More Employers Offering Wellness, Mental Health Chatbots
As a record amount of U.S. workers struggle with mental health issues and stress, more employers are offering new chatbot apps to help them. A survey this past summer of 457 employers by Willis Towers Watson found that 24% of them
EEOC Proposes New Workplace Anti-Harassment Guidance
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued proposed language to update its guidance on harassment in the workplace.The proposed guidance "reflects notable changes in law, including the Supreme Court's 2020 decision in Bostock vs. Clayton County (which held that LGBTQ individuals
Family Coverage Costs Hit Small-Business Workers Hardest: Study
A new study has found that most employer-sponsored family health plans are increasingly unaffordable for workers due to rising costs and them footing a significant part of the premium, even with employer assistance. Workers at smaller firms, defined as those with
Employers Wrestling with Covering Weight-Loss Drugs
The explosion in demand for new, costly and highly effective weight-loss and diabetes drugs is poised to play an outsized role in increasing the cost of health care, and in turn, health insurance in America. These groundbreaking drugs — the most
Flexible Spending Account Contribution Limit Climbs
The IRS recently announced that the annual contribution limit for flexible spending accounts will rise to $3,200 in 2024, up $150 from this year. Also, employees will be able to carry over up to $640 next year into 2025 if they
American Workers Are Burned Out; Employers Can Help
American employers are trying to meet their workers' mental health needs as they struggle with burnout and stress from their jobs and finances, according to a new report. The annual "Aflac WorkForces Report" found that more than 50% of American
EEOC Ramping Up Workplace Anti-Discrimination Efforts
Employers should brace for increased enforcement by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after it received a budget boost and has a new board member, breaking a deadlock that's been going on for nearly a year. Here's the latest EEOC news
More Employers Offering Deductible-Free Plans
As more Americans struggle with medical costs and rising out-of-pocket expenses, more employers are starting to offer deductible-free plans, according to a new report.Mercer's "2023-2024 Inside Employees' Minds" survey results jibe with other reports that some insurers' fastest growing group
Chronic Conditions Driving Health Care Costs
A new report has found that the top driver of health care costs in the U.S. is chronic conditions, emphasizing the role that employers can assume in helping their employees better maintain these ailments. Chronic diseases are a major strain on
Open Enrollment: Help Younger Workers Understand Their Coverage
A new study's findings that many workers have a poor understanding of their employer-sponsored health insurance benefits, presents an opportunity for businesses to extend targeted support to staff during open enrollment.The "2023 Optavise Healthcare Literacy Survey" found that 32% of employees are