Talking Benefits

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/educat...

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 t...

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 ep...

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/Pag...

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 Internationa...

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-funde...

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-ca...

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 virtuall...

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...

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

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.

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.

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.aspx Read the International Foundation blog post on remote work policies: https://blog.ife...

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-benefits-survey/Pages/default.aspx

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/research And the blog post we reference here: https://blog.ifeb...