Talking Benefits

Anne and Julie discuss the complicated process of how a bill becomes a law.

This week, Justin chats with special guest Ryan Picarella, Executive Director of the Wellness Alliance, about wellness in the workplace.

This week, we focus on this years theme for National Employee Benefits Day, which is future-ready financial education. We're diving into the financial stress and mental health of workers. Visit www.ifebp.org/benefitsday for more information.

This episode is an audio read of a Word on Benefits blog post. Read the post here: https://blog.ifebp.org/building-resilience-how-to-prepare-your-organization-for-disasters/ To find more resources, including a template of a disaster recovery policy and sample documents, visit the Benefits Knowledge Center: https://www.ifebp.org/resources---news/benefits-knowledge-center

What do tiny houses have to do with your staff? A lot, as it turns out. Well, kind of. Host Stacy talks with International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans VP of Talent, Andie Gebert, on her advice and insights for how employers can navigate communications, policies and more for employees spanning four, sometimes five generations, all with different sets of values.

This week, we are joined by special guest Jason Sheffield, the National Director of Compliance at The Baldwin Group, Inc. Join us as we discuss best practices in cybersecurity and updates on recent events.

Did you know there are at least 40 potential areas of employee benefit plan regulations and legislation to watch in 2025 and beyond? In this episode we discuss the things employee benefits professionals should have on their radar in this new presidential administration. Read our colleague, Jenny Gartman's wonderful blog at www.ifebp.org/blog Watch the webcast we discuss at www.ifebp.org/webcasts

In this last episode of the year we're recapping all the big benefits news from 2024.

We talk with Vikki Walton, a leader of health equity on how employers can decrease disparities among their employees' and improve the health of employees and their families with benefit offerings and workplace culture.

On this episode, we revisit the topic of mental health initiatives, in honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10th. Catch our Mental Health in the Workplace Virtual Conference on October 9th! Learn more at https://www.ifebp.org/education---events/virtual-education-and-webcasts/virtual-conferences---workshops/mental-health-in-the-workplace-virtual-conference/home

On this Benefits Bonus episode, we take a look at the results of our 2024 Employee Benefits Survey and see how the industry of employee benefits is changing.

This episode we chat about ERISA and its many impacts then, now and in the future.

This month, we focus on the state of GLP-1 drug coverage, and how it is effecting the benefits community.

We talk all things women health and well-being with Dr. Lana Saal – how women's health issues impact the workforce, why employers should care and how they can help. Dr. Saal gives us the details on how new benefits or simple tweaks to your existing benefit plan can make a huge positive impact on the lives of your staff, your workplace culture and your organization's productivity.

On this episode, we discuss the recent regulatory releases out of Washington D.C. and what they mean for the health benefits industry.

This month the Pod Squad discusses the trends we're seeing in employer financial education benefits and how educating employees on their personal finances can better your organization. Find all of the International Foundation resources and tools Anne and Julie discussed here: http://www.ifebp.org/retirementsecurity

This week, we focus on this years theme for National Employee Benefits Day, which is addressing loneliness in the workplace and what employers can do to help. Visit www.ifebp.org/benefitsday for more information about the best day of the year!

We dive into the many options and why employers may want to consider offering benefits for family-forming services like IFV, egg harvesting, egg and sperm freezing, surrogacy, etc.

Artificial Intelligence seems to be taking the world by storm, but can it be applied to employee benefits? We dive into how this new technology can help benefits professionals and when they should be cautious. This episode is an audio read of a Word on Benefits blog post. Read the post here: https://blog.ifebp.org/three-ways-to-use-ai-in-employee-benefits/

In what has become a Talking Benefits tradition, we're recapping all the big benefits news from 2023 in this last episode of the year. Here are links to all of the International Foundation content we mention in this episode: 2022 Employee Benefits Survey results https://ifebp.org/store/employee-benefits-survey/Pages/default.aspx Workplace Mental Health Toolkit http://www.ifebp.org/mentalhealth Webcast on menopause benefits https://www.ifebp.org/education/webcasts/Pages/webcast-ind.aspx?wcode=23T34&wname=the-next-stage-level-up-by-adding-menopause-benefits-as-a-creative-solution-to-positively-impact-your-organization Blog post on Surrogacy Reimbursement programs http://blog.ifebp.org/inclusive-family-forming-benefits-surrogacy-reimbursement-programs/ Blog post on addressing mental health in the workplace https://blog.ifebp.org/six-steps-to-addressing-mental-health-in-the-workplace/

Talking Benefits producer, Stacy Van Alstyne, shares her recent Word on Benefits blog post on the best practices in addressing mental health in the workplace. You can read Stacy's blog post here: https://blog.ifebp.org/six-steps-to-addressing-mental-health-in-the-workplace/ The International Foundation's Word on Benefits blog has many other great posts on a bevy of benefits topics: https://blog.ifebp.org/ Check out the Mental Health Survey Stacy mentioned in this episode. https://www.ifebp.org/store/Pages/Mental-Health-Survey-2021.aspx International Foundation members get free access to this and dozens more of the Foundation's research reports. Explore membership here: https://www.ifebp.org/Membership/Benefits/Pages/default.aspx

Caregiving, whether it be for children or older relatives, can impact employees' retirement security long into their golden years. In this episode, we talk with Craig Copeland, Ph.D. from the Employee Benefit Research Institute on how caregiving affects employees, who it affects, how it affects the broader economy and how employers can help.

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool, is making headlines. But, does it have any place in the employee benefits industry? We talked to some human experts to find out. Read Kathy's post and many other great blog posts on the International Foundation's Word on Benefits Blog: https://blog.ifebp.org/

More and more states are stepping up to fill the savings gap for individuals who don't have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. In this episode we talk to Christine Cheng, Director of the Illinois SECURE CHOICE program on how Illinois employers fit into the program, and Kim Olson, Senior Officer on the Retirement Savings Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts on what the data tells us about these types of programs.

Employee Benefits are an important part of life in any galaxy. In what has become a sort of Talking Benefits tradition, we're celebrating Star Wars Day with an imagining of the inner workings of benefits administration in a galaxy far, far away. As it turns out, it can be a bit tricky when your participants are separated by several light years or frozen in carbonite. This bonus episode is a reading of a Word on Benefits blog post. You can read it and many other great benefits blog posts here: https://blog.ifebp.org/

In this episode we're talking financial well-being with two staffers from the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on how your employees' finances can impact your organization and how employers can help their employees become more financially secure. Check out the CFPB resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/financial-well-being-resources/ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/financial-well-being/ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/financial-well-being-resources/measure-and-score/

Could education benefits help your organization recruit and retain talent? In this episode we'll school you on the various options available to employers in this area. (see what we did there?) Check out the items mentioned in this episode: Student loan benefits pulse survey: https://ifebp.org/store/Pages/student-loan-survey.aspx 2022 Employee Benefits survey results: https://ifebp.org/store/employee-benefits-survey/Pages/default.aspx Other great research resources from the International Foundation: https://www.ifebp.org/Resources/Research/Pages/default.aspx Learn more about National Employee Benefits Day: https://www.ifebp.org/AboutUs/NEBD/Pages/default.aspx Best practices for student loan match benefit implementation: https://www.plansponsor.com/student-loan-match-can-start-one/

Host Anne shares a blog she wrote on the uptick of employers offering fertility and family forming benefits in order to attract and retain talent. Read this blog post in full here: https://blog.ifebp.org/fertility-benefits-rapidly-rising-as-employers-look-to-attract-and-support-talent/ Check out the results of the 2022 Employee Benefits Survey discussed in this episode here: https://ifebp.org/store/employee-benefits-survey/Pages/default.aspx Read all the other great Word on Benefits blog posts here: https://blog.ifebp.org/

We're diving into the Secure Act 2.0 and what it means for employer and plan sponsors. Read the blog post that inspired this episode here: https://blog.ifebp.org/what-plan-sponsors-need-to-know-after-the-passage-of-secure-2-0-act-of-2022/ Stay up-to-date with the International Foundation's Secure Act 2.0 webpage: https://www.ifebp.org/Resources/benefits-transition-tracker/Pages/secure-act.aspx Check out the Senate summary of the bill here: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Secure%202.0_Section%20by%20Section%20Summary%2012-19-22%20FINAL.pdf

Another year is coming to an end and we reflect on all that has happened in the benefits industry in 2022 with a Charles Dickens twist. You'll hear the tale of Ebenefits Scrooge and the ghosts of Benefits Past, Present and Future! Check out links to the items we discussed in this episode: https://www.ifebp.org/Resources/Pages/dobbs-decision.aspx https://blog.ifebp.org/inflation-reduction-act-6-health-care-provisions-plan-sponsors-should-know-about/ https://blog.ifebp.org/five-critical-components-of-a-cybersecurity-compliance-review/

The workplace landscape is still evolving in the wake of the pandemic. In this episode we dive into how organizations are reacting to workplace changes and reflecting them in their annual salary increases and total rewards packages. Check out the survey featured in this episode here: https://www.ifebp.org/salaryTR Read the blog post we based this episode on here: https://blog.ifebp.org/68-of-employers-are-planning-salary-increases-for-2023/ And check out all of the International Foundation's great research here: https://www.ifebp.org/research

If your organization is thinking about switching from a traditional vacation plan to unlimited vacation there are a lot of things to consider. In this episode we chat with Kristine Karnath of Moog on how and why her company made the switch and potential pitfalls to avoid. For more information, watch to the International Foundation webcast Kristine was featured in here: https://www.ifebp.org/education/webcasts/Pages/webcast-ind.aspx?wcode=22T09&wname=unlimited-paid-time-off-will-it-work-for-your-organization International Foundation members can watch all of our webcasts for FREE! Get more information on International Foundation membership here: http://www.ifebp.org/membership

The recent ups and downs of the stock market and the economy can be dizzying. In this episode, we talk to an investments guru on what plan sponsors can do to ensure their pension plans are in a good funding position and how employers can communicate to their retirement plan participants during this tumultuous economic time.

Over one in four employers is exploring the expansion of covered abortion services, according to a new report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. In this bonus epsiode we delve into the Post-Dobbs Employer Coverage: July 2022 Pulse Survey, which revealed current abortion coverage offerings and future considerations. For more info check out www.ifebp.org/dobbsimpact. Read this blog post and other great posts at blog.ifebp.org Join us at the International Foundation's Annual Employee Benefits Conference to hear the latest on how this Supreme Court decision is impacting benefit plans. Register today: www.ifeb.org/usannual

When we talk about the relationship between work and family, many think about the struggles of working mothers. But, fathers face many of the same issues when trying to strike a balance between family and career. In this episode we talk to Dr. Brad Harrington of the Boston College Center for Work and Family on his recent research in the area and how employers can help dads. As mentioned in this episode, you can learn more about Dr. Harrington's research at www.bc.edu/cwf

In this episode we chat with Alex Willis, CEO of LeadershipSurge about returning to the office and how remote and hybrid work arrangements will shape the future of our office teams and collaboration.

In a galaxy far, far away, heroes and villains still need their employee benefits, and benefits professionals still need to know how to handle coordination of benefits (and lots of tricky claims scenarios). In this bonus episode, we delve into how they handle those—between lightsaber battles. You can read this Word on Benefits blog post and many others at https://blog.ifebp.org/

Statistically women save less than men for retirement for a number of reasons. We discuss how employers can help narrow that gap in this episode. Read Cara's blog and other great Word on Benefits Blog posts here: https://blog.ifebp.org/ Find great retirement news and education resources here: https://www.ifebp.org/retirement-pensions/Pages/default.aspx And here: https://www.ifebp.org/microsite/Pages/default.aspx

Have you ever told a white lie? Would you cheat on your taxes? What if you knew you wouldn't get caught? In this bonus episode we dive into why people commit benefits fraud. Read Alyssa's and many other great blog posts here: https://blog.ifebp.org

Apprenticeship programs have been around for a long time, but they're always evolving. In this episode we take a deeper dive into new trends in apprenticeship and what industries outside of the trades can learn from these programs. Be sure to check out the links mentioned in this episode: Top Trends in Apprenticeship 2022 Survey https://ifebp.org/store/Pages/apprenticeship-survey.aspx International Foundation's Apprenticeship Resources page: https://ifebp.org/apprenticeshipresources International Foundation Financial Tools for the Trades course: https://ifebp.org/toolsfortrades

Stop-loss insurance is a great way for self-funded health plans to avoid catastrophic costs. But, you need to know what's important for your organization in a policy. Rose Plewa discusses the top 5 considerations in purchasing a plan. You can read her original blog post here: https://blog.ifebp.org/index.php/five-considerations-when-purchasing-stop-loss-insurance Take a deeper dive into self-funded group health plans by completing the International Foundation's Certificate in Self-Funding Group Health Plans: https://www.ifebp.org/education/online-certificate-programs/Pages/certificate-in-self-funding-group-health-plans-overview.aspx Check out the 2020 Employee Benefits Survey that Rose mentioned in this episode: https://www.ifebp.org/store/employee-benefits-survey/Pages/default.aspx

It's our 50th episode! After a little celebration we take a look back at some of the biggest developments in the benefits industry from the past year. Plus we let you know what to keep on your radar for 2022. And don't forget to check out the items mentioned in this show. Blog posts on the ACA Supreme Court case, California versus Texas: https://blog.ifebp.org/index.php/supreme-court-affordable-care-act https://blog.ifebp.org/index.php/california-v-texas-explainer EBSA cyber security best practices: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/key-topics/retirement-benefits/cybersecurity/best-practices.pdf International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans COVID-19 One Year Update survey: https://www.ifebp.org/store/Pages/covid-19-one-year-update-survey.aspx

Those of us in the benefits world have been talking about mental health parity for over 20 years at this point, but it's not all old news. We chat with Stephanie Patrick on what's new and what's ahead for mental health parity and how it affects your plans.

Do you have the right level of protection against cyberattacks? Does your current insurance even cover them? What about cyberinsurance? International Foundation Director of Educational Outreach presents her blog post on why your organization may want to consider cyberinsurance. Read this and other great blog posts at blog.ifebp.org

This month we are joined by Dr. Tracy Brower to discuss how caregiving has changed, what it means for employees, and how employers can support those in caregiving roles. Want to hear more from Tracy? Check out her books: https://tracybrower.com/bring-work-to-life/ And don't forget to attend the International Foundation's 67th Annual Employee Benefits conference in Denver, Colorado or join virtually. Learn more here: www.ifebp.org/usannual

What do long COVID, DEI, neurodiversity, mental health and wellness programs have in common? They are all points of consideration when employing individuals with disabilities. In this episode, we talk with Kellee Grimes, Manager of Health Services at Mutual of Omaha, about how to maintain compliance with ADA and other laws and regulations. The International Foundation does tons of research on the employee benefits industry each year. As a member, you can access research and survey reports like the ones Justin mentioned in this episode for free. To see all of the International Foundation's research and survey reports, visit www.ifebp.org/research and to become a member visit www.ifebp.org/membership

Host Justin and special guest Craig Copeland from EBRI dive into how factors like race, gender and socioeconomic status can impact a person's ability to save for retirement. Check out the work from our friends at the Employee Benefit Research Institute at www.ebri.org

Robbie Hartman reads his recent Word on Benefits blog post on how to make your benefits plan more inclusive for members of the LGBTQ+ community. You can read this and many other great Word on Benefits blog posts at blog.ifebp.org

Join your Talking Benefits hosts in a round of Jeop-ARPA-dy! They review the six American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provisions and what employers and plan sponsors need to know, Jeopardy-style.

Resilience is shaped by a person’s past experiences, and their social support network, among other things—It can be a skill that we learn, practice and build on. This episode outlines seven tips to help build resilience, examples of things that spark joy (which helps build resilience), and how employers can help build resilience within their organization.

Benefits Bonus: What the American Rescue Plan Act Means for Financially Troubled ME Pension Plans by IFEBP