate them and educate you on some of the surprise eligible expenses for an HSA and FSA. Check out our complete eligible expense list for HSAs, FSAs, and more.
Two-fifths of workers say they are more likely to than they were a year ago to consider a new job that offers better benefits. The benefits employers offer their employees are as important as ever. But how do you know they are meeting your employees’ needs? One way is with data. We’ll chat analytics 101: What data is commonly available and what you should look for to boost your recruiting and retention effort?
In the midst of the Great Resignation and with recruiting/retention efforts at a premium, the lifestyle spending account (LSA) is one way employers can differentiate their benefits package. Learn how one client has leaned on LSAs for years to improve their recruiting and retention.
The last 18 months have been unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. For our human resources listeners, it’s required you to be nimble and flexible in responding to dramatic changes to your employees’ needs. But with more changes this year as employees return to the office and with employment demand seemingly outweighing supply in many industries, this could be your most open enrollment period ever. Why? Find out in this episode of Benefits Buzz.
You’ve probably been here before … an employee asks you, “When is our open enrollment?” or “Is our office closed to celebrate the upcoming holiday?” even though your HR team has already sent multiple emails to employees with these answers. How can you better get your employees’ attention when communicating important information? Two of our communication experts share their advice.
Human resources professionals are responsible for a wide variety of tasks. However, when it comes to employee benefits, there are ways to reduce the HR workload. Learn the value of integrations with three specific examples of how you can cut down your to-do list with improved technology.
Health savings accounts (HSAs) give you three ways to save on your healthcare costs today. But did you know they also have long-term perks that rival a 401(k) and IRA? Those are just a few of the reasons why the number of HSAs has doubled in the last five years. Learn more about how you can benefit from participating in an HSA. Shop HSA Store using the promo code "WEXPOD10" for $10 off a $100 purchase at www.HSAstore.com.
If you spend your hard-earned dollars on eligible mass transit or parking work-related costs, then commuter benefits can help you save. We walk through the basics of these pre-tax plans so you can learn more about the potential savings.
It’s open enrollment time for most employees. That means this is your best opportunity to save money on your healthcare costs by contributing pre-tax dollars to a variety of benefits options. If you’ve been offered a medical flexible spending account (FSA), we’ll share a few of the reasons a medical FSA could be right for you. Shop FSA Store using the promo code "WEXPOD10" for $10 off a $100 purchase at www.FSAstore.com.
Do you have childcare expenses or care for a disabled loved one? If so, you may be able to save money by participating in a dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) if your employer offers one. Learn the basics of a dependent care FSA, so you can learn how to save money on your dependent care costs.
Check out our blog post to learn more.
A culture rooted in equality is vital to making sure your business reaches its full potential. It’s no surprise that companies with higher gender diversity in their executive team are more likely to experience above-average profits. But historically, women have experienced unique challenges in climbing the corporate ladder. For example, only 7.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.
Our chair and CEO Melissa Smith sits down to share her journey, what she’s learned along the way, and her suggestions for what companies can do to promote gender equality.
Millennials are nowthe largest generationof employees in the American workforce, but their Gen Xers and Baby Boomers aren’t far behind. And they will be central to developing self-sustaining and consistent leadership throughout the life of your business. That’s succession planning. We chat with Bethany Berkeley about how to effectively cultivate a leadership lifecycle across generations of employees.
Author. Accomplished swimmer. Motivational speaker. Diana Nyad has been in the national spotlight for nearly 50 years. Her accomplishments in the water are unparalleled: swimming around the island of Manhattan or going from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. But her journey toward these feats was met with all sorts of challenges. Prepare to be inspired by the one and only Diana Nyad!
Creatinga purpose-driven culture where every employee has a voice and feels comfortable being a leader is a key component to short-term and long-term buy-in of your business’ goals and objectives. Does your business encourage leading from any seat? We talk about what to look for, what the benefits are, and what you can do to develop a lead-from-any-seat culture.
Crucial conversations are just that … crucial. Your ability to have important, results-based conversations with employees help promote employee growth and lead to business success. The way you go about crucial conversations matters. We chat with an industry expert to give you tips on how to hold crucial conversations that will make a difference for your business and your employees.
Check out Barbara Hauser's work at VitalSmarts.com and subscribe to the Crucial Skills newsletter.
Many employers, and specifically HR teams, whose employees pivoted to work-from-home during the pandemic are facing a tough question soon: Should our employees return to the office? When is the right time? What does our company culture look like if they don’t return? Our Chief HR Officer Melanie Tinto shares her thought processes and experiences in facing the same questions.
In the middle of last year, tens of millions of Americans were working from home to stay socially distant. This was a stark change for many, which led to potential mental health issues emerging. Now, with more employers bringing employees back to the office, a return to the daily grind also presents some mental health issues. We have a couple experts with us to talk about the current state of mental health in the workplace.
Our guest Trevor Wilkerson says you should watch for the following symptoms from your colleagues:
- Showing up late and/or not at all
- Uncharacteristic mistakes
- Problems learning new tasks or following through with work
- Decreased productivity
- Lack of initiative
- Poor relationships with co-workers or customers
- New onset of irritability
- Accidents and/or injuries
- Complaints from other workers
- Erratic work performance
Companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft are incorporating some sort of work-from-home model permanently for some or all of their employees. They’re not alone. Due to this, the world of HR recruiting and retention will dramatically change. Many employers will no longer be confined to an office’s location in recruiting talent. But there are challenges too. We chat with our own Kurtis Karn to discuss this timely topic.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows workers who have been involuntarily terminated or experienced a reduction in hours to continue their employer health insurance coverage under COBRA with a 100 percent subsidy. This has led to increased interest in COBRA and compliance. We chat with an expert on some questions we fielded from employers at a recent webinar.
We answer even more of your COBRA ARPA questions on our blog: https://www.wexinc.com/insights/blogs/health/
Learn more about Benefit Comply on their website: https://benefitcomply.com/
Questions our guest provides his thoughts on:
- 2:10 - Can you break down a few key points of what employers need to know about ARPA?
- 4:35 - How will employers be reimbursed for the COBRA subsidies by the federal government?
- 5:57 - What happens if a participant elects coverage but has access to group health coverage? Who is at fault?
- 7:49 - What are the rules around attestation within ARPA? Is attestation required by ARPA?
- 9:40 - What happens at the end of the subsidy period? Can someone continue on COBRA? Are there other options available to them?
- 12:30 - Does the COBRA subsidy apply to the extended COBRA periods, such as for disability?
- 14:13 - If an employee refuses to return to work after being furloughed, is that a voluntary or involuntary termination?
- 16:50 - What happens if a member terminates and is rehired by another company and terminates from that company as well. If they are both involuntary terminations, who is responsible for providing subsidized COBRA coverage?
- 18:13 - What guidance would you give on what plans to offer when the original plans are no longer available?
- 20:01 - Are members eligible for ARPA under a state continuation?
The way we collaborate and converse with our co-workers has evolved considerably in the last year. What has changed? What have we learned? And what does it mean going forward? Today’s guest, Whitney Johnson, has written a lot about the importance of listening and learning for today’s leaders. She joins us to discuss what she’s learned over the last year about how we communicate and what our leaders can take from it.
Get more from Whitney at: https://whitneyjohnson.com/
Does it feel like you are addressing the same team performance issues over and over again, no matter what you try? The issues, and the solutions don’t work, can be costly. Fortunately, there’s a way you can identify, diagnose, and address these issues for good.
Open enrollment took on a new, virtual format for many in 2020 due to work-from-home setups and the need to socially distance. Of those who conducted a virtual open enrollment, 85 percent said they will continue to do so in future years. Why did so many employers prefer virtual open enrollment? And what can you do to re-make yours in 2021? We share one employer's virtual fair success story
The 401(k) and IRA have long been staples of retirement planning. But health savings accounts (HSAs) are as good or better than these accounts when preparing for your retirement years. Don’t believe us? We’ll show you how.
Get your free white paper to learn how you can support your employees' retirement-planning needs with an HSA.
2021 could be a big year for high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and health savings account (HSA) enrollment. Employees who are new to HDHPs might be surprised that the deductible isn’t as big of a leap as they would expect. And HSAs are often confused with FSAs, even though HSAs have a number of key advantages over an FSA.
To learn more about HSAs and retirement, get your free white paper.
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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law by President Biden on Thursday, March 11. For those of you who offer COBRA and dependent care FSAs, there were some pretty big changes. Fortunately, we have two big names at WEX to help us break down what this law means for COBRA and dependent care FSAs.
Check out our blog post to learn more: https://www.wexinc.com/insights/blog/health/cobra/cobra-subsidies-covid-relief-bill/
The U.S. presidency and both houses of Congress have taken on a new, blue look since the 2018 mid-terms, with Democrats first taking the House of Representatives in 2018, then winning the presidency and control of the Senate in 2020. What does this mean for the future of healthcare and HSAs? Chris Byrd, our executive vice president for the health division of WEX, joins us as we kick off Season 4 of our Benefits Buzz podcast.
A pandemic, social unrest, and a recession ... this year's election is at the forefront of voters' minds for a variety of reasons. In our final episode of Season 3, we focus on the impact this election could have on healthcare and employee benefits.
Our annual consumer research survey yielded interesting results, as the COVID-19 pandemic has re-shaped employee benefits engagement. HSAs were at the center of it all. We break down our research, reveal four HSA consumer groups, and help you understand how to drive engagement.
These are disruptive times! That makes disruption and disrupting yourself more important than ever. We chat with leading business thinker, podcast host and author Whitney Johnson to discuss the value of managing disruption and growing yourself and your business in times of uncertainty.
To learn more about Whitney Johnson and what books are available, go to: https://whitneyjohnson.com/books/
One of the healthcare conversations on Capitol Hill centers around the decoupling of health savings accounts (HSAs) from their high-deductible health plan (HDHP) requirement. Will it happen? And if so, when? And what would that mean for HSAs? We break it all down in this episode of Benefits Buzz.
Studies show that while most of us think we're self-aware only 10-15% of us really are. Are you? And why is it important? Tasha Eurich, who is an organizational psychologist and popular speaker, tells us why self-awareness can have such a transformative impact on business and so much more!
Take Tasha's quiz at: https://www.insight-book.com/Quiz
And, you can sign up for her Future Ready Leader Course (and receive a 25% discount) at: https://thefuturereadyleader.com/friends
Every second counts during the work day, especially for the always multi-tasking HR team. Integrating commonly used HR platforms helps save them time and preserve data accuracy. We chat with two of our in-house experts on integrations to talk about what integrations are, how they benefit you, and what to look for.
Social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the way that volunteers and charities work together to support their communities. We sit down with two of the leaders of our community to discuss what's changed, what hasn't and what you can do to give back during these times.
You can support by going to: https://www.unitedway.org/ http://www.unitedwaycassclay.org/
You were introduced to ICHRAs on a previous Benefits Buzz episode. In this episode, we go in-depth on this new benefits offering to help you get the WIIFM (what's in it for me) on ICHRAs. This type of HRA has a number of perks for employers and employees, which is why their availability is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years.
What if in-person isn't the best way to do open enrollment? Many employers are hosting virtual open enrollments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And this may be the best approach, both now and going forward. We chat with two of our resident OE experts to share tips and insights on what it takes to pull off a successful virtual OE.
So much has changed in human resources since the COVID-19 pandemic began. HR teams have had to pivot. And quickly. With no experience or expertise on how to manage a pandemic. We're talking to two HR leaders who will share their wins and their losses this year to help us all learn from the mistakes and mimic the successes.
The benefits needs of employers and employees have changed quickly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode of Benefits Buzz, we share some solutions employers can use to help employees during this time.
Check out our COVID-19 resource page at: https://go.discoverybenefits.com/covid-19
What are funshops? And what is gleadership? And how can you help employees get more out of your development efforts? We have a fun, insightful conversation with two fun, insightful guests: Kurtis Karn and Nicole Turchin from Sunshine & 79.
Visit the Sunshine & 79 website at https://www.sunshineand79.com/
Recovery supportive workplaces are so important, because they show your employees you care and you're there for them. And they also make business sense too. The First Lady of North Dakota Kathryn Burgum joins us to talk about her experience with addiction and what you can do to support addiction recovery at your business.
For more on Recovery Reinvented, go to:
https://recoveryreinvented.com/
Flexible work arrangements, such as the ability to work from home, were becoming more common, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode of Benefits Buzz, we talk with two members of our HR team about how these arrangements can actually help boost your company culture and the best ways to implement them.
Are you looking for a simple way to help your employees, while also boosting your recruiting and retention efforts? Lifestyle Spending Accounts are the perfect offering for you! We take a deeper look at LSAs and our solution for this increasing popular plan.
To learn more about LSAs, listen to our introductory episode last season.
2020 could prove to be a pivotal year for your health plans and employee benefits offerings. That's why we invited WEX Health Executive Vice President Chris Byrd to share his unique insight into what this election year could mean for healthcare.
In our second episode of a two-part series on the value of Health Savings Accounts, we examine how HSAs compare with Flexible Spending Accounts and share some traits about HSAs and High-Deductible Health Plans that are often misunderstood. For more on HSAs, check out our product page.
Health Savings Accounts are typically used as a way to save in the short-term on eligible expenses. However, we're increasingly seeing them used as a retirement-planning tool, since funds can be invested and roll over from year to year. In this episode (the first of a two-part series), we compare an HSA with a 401(k). For more on HSAs, check out our product page.
You are required to perform non-discrimination testing for a number of popular benefits plans, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). In this episode, we talk with a benefits attorney about the importance of testing your plans.
We kick off Season 2 by focusing on the value of offering your employees a creative benefits package. Listen to this episode for valuable insight on how to get creative with your employee benefits and to learn examples that will set your business apart in recruiting.
We wrap up Open Enrollment month on Benefits Buzz. In this episode, we discuss how Commuter Benefits work and how they can improve the lives of your employees and enhance your benefits offering.
In our third episode for Open Enrollment month, we discuss the benefits you and your employees experience when offering a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Open Enrollment month continues! In this episode, we discuss the benefits of offering Health Savings Accounts to your employees.
With Open Enrollment time just around the corner, we're kicking off a month of related episodes! First up, we discuss effective strategies and ideas for how to better communicate about your employee benefits offerings.
There are a couple of new Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) on the horizon. We take a deep dive into these new options and this benefit as a whole!
HRA Comparison - www.DiscoveryBenefits.com/HRA-comparison
With all of the confusing acronyms and stress of finances related to healthcare, where can someone get actionable information on this topic? We dive into "Paying for Healthcare in America," a recent study published by WEX Inc. and talk insights and findings from the report.
When it comes to data security, what steps should organizations and individuals take to protect themselves? We talk about various ways to keep your data safe in a hyper-connected world. National Institute of Security & Technology - www.nist.gov Department of Homeland Security - www.dhs.gov Krebs on Security - www.krebsonsecurity.com MITRE ATT&CK - www.attack.mitre.org
What can your company do to empower your Sales team each and every day? We talk about the support that a viable Sales team needs at any company!
The Power of a Positive Team by Jon Gordon - www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-Team-Principles-Practices/dp/1119430240/
Harvard Business Review - www.hbr.org
HireVue - www.hirevue.com
Airtable - www.airtable.com
We take a deep dive into Lifestyle Spending Accounts, including what they are, why you should offer them and why employees love them!
We cover tips and tricks for attracting and retaining top tier talent, with Katie Schultz and Jesika Jorgenson from our HR team!
HR on Purpose by Steve Browne - www.amazon.com/HR-Purpose-Developing-Deliberate-Passion-ebook/dp/B071WMPVLB/
The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller - www.amazon.com/QBQ-Question-Behind-Practicing-Accountability-ebook/dp/B000OIZUQW/
We chat with Discovery Benefits President John Biwer about how to develop and maintain a healthy workplace culture and his passion for servant leadership.
The 360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell - www.amazon.com/360-Degree-Leader-Developing-Organization/dp/1400203597
The Servant Leader by Ken Blanchard - www.amazon.com/Servant-Leader-Ken-Blanchard/dp/0849996597
We are excited to announce our brand new podcast, Benefits Buzz!
Hosts Kelsey Burgad and Tucker Lucas sit down every week with an expert guest, with topics ranging from employee benefits to business, leadership, administration, recruitment and retention, healthcare, company culture and so much more!
New episodes every Monday!
www.DiscoveryBenefits.com