Search the News Archive

A Review of the Most Influential Trends in Workforce Management in the Coming Year

Excerpt: Reining in health care costs, dealing with new legal compliance issues, fighting the war for talent--employers, and their HR departments, need to keep up with the latest trends in workforce management.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Assessing Fiscal Risks and Improving Workforce Management

"[T]he amount WMATA was required to contribute to its pension plans increased by an annual average of about 19 percent during [2006 through 2017]. Due to their relative size, proportion of retirees compared to active members, and investment decisions, these pension plans pose significant risk to WMATA's financial operations ... to an extent that might jeopardize its ability to provide some transit service." [GAO-18-643, Sept. 10, 2018]

Employers Should Focus on Potential Impact of ACA on Workforce Disability and Absence Management

"[E]mployers and carriers are far more likely to believe that the incidence of long-term absences will increase. Further, more believe the duration of absences will increase as a result of increased waiting times for access to care than decrease as a result of more timely treatment of conditions. There is more uncertainty about how the ACA will impact the number of disability claims, although those who feel knowledgeable enough to predict what will happen are more likely to believe the number of claims will rise due to employees no longer fearing a loss of health care coverage from a long-term absence ... Forty-two percent believe that the ability of employees to see a physician for routine care in a timely manner will get worse, while only 21 percent believe it will improve."

Government Announces $80 Million in Grants to Develop Health Care Information Technology Workforce

Excerpt: The grants will go to five consortia comprising 70 community colleges nationwide and will create six-month nondegree programs to train 10,000 workers a year to help set up and maintain electronic health record systems.

Federal Study Concludes Health Insurance Reform Could Create Workforce Instability

"Making health insurance less dependent on employment could induce workers to retire earlier or change jobs more often, says a new report analyzing the implications of various health care reforms. In its 196-page study published this month, the Congressional Budget Office analyzed the possible effects that health policy proposals might have on the federal budget, the economy, spending on health care and the number of people with health insurance. The report also attempted to predict how employers might respond to certain changes in health care policy."

New Japanese Law Requires Employers to Combat Obesity in the Workforce

Excerpt: A new Japanese law requiring employers to combat obesity in the workforce or face fines will not lead to punitive measures against overweight employees in America, Japanese firms say. The law that went into effect April 1 forces companies and government, the two sources of health insurance in Japan, to measure the body fat of employees between the ages of 40 and 74.

Richard Branson on His Plans for a Healthier Workforce

Excerpt: The Virgin Group founder and chairman took his global brand into the U.S. health care market in 2006 when he launched Virgin Life Care, which offers programs for employers to give incentives -- free movie tickets, music, clothing -- to employees who live healthy lifestyles.

Post-Retirement Money Management

Excerpt: 401(k) plan sponsors are going beyond just helping employees save enough for retirement. They're also helping employees who are about to retire figure out how to manage their income when their working days are over.

How Benefits Data Helps With Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

"Developing a customized benefits strategy for middle market, self-funded employers is less of a challenge than it once was due to improvements in benefits data management and analysis of utilization trends. Data can be used to inform everything from network adequacy to wellness program return on investment. Data also can help inform benefit plan design and communication that will appeal to distinct employee segments."

Diabetes Disease Management Pilot Program Yields Big Cost Savings

Excerpt: A diabetes disease management program conducted by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation is being made available to employers nationwide as a result of a series of successful tests. The program, the Diabetes Ten City Challenge, has yielded substantial savings for employers even after they've waived co-payments for participants and paid for individual counseling. Patients also saved money and improved in several key clinical areas associated with the condition, officials said.