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!By IFEBP

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.By IFEBP

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-be…

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.aspxWorkplace Mental Healt…

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 pos…

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/By IFEBP

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 P…

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 f…

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.consumerfina…

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.aspx2022 Employee Benefits…

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 discuss…

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/benef…

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.aspxhttps…

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/salaryTRRead the blog post we based this epi…

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 …

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 mor…

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 ho…

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.By IFEBP

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 oth…

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.as…

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.orgBy IFEBP

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 Surveyhttps://ifebp.org/stor…

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…

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.…

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.By IFEBP

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 Benefi…

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 Inter…

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.orgBy IFEBP

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.orgBy IFEBP

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.By IFEBP

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 organi…

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

This episode explores the impact of financial well-being among Black and Hispanic women and offers solutions to what employers and plan sponsors can do to provide more effective financial education for underrepresented women.By IFEBP

Hear how the “roller coaster ride” of this pandemic has changed the lives of Ruben Navarro, fire captain II for the LA Fire Department, and his team. He shares tips and best practices on handling the pressures of essential work/front line work while maintaining mental well-being.By IFEBP

To require or not to require vaccinations? That is the question on every employer's mind. In this episode we're diving into how COVID-19 has and is still shaping the work world.Check out the International Foundation survey we reference in the episode:https://www.ifebp.org/store/Pages/covid-19-update-survey.aspxRead the International Foundation blog…

2020 is almost over (whew!), so we’re taking a look back at the biggest benefits news headlines of the year. Plus we’ll let you know what to watch for in 2021.Check out the 2020 Employee Benefits Survey we reference throughout the episode at the link below. International Foundation members get a discount!https://www.ifebp.org/store/employee-benefit…

Benefits are music to our ears, so in this episode we're pointing out the (maybe not-so-obvious) ties to employee benefits in our favorite songs. Plus the producers take the mic with a surprise for the hosts. Pop in your ear buds, push play and sing along!Check out the upcoming 2020 Employee Benefit Survey here: https://www.ifebp.org/researchAnd th…

Talking Benefits host Julie Stich reads her recent blog post on worker resilience and how employers can help.Enroll in the International Foundation's mental health virtual conference at https://www.ifebp.org/mentalhealthandcovidFind more resources on mental health at https://www.ifebp.org/mentalhealthresourcesRead this and other great blog posts at…

It's that time of year again (cue the ominous music)... but this year's open enrollment experience may be a lot different for some organizations. We talk about best practices and tips from our members on taking open enrollment to the digital world.Read the research report we refer to in this episode: www.ifebp.org/researchCheck out the Case Studies…

Talking Benefits producer Rose Plewa reads her blog post on what mental health professionals are terming "the next pandemic" or the "third wave" of COVID-19. You can read this great blog post and many others at blog.ifebp.org.By IFEBP

We all know sleep is important, but not everyone gets their full eight hours each night. In this episode we talk about why employers should care about their workers' sleep habits and how they can help them log some more zzz's.By IFEBP

Talking Benefits host Julie Stich talks about why EAPs may be one of your organization's most vital assets in the wake of COVID-19. You can read the full blog post at blog.ifebp.orgBy IFEBP

The world has changed. Over the past few weeks, we’ve experienced a dramatic shift in conversation—Organizational leaders are working to find how these discussions become part of our day-to-day work. Talking Benefits Producer Stacy Van Alstyne gives her take on a recent webcast put hosted by the International Foundation. You can watch the webcast a…

Many employees are being called back to the workplace as states begin to lift their COVID-19 regulations. We discuss how that weighs on the minds of workers and what employers can do to make the transition a bit easier.By IFEBP

This is a Benefits Bonus – an extra bite-sized episode to bring you some added benefits content between our regular episodes. Read the blog post on which this Bonus Benefits episode is based here:https://blog.ifebp.org/index.php/support-the-mental-health-of-employeesBy IFEBP

We're continuing our COVID-19 series and in this episode we talk about how the pandemic is impacting employer-sponsored health plans.Find a link to the survey mentioned in this episode and many more coronavirus-related resources at www.ifebp.org/coronavirusBy IFEBP