Has your company outgrown its Professional Employer Organization (PEO)?  It happens for all sorts of reasons. You may need an HR program that’s more customized for your organization’s needs than a PEO can provide. Your needs for benefits and HR strategies to help you compete for and keep talent may not be so easily met by the PEO’s one-size-fits-all approach. Plus, the PEO may not be as cost-effective these days for your expanding payroll, or maybe it’s time for the tax credits to start accruing to your company instead of the PEO. Breaking up does not have to be hard to do, and timing ..read more

The need to improve recruiting and retention has affected employee benefits and workforce absence management rather considerably these past two years, in some cases resulting in more liberal policies on hybrid work, paid time off (PTO) and observed holidays. HUB International’s 2023 Workforce Absence Management Survey, which surveyed 514 employers with 50 to 1,000 employees, found that remote and hybrid work trends continue, with more companies making these options standard. These same employers are also providing additional paid holidays and PTO. The survey found that employers are impleme ..read more

The SECURE Act 2.0 contains dozens of changes to retirement plans, but perhaps none bigger than these two: New 401(k) and 403(b) plans will be required to automatically enroll participants in the respective plans, and employee salary deferral rates will automatically escalate each year. This rule will apply to employers who have started retirement plans after December 29, 2022, and take effect for plan years starting in 2025. There is an exception for new companies in business for less than three years, employers with 10 or fewer employees, and governmental and church plans. For plan spons ..read more

As an employer, it is crucial to consider the diverse needs and preferences of the workforce when designing a Paid Time Off (PTO) program. We, therefore, thought it might be fitting on our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, to delve into the topic of selecting holidays for your PTO program, aiming to find a balance that pleases the majority of your workforce. While advocating for a well-rounded approach, we’ll also make sure to explore the potential challenges and implications that arise when trying to please everyone.   RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HOLIDAYS National holidays are a funda ..read more

Similar to Quiet Quitting, Bare Minimum Mondays is a trend entailing employees prioritizing their work-life balance and mental health by doing the least amount of work possible on Mondays in the hopes of avoiding burnout during the rest of the week. The practice is generally in response to underlying issues, such as lack of engagement and stress. It's essential for employers to understand this trend so they know how to support employees' well-being and, in turn, reap the benefits of a healthy workforce. Today we’ll explain Bare Minimum Mondays and the reasons behind what’s possibly driving ..read more

On May 16, 2023, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2023-23 to provide the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2024. The IRS is required to publish these limits by June 1 of each year. These limits include: The maximum HSA contribution limit; The minimum deductible amount for HDHPs; and The maximum out-of-pocket expense limit for HDHPs These limits vary based on whether an individual has self-only or family coverage under an HDHP. Eligible individuals with self-only HDHP coverage will be able to contribute $4,150 to their ..read more

A recent study by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans suggests that 32% of employers offer weight management programs while 45% cover bariatric surgery. This same survey indicates that 22% of U.S. employers are now covering certain prescription drugs for weight loss. Perhaps this increase in prescription drug coverage is due to advancements in weight loss medications, or the growing recognition that obesity is a disease that increases the risk of other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some cancers. After all, th ..read more

Despite originally announcing that both the COVID Public Health Emergency and National Emergency would end on May 11, President Biden has signed a resolution ending the National Emergency effective as of April 10, 2023. Plan sponsors will now have less time to react to the end of the National Emergency, but this does not mean that all COVID coverage mandates or extensions have ended. What Is Ending? The end of the National Emergency brings the end of the “Outbreak Period” which gives additional time for individuals to: elect and pay for COBRA, exercise HIPAA Special Enrollment Rights to cha ..read more

When a plan participant or beneficiary has Medicare and other health insurance, such as employer group health plan insurance, retiree coverage, or Medicaid, there can often be confusion as to which insurance pays first on claims. Coordination of benefits (COB) rules, which are specified in plan documents or insurance policies, decide which insurance pays first. One plan is considered the primary payer that covers most expenses, while the secondary plan covers any remaining allowable expenses not covered by the primary plan. The COB allows health plans to provide health or prescription drug ..read more

“Organizational culture” may be an overused phrase, but culture — and the employer-employee connection culture generates — has become part of recruiting, retention, and the assembling of the right benefits package to engender long-term loyalty. How important are culture and connection within an organization? They definitely can make a major difference in candidate interest and employee satisfaction. Just consider the following; Mentioning culture in job postings increases engagement with the listing (67%). One-quarter of employees say they’ll leave an employer if they’re not happy with an or ..read more