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HR Leaders Need Immediate Focus on Mental Health Benefits

"Companies can support employees with mental health benefits, including education and training about how employees can access these benefits. HR professionals must be intentional in this training and measure results in employee knowledge and engagement in this area, as the following survey results show a bleak picture."

Why Should HR Consider Outsourcing Employee Benefits Administration?

"Outsourcing to multiple vendors allows HR managers to look for the best point solutions to address specific needs for their organization, such as a benefits administration platform. These point solutions are often the provider's core focus, which usually results in a higher level of innovation compared with the 'we can do it all' HR offerings. Integration across vendor platforms is often seamless and allows systems to work together, given the rapid pace of innovation in HR technology, application programming interfaces (APIs), and SaaS-based solutions."

How HR Leaders Can Support Parents of Children with Autism

"HR leaders should recognize that a diagnosis of ASD may require greater utilization of health benefits for treatment.... [and should] ensure that benefits packages cover essential therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) -- a gold standard treatment for autism.... Telecommuting, flex hours, and part-time work options can give parents the free hand they need to be there for their children.... Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer a lifeline for parents ... providing much-needed support and guidance when the weight of it all feels too heavy to bear."

What HR Professionals Need Know to Prevent Employee Healthcare Data from Ending Up Overseas

"HR professionals must prioritize various areas to adhere to best practices for protecting employee data effectively. This includes being vigilant about compliance risks, as transferring healthcare data overseas ... could result in substantial fines and damage to reputation. Moreover, storing healthcare data on servers outside the U.S. might increase security risks, potentially exposing sensitive employee information."

How HR Teams Can Revamp PTO Policies to Meet Employees' Financial Needs

"Financial anxiety among employees has become a major driver of workplace stress and poor performance, which will continue to be the case in 2024. Companies have all the resources they need to address this anxiety, improving employees' well-being and ensuring they're fully engaged at work."

The Role of HR Technology in Controlling the Cost of Health Plans

"Tools that used to be optional in the open enrollment process are quickly becoming mandatory. These include simple Web integrations like plan documents, [ACA] disclosures, and provider directories, as well as more detailed analyses like plan comparison and cost projection tools. A simple 'pop-up' glossary of terms is almost essential now if an employer is including innovative new plan options in its healthcare choices. Here are comparative examples."

How HR Professionals Can Help Employees Choose the Right Health Plan

"[1] Have a defined communication plan based on your employee population. [2] Work collaboratively with your benefits consultant because... the process of picking and choosing a benefits plan that is both cost effective and high quality has become an incredibly specialized field. [3] Start the conversation early about health plan choices and how to evaluate plans. [4] Help employees make the right decision for their situation by offering dedicated one-on-one and group time, either virtually or in person, for employees to ask questions. [5] Provide education year-round about how to not only select plans but also best utilize the plan chosen."

Managing Healthcare Benefits Cost Remains Top Priority for HR Professionals

"[W]hile two-thirds of respondents say one of their 2018 goals is to better manage health benefits costs, 49% do not plan to implement any new cost management programs in the next 12 to 18 months. What's more, 54% believe they have done all they can reasonably do to control rising medical costs."

Why 2025 Will Be a Pivotal Year for Benefits

"Benefits should encompass the whole person -- including family. They should help employees strike the right balance between their professional and personal lives, and they should provide the flexibility necessary to meet the needs of diverse workforces. In 2025, the most successful HR teams will take greater responsibility for employees' well-being. This means offering customized benefits that will help them take care of their physical and mental health, improve their financial circumstances, and plan for the future."

How Employers Negate Their FMLA Rights

"[1] 'If the employee doesn't request FMLA, then we don't have an FMLA issue.' ... [2] 'The employee doesn't want to use FMLA,' often paired with, 'The employee has enough paid leave accumulated for the planned absence.' ... [3] 'I don't have to run workers' compensation absences through FMLA.' ... [4] 'If an employee isn't able to return to work at their prior position without restrictions at the expiration of FMLA, we're ok to terminate employment.' "