Editor’s Note

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Welcome to the December issue of Employee Benefits & Wellness Excellence. Looking back at 2020, the year of disruption caused by the pandemic, employers and employees have had it tough. The pandemic played a crucial role in shifting employee priorities. Organizations had to quickly catch up with the changing demands brought on by Covid-19, impacting every aspect of work including employee benefits. What was once considered the standard package of employee benefits has absolutely been left behind. Eager to learn about the benefit programs you can expect in 2021 and beyond? This edition is all about that!
 

Read the cover story of this issue, As The Dust Settles: 3 Permanent Changes In Benefits by Doug Devlin to learn about the highly actionable, very significant benefits trends that have changed forever, and that HR and the entire HR community should consider.

As businesses navigated a changing workforce and workplace, more employers began to take note of the financial wellness of their workforce. Marion Mathes’ article, Comprehensive Financial Wellness Programs: What To Expect In 2021? sheds light on how a comprehensive financial wellness program can address the increased need for access to credit-building opportunities as well as access to credit, to help families recover from the setbacks of 2020 and regain a strong financial footing. 

As we enter into 2021 with a Covid-19 vaccine in place, how can the patterns of deferred healthcare utilization inform HR benefits strategy for the next 12-18 months? Check out Heather Hagg's article, HR Benefits Strategy In The Time Of Covid-19, for more insights.

With working from home becoming the new normal now, it is time to talk about the emerging health risks that come with this transition. How can employers effectively address them as the workplace evolves during and post-covid? Dr. Jeffrey Krauss, in his article, Increasing Health Risks Of The Remote Workplace, talks about 5 ways employers can proactively address these emerging health risks to enhance employee well-being.

Also read our exclusive interviews with Mark Stadler, CEO, AccessHope, and Megan Kille, Head of People, Unmind, to learn about how their respective organizations are supporting employees during the unprecedented times and the programs and initiatives in place to promote workplace wellness.

In brief, this last edition of the year is all about strategies and insights to help you build a healthy and happy workplace in 2021 and beyond.

We hope you enjoy reading all the articles and get back to us with your valuable feedback and comments. 

Wishing you all success in the year ahead!
 

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