Editor's Note

With Open Enrollment right around the corner, many employees will find themselves sifting through mounts of paperwork trying to make sense of the benefit options awaiting them. Wading through all those documents and details may not sound like much fun, but the right decision can save you a lot of money to make it worth the effort.

Open (Enrollment) Season: 4 questions every employee should ask before choosing a plan

Many employees struggle with this question. A recent national Harris poll found that 32 percent of insured survey participants are uncomfortable with their personal skills and knowledge for navigating their medical benefits and the health care system. According to one study of a Fortune 100 company, 80 percent of workers chose plans that cost more over the course of the year than their alternatives would have. The wrong decision can affect both the company’s and the employee’s bottom line.

Employee Benefits and Wellness September 2016 Advertisers

Think Outside The Box With Your Wellness Program

The best way to refresh your program is to shift your mindset. In order to encourage new and exciting feelings about your wellness program, you need a new and exciting attitude. You need to make a few changes, and you need to think outside the box.

Private Exchanges: The future of personalized employee health plans?

As an HR professional, finding ways to provide your employees with great benefit options while still controlling health care costs can be frustrating. Health care exchange options are something to consider. They can help you match your employees’ needs with the health plan that fits each of them best, all while managing your costs as an organization.

Top 4 Open Enrollment Mistakes: How to avoid them?

When evaluating Consumer-Directed Benefits, such as a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA), remember that pre-tax funds you set aside can also be used to pay for eligible healthcare expenses for your spouse (and dependents). Important item to note: If your company’s Open Enrollment period differs from your spouse, many employers will share their benefits plan details ahead of time to allow you to review the options side by side.

Productivity At The Cost Of Wellness And Happiness?: Find out what is wrong with the workplace today

Technology advances have made it possible to work smarter and faster. Yet, people seem to be putting in more and more hours each day. While productivity becomes the new mantra, stress levels are on the rise. The World Health Organization estimates the annual cost of employee stress-related expenses as $300 billion. With employee burnout staring everyone in the face, people have begun asking questions.

6 Unhealthy Habits That Should Be Banned: List of dos and don’ts

It turns out that taking care of employee health and well being is the most effective way to increase engagement and performance. Putting yourself and your health first isn’t selfish, it’s exactly what we all need to do to make our businesses thrive. Its baseline stakes.

Is Use Of Accrued Sick Banks Compliant With FMLA?

A very common benefit design throughout the health care industry, is to provide employees with time off for incidental and extended absence due to disability through accrued sick leave plans, often called EIB (extended illness benefit) or EDL (extended disability benefit). Some employers have gone as far as to provide liberal paid time off (PTO) accruals where an employee can bank up to 480 to 520 hours of PTO to use for an extended absence due to illness or disability.

A Healthy, Happy Workforce: A guide to creating effective wellness programs

Implementing wellness policies – and opportunities – in the workplace can benefit employees on a physical and emotional level. From healthy food options, positive social interactions and flexible work schedules, companies are shifting their cultures to ensure their employees feel valued.