Just about everyone in the country is wondering how the passage of the health reform bill by Congress will affect him or her. According to Kaiser Health News, this historic legislation could “have an effect on almost every citizen.” People, even those who are unemployed, will be able to get medical care. But professionals who […]
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A Look at Healthcare Reform's Impact on Employers
A Look at Healthcare Reform’s Impact on Employers On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, this legislation will make significant changes to our current health care system. The Act adds new responsibilities for employers and […]
Benefits Communication and Education Grow in Importance
Employees who receive quality benefits education are more likely to feel valued by their employer and have a positive perception of their company. They also say they’d tend to stay with their current employer, even if offered a position with similar pay and benefits elsewhere. This testament to the importance of benefits communications comes from […]
Communications Are Most Important Factor in Generating Satisfaction with Benefits
Effective communications can have as much impact on employees’ satisfaction with their benefits as the actual benefits offered or the amount of money a company puts into a benefits plan. This finding, from a study by the Prudential Insurance Company, illustrates one way for companies to contribute toward positive employee morale, even when economic factors […]
Use Communications to Involve Employees in Health Plan Spending Control
Implementing cost-sharing increases or cutting benefits in an effort to bring health plan costs under control can be unpleasant tasks for employers, with concerns about how the news will impact employee productivity and morale. The better employees understand the reasons such plan changes are necessary, however, the lesser the chance that the changes will have […]
Benefits to Consider as the Work Force Ages
If you thought you looked a little older this morning as you got ready for work, you’re not alone. According to a 2008 Business & Education Resources Study examining shifting workplace demographics, the percentage of employees who are 40+ has increased year after year. In 1990, 40% of the workplace fell into this distinguished category. […]
Making Your Voluntary Benefits Program a Success
Both employers and employees have much to gain from a solid voluntary benefits program. For employees, being able to enroll in an insurance product through a workplace voluntary benefits program offers them the advantage of group pricing, the convenience of paying through payroll deduction, and perhaps access to insurance that would be difficult to get […]
Perceived Value of Benefits Is More Crucial Than You Know
In the U.S. today, employee benefits constitute a significant portion of an employee's total compensation. Although past studies revealed that many employees did not fully understand the value of their benefits packages, a 2008 MetLife Employee Benefits Survey showed that more workers are paying extra attention to the value of benefits. The study revealed an […]
Strategies to use to get Creative with Benefits
In an economic downturn, companies can struggle to maintain their existing employee benefits programs, much less think about adding new ones. In times like these, low- and no-cost measures can help a company to keep its benefits programs vibrant and evolving to meet employee needs. Here are some such measures to consider: A recession may […]