Employee Benefits Blog

What Is Value-Based Insurance Design and Does It Lead To More Effective Employee Benefit Programs?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Apr 05, 2019

Four Ways Employers Can Reduce Smoking Rates Among Their Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Apr 01, 2019

Employee Benefits in the Gig Economy

Posted by David Rook on Mar 22, 2019

HSA Contribution Limits; What To Watch-out For When Families Have Multiple Accounts

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 13, 2019

How Does Your Employee Benefits Package Stack-up? Our 2018 Employee Benefits Benchmarking Study Is Now Available

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 06, 2019

Self-Funding For Small Business; A Way to Manage Healthcare Costs and Expand Options

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 25, 2019

Rollovers, Grace Periods and Run-Outs: Important FSA Terms for Early in the Calendar Year

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 19, 2019

The State of the Union Address and What It Means For Employee Benefits

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 15, 2019

Arizona’s New Mini-COBRA Requirements for Small Businesses (with Sample Notice & Side-by-Side Comparison Table)

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 11, 2019

Leaves of Absence - Do Employers Need to Provide Health Insurance During These Times?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 05, 2019

Government Shutdown Raises Employee Benefit Questions For Private Sector Employers Too

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jan 25, 2019

Why Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance Might Be The Second Most Important Employee Benefit You Offer

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jan 22, 2019

The Best Time In The Hiring Process to Discuss Your Employee Benefits Program

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jan 15, 2019

When Employees Should Take Sick Time

Posted by Dr. Christine Maxwell on Jan 03, 2019

Employee Benefits in 2019: Trends in Health Insurance, Time Off and More

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Dec 19, 2018

Nonprofits Get Tax Relief on Certain Employee Fringe Benefits

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Dec 14, 2018

Employee Benefit Perks That Make The Holidays Merry

Posted by David Rook on Dec 07, 2018

2019 IRS Limits for Commonly Offered Employee Benefits

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Nov 28, 2018

Cyber Monday Slowdown; Four Ways To Maintain Some Semblance of Worker Productivity

Posted by David Rook on Nov 21, 2018

Black Friday Revolt Continues; Employers Put Family Time First

Posted by David Rook on Nov 16, 2018

Millennials vs. Baby Boomers: Managing Across Generations

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Nov 09, 2018

Debunking The Myth: The ACA Isn’t Increasing Your Group Health Insurance Rates

Posted by David Rook on Nov 02, 2018

Three Ways for Employees & Employers to Save Money on Healthcare

Posted by David Rook on Oct 27, 2018

How Incorporating Ergonomics in the Workplace Can Save Employers Money

Posted by Dr. Christine Maxwell on Oct 18, 2018

6 Reasons Every CFO Needs to Engage In Employee Benefits Decisions

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Oct 12, 2018

10 Pitfalls to Avoid This Open Enrollment Season

Posted by David Rook on Sep 26, 2018

Why Your Employees Aren’t Enrolling In Your HDHP

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Sep 13, 2018

How to Make the Most of Your Employee Handbook

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Sep 06, 2018

Shopping For A New Employee Benefits Broker: The RFP Process

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Aug 29, 2018

The Role of Social Media In Employee Benefits Communication

Posted by David Rook on Aug 22, 2018

Practical Issues to Consider in Expanding Benefits Coverage to Transgender Employees

Posted by David Rook on Aug 17, 2018

What Does the Average Employer Spend on Employee Benefits?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Aug 14, 2018

The Digital Divide – How to Communicate with Disconnected Employees

Posted by David Rook on Aug 10, 2018

Best Practices For Optimizing Online Benefits Enrollment Systems

Posted by David Rook on Aug 07, 2018

Why Your Business Needs an Employee Benefits Insurance Broker

Posted by David Rook on Aug 03, 2018

Employee Benefits Designed To Improve Employee Retention

Posted by David Rook on Jul 26, 2018

What Makes For A Good Health Insurance Renewal?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jul 17, 2018

What is the Average Employer Contribution to Health Insurance Premiums?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jul 10, 2018

How to Provide Benefits for a Multigenerational Workforce

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jul 03, 2018

Employee Benefits Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 28, 2018

Are Employers Required to Offer Family Health Insurance?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 25, 2018

Workforce Social Media Guidelines On & Off the Clock

Posted by David Rook on Jun 21, 2018

Employee Benefits Glossary: Insurance Terminology Defined (with downloadable asset!)

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 13, 2018

4 Best Small Business Health Insurance Options

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 07, 2018

What Baby Boomers Retiring Means for Your Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on Jun 01, 2018

Retirement Savings Options: Are HSAs better than 401(k)s?

Posted by David Rook on May 24, 2018

Trump's Plan To Reduce Prescription Drug Prices

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 18, 2018

Why Level Funded Health Plans are Increasingly Popular Among Small Businesses

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 15, 2018

Alternative Health Plan Options For Small Employers: MEWAs and AHPs

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 09, 2018

How Employee Benefits Work When An Employee Qualifies For Medicare

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 04, 2018

How You Know it's Time to Fire Your Employee Benefits Broker

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 01, 2018

5 TED Talks on Decision-Making and What They Mean for Employers

Posted by David Rook on Apr 25, 2018

What is a Limited Purpose FSA? (And Should You Offer One?)

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Apr 17, 2018

What Is Self-Funded Insurance And Is It Right For My Small Business?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Apr 13, 2018

FMLA Rules and Regulations: What is Required of Employers?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Apr 06, 2018

HRA vs. HSA: Which is Better?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 29, 2018

The Glassdoor Effect on Company Reputation

Posted by David Rook on Mar 23, 2018

This Past Open Enrollment Season’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

Posted by David Rook on Mar 19, 2018

What is Stop Loss Insurance?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 13, 2018

5 Ways to Make Pregnancy (and the Return to Work) Easier for Working Moms

Posted by David Rook on Mar 06, 2018

7 Simple Ways to Boost Morale at Work

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 01, 2018

How to Create an Employee Benefits Package for Generation Z

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 21, 2018

What is a 529 Plan? (And Should You Offer One?)

Posted by David Rook on Feb 16, 2018

Advice To Give When Employees Need Help Paying Medical Bills

Posted by David Rook on Feb 14, 2018

Why Workplace Harassment Training is So Important

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 09, 2018

It's Already February; Here's How You Can Help Employees Keep Their New Year's Resolutions

Posted by Dr. Christine Maxwell on Feb 06, 2018

How Cell Phone Use at Work is Shaping Company Policies

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jan 30, 2018

What's the Difference Between Health and Wellness?

Posted by Dr. Christine Maxwell on Jan 23, 2018

How Sleep Patterns Affect Employee Productivity: Early Birds vs. Night Owls

Posted by David Rook on Jan 16, 2018

How Does Healthcare in Europe Work?

Posted by David Rook on Jan 11, 2018

How to Create a Family Friendly Workplace

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jan 04, 2018

Telecommuting and Employee Mental Health

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Dec 28, 2017

Why America's Healthcare System Is Broken

Posted by David Rook on Dec 20, 2017

Office Holiday Parties Rein It In

Posted by David Rook on Dec 11, 2017

Why Employee Benefits Might Finally Play a Role in Seasonal Hiring

Posted by David Rook on Dec 07, 2017

Ducey's Plan for Arizona's CHIP Program

Posted by David Rook on Dec 05, 2017

How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan for Your Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Dec 01, 2017

What is Preventative Care? (And How Does it Decrease Healthcare Costs?)

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Nov 28, 2017

How To Cut Benefit Costs Without Compromising Employee Satisfaction

Posted by David Rook on Nov 21, 2017

Why Voluntary Benefits are Critical with HDHPs

Posted by David Rook on Nov 17, 2017

The Pros and Cons of Employee Benefits Benchmarking

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Nov 13, 2017

Active vs. Passive Enrollment: Which One is Right For Your Company?

Posted by David Rook on Nov 08, 2017

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid with HSA Regulations

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Nov 01, 2017

Healthcare vs. Health Insurance: Why the Difference Matters

Posted by David Rook on Oct 24, 2017

Keeping Your Wellness Program Compliant

Posted by Dr. Christine Maxwell on Oct 16, 2017

How to Motivate Employees to Participate in HSAs

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Oct 10, 2017

The Best Twitter Hashtags for HR Directors to Follow

Posted by David Rook on Oct 03, 2017

What Is Reference Based Pricing?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Sep 25, 2017

When Does it Make Sense to Offer Voluntary Benefits?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Sep 19, 2017

What Is the Difference Between Group Health Insurance and Individual Health Insurance?

Posted by David Rook on Sep 12, 2017

3 Great TED Talks in The Era of Consumer-Driven Healthcare

Posted by David Rook on Sep 05, 2017

The Changing Definition of Work-Life Balance

Posted by David Rook on Aug 29, 2017

The Effect of Chronic Conditions on Employer and Employee Healthcare Costs

Posted by Dr. Christine Maxwell on Aug 25, 2017

Containing Employee Benefit Costs Through Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID)

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Aug 21, 2017

When Good Employee Perks Go Bad

Posted by David Rook on Aug 15, 2017

10 Ways to Beat the Arizona Heat

Posted by David Rook on Aug 07, 2017

Why Your Cost Saving Strategies On Employee Benefits Are Failing

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Aug 03, 2017

Creating a Strategic Advantage Through CFO/CHRO Alignment

Posted by David Rook on Jul 25, 2017

How to Improve Employee Medication Adherence & Why It’s Critical To Your Benefits' Budget

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jul 13, 2017

How To Engage Employees in Consumer Driven Healthcare

Posted by David Rook on Jul 06, 2017

5 Ways to Encourage Employees to Enjoy Their Paid Time Off Over the July 4th Holiday

Posted by David Rook on Jun 29, 2017

Sample Policies for Arizona's New Paid Sick Leave Law

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 27, 2017

Senate's ObamaCare Replacement Bill Would End Employer Mandate

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 25, 2017

Types of Health Insurance Plans & How They Compare

Posted by David Rook on Jun 15, 2017

11 Innovative (& Mostly Inexpensive) Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on Jun 01, 2017

Life Insurance 101: Understanding The Different Products

Posted by David Rook on May 25, 2017

If the Employer Mandate is Repealed, Should Companies Drop Employer-Sponsored Healthcare?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 17, 2017

If You Aren’t Offering Voluntary Benefits, You're Missing Out

Posted by David Rook on May 11, 2017

The Pros and Cons of Telemedicine

Posted by Jeff Griffin on May 02, 2017

Are Your Health & Wellness Corporate Communications Missing The Mark?

Posted by David Rook on Apr 28, 2017

What Are Required Employee Benefits?

Posted by David Rook on Apr 24, 2017

Employee Benefits Issues Facing Arizona Employers

Posted by David Rook on Apr 13, 2017

5 Ways to Help Employees Embrace High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)

Posted by David Rook on Apr 06, 2017

Is Your High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) HSA Qualified?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 31, 2017

How to Get the Best Work Out of Your Employee Benefits Broker

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 28, 2017

Arizona Healthcare Could Improve with New Legislation

Posted by David Rook on Mar 22, 2017

Possible Healthcare Legislation Changes and How They Could Affect Employers

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 14, 2017

The History of Healthcare in America

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Mar 07, 2017

6 Ways Employee Benefits Administration Automation Can Save You Time (and Money)

Posted by David Rook on Feb 23, 2017

10 Most Commonly Offered Employee Benefits

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 17, 2017

The Pros and Cons of High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)

Posted by David Rook on Feb 10, 2017

What are Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHPs)?

Posted by David Rook on Feb 03, 2017

How Trump's HHS Secretary Nominee Might Impact Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on Jan 13, 2017

Protecting Your Employee Benefits Plan Through a Dependent Eligibility Audit

Posted by David Rook on Dec 29, 2016

Primary Funding Options for Employee Benefits Programs

Posted by David Rook on Dec 21, 2016

Bringing Mobile Healthcare to Underprivileged Youth

Posted by David Rook on Dec 16, 2016

4 Ways to Spice Up Employee Benefits Open Enrollment Meetings

Posted by David Rook on Dec 08, 2016

5 Employment Myths About Millennials Every Employer Should Know

Posted by David Rook on Nov 28, 2016

The Evolution of Black Friday

Posted by David Rook on Nov 21, 2016

Props 205 and 206: 2 Ballot Propositions That Impact Arizona Employers

Posted by David Rook on Nov 04, 2016

Unpacking the Differences Between Employee Benefits HRAs and HSAs

Posted by David Rook on Oct 26, 2016

4 Important Things Employers Should Know About Generation Z

Posted by David Rook on Oct 19, 2016

Flexible Schedules: Tap This Employee Benefit to Attract Top Talent

Posted by David Rook on Oct 14, 2016

17 Unique Employee Perks from High-Flying Companies

Posted by David Rook on Oct 04, 2016

Employee Benefits Considerations For The Hospitality Industry

Posted by David Rook on Sep 27, 2016

Trying to Find the Right Benefits Broker? Ask These 6 Questions

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Sep 22, 2016

Bringing Health Care to Underprivileged Youth

Posted by David Rook on Sep 13, 2016

Stay Compliant: Notices to Include in Your Annual Employee Benefits Open Enrollment Materials

Posted by David Rook on Sep 07, 2016

The Birth of Labor Day (Pun Intended)

Posted by David Rook on Aug 31, 2016

More Companies Are Welcoming Pets at Work (& Insuring Them Too)

Posted by David Rook on Aug 23, 2016

Employee Benefits to Recruit and Retain a Native American Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Aug 10, 2016

Private Exchanges: Nothing More Than A Rehash of an Old Idea

Posted by David Rook on Aug 03, 2016

Important Employee Benefit Considerations for Your Hispanic Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Jul 27, 2016

Where The Presidential Candidates Stand On Employer Sponsored Healthcare and Employee Benefits

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jul 22, 2016

What Cheating on Workplace Wellness Contests Says About the Cheater

Posted by David Rook on Jul 20, 2016

Employee Engagement Thru Team Performance

Posted by David Rook on Jul 13, 2016

Getting a Good Night's Sleep is All the Rage

Posted by David Rook on Jul 11, 2016

Is Telemedicine Useful in Stemming Rising Healthcare Costs?

Posted by David Rook on Jul 06, 2016

Research Shows U.S. Employee Benefits Lag Behind European Countries

Posted by David Rook on Jun 16, 2016

Employee Benefit Considerations for The Construction Industry

Posted by David Rook on Jun 13, 2016

Video Reduces Costs and Boosts Employee Engagement

Posted by David Rook on Jun 10, 2016

Using Behavioral Economics in Employee Benefits and Workplace Wellness

Posted by David Rook on Jun 07, 2016

Unique Employee Benefits: On-Site Services Create Extra Time

Posted by David Rook on May 23, 2016

Six Ways Technology Is Impacting Human Resources

Posted by David Rook on May 18, 2016

Employee Retention Tips to Keep Top Performers

Posted by David Rook on May 16, 2016

Six Focus Areas to Improve Employee Retention

Posted by David Rook on May 12, 2016

Crossing State Lines: Multi-State Employee Benefit Challenges

Posted by David Rook on May 10, 2016

Bend Time To Create Unique Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on May 06, 2016

5 Great Tax-Exempt Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on Apr 15, 2016

Helpful HR Administration Hints to Thrive as an HR Department of One

Posted by David Rook on Mar 30, 2016

Where The Presidential Candidates Stand On Employer Sponsored Healthcare

Posted by David Rook on Mar 17, 2016

The Dangers Of Shifting Too Much Cost To Employees And What You Can Do About It

Posted by David Rook on Mar 04, 2016

Should Vaping be Encouraged as a Smoking Cessation Tool?

Posted by David Rook on Feb 29, 2016

E-cigarettes Remain a Dilemma for Employers

Posted by David Rook on Feb 22, 2016

Form 1095 FAQs - ACA Reporting & Employee Benefits Compliance

Posted by David Rook on Feb 20, 2016

Zenefits: Whatever Happened to “Under-Promise and Over-Deliver?”

Posted by David Rook on Feb 12, 2016

How To Best Reach a Digital-Savvy Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Jan 22, 2016

The ABCs of Employee Benefits Jargon and Acronyms

Posted by David Rook on Jan 06, 2016

4 Major Trends in Employee Benefits in 2015

Posted by David Rook on Dec 31, 2015

Top 10 Employee Benefits Predictions for 2016

Posted by David Rook on Dec 28, 2015

Four Tips for Taming Runaway Emergency Room (ER) Expenditures

Posted by David Rook on Dec 15, 2015

Preventative Care: A Win-Win For Employers And Employees

Posted by David Rook on Dec 08, 2015

Employee Perks That Make The Holidays Merry

Posted by David Rook on Dec 04, 2015

Employee Revolt: The Rise and Fall of Black Friday

Posted by David Rook on Nov 20, 2015

Leveraging Employee Benefits to Recruit and Retain Top Talent

Posted by David Rook on Nov 17, 2015

Putting It Into Practice: Real World Examples Of Where A Medical Director On Staff Made All The Difference

Posted by David Rook on Nov 10, 2015

Why An On-Staff Medical Director Is Critical To Managing Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on Nov 09, 2015

The Pros and Cons of Consumer-Driven Healthcare

Posted by David Rook on Nov 06, 2015

Benefits That Matter Most, Part Three: The Multi-Cultural Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Oct 22, 2015

Benefits That Matter Most, Part Two: The Multi-Generational Workforce

Posted by David Rook on Oct 20, 2015

Benefits That Matter Most, Part One: The Millennial Mindset

Posted by David Rook on Oct 16, 2015

Healthcare Innovation Through Disruption: Paying Patients To Save Money

Posted by David Rook on Oct 15, 2015

Congress Repeals ACA Rule: Provides Mid-Size Business Owners With Some Relief

Posted by David Rook on Oct 09, 2015

With Growing Democratic Support, Will The Cadillac Tax Be Repealed?

Posted by David Rook on Oct 06, 2015

Employers Are Joining The Pack With Pet Insurance

Posted by David Rook on Sep 24, 2015

Participatory vs. Health-Contingent Wellness Programs

Posted by David Rook on Sep 18, 2015

20 Unique Employee Benefits That Boost Employee Morale

Posted by David Rook on Sep 10, 2015

The Origins of Labor Day

Posted by David Rook on Sep 04, 2015

Summer Blog Series (Part 4): Notable PTO Trends and Novel Approaches

Posted by David Rook on Sep 03, 2015

Summer Blog Series (Part 3): PTO Policies, Procedures and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Posted by David Rook on Aug 26, 2015

Healthcare Innovation Through Disruption: Lab Testing & Theranos

Posted by Joe Genova on Aug 19, 2015

How We Got to Now: A Brief History of Employer-Sponsored Healthcare

Posted by David Rook on Aug 17, 2015

The Upside of Regular Vision and Dental Exams: Early Warning Signs of Other Health Problems

Posted by David Rook on Aug 07, 2015

Summer Blog Series (Part 2): Eliminating Administrative Burdens Through PTO Automation

Posted by David Rook on Aug 05, 2015

Five Key Factors to Measuring Wellness ROI

Posted by David Rook on Jul 28, 2015

Why Is Wellness ROI So Difficult To Measure?

Posted by David Rook on Jul 15, 2015

Effective Wellness Programs Focus on Screenings and Immunizations Over Behavior Modification

Posted by David Rook on Jul 09, 2015

Summer Blog Series (Part 1): Paid Time Off – The #1 Employee Benefit

Posted by David Rook on Jul 02, 2015

SCOTUS Gay Marriage Decision: How Will It Impact Employee Benefits?

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jul 01, 2015

SCOTUS Decision Settles Subsidies. Now Let's Tackle Runaway Healthcare Costs

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 30, 2015

Key Takeaways From MetLife's Employee Benefit Trends Study

Posted by David Rook on Jun 12, 2015

Manage Staffing Costs Thru Employee Engagement

Posted by David Rook on Jun 11, 2015

The ACA Cadillac Tax 101

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Jun 02, 2015

Employee Handbook Basics

Posted by David Rook on May 29, 2015

Three Steps to Dramatically Improving Your Employee Benefits Communications

Posted by David Rook on May 20, 2015

Upcoming Live Webcast: Required ACA Reporting - Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) and Applicable Large Employer (ALE)

Posted by David Rook on May 13, 2015

3 Great TED Talks in The Era of Choice & Consumer-Driven Healthcare (CDHC)

Posted by David Rook on Apr 23, 2015

Three Branding Strategies for Your Employee Benefits

Posted by David Rook on Mar 18, 2015

Welcome to Our Employee Benefits Blog

Posted by Jeff Griffin on Feb 19, 2015

All posts

Our take on the latest in the field of employee benefits, benefits automation, wellness, compliance, cost containment, employee communications, employee engagement, company news and more.