Long story short: Your midterm election primer

November 4, 2022 11:34 AM

Ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, employers and employees are bracing themselves for what's ahead.

Yet speaking openly about these issues could create workplace conflict — SHRM research revealed that 45% of employees have experienced political disagreements with coworkers. To facilitate a supportive environment, no matter your views, employers and employees need to build trust with each other, says Adam Weber, senior vice president of community at 15Five, a performance management company.

"Make sure that you create an environment where people feel like they can have genuine relationships and see their coworkers as whole people," Weber says.

Issues like inflation, healthcare costs and abortion are all hot topics on ballots this year — how will these issues influence the workplace? An expert from the Business Group on Health reveals what's in store for healthcare costs in 2023. Additionally, two employees share their abortion experiences, and why equitable healthcare access was the right choice for them, their families and their future.

Don't miss all of our election coverage across our brands here.

3 ways to navigate political conversations with coworkers

Employers may find themselves in a tough spot if they need to mediate nuanced issues around political views and current events. Leaders and employees should ask themselves if what they're sharing is appropriate, and remind themselves that digital communications can often be misinterpreted.

"Consider if this topic is appropriate for the work forum or if there might be a better forum for that communication," says Adam Weber, senior vice president of community at 15Five. "Every situation is different. There's no two people that have the exact same opinions or perspectives, so we have to do our best to be gentle with each other." He shares his top tips for respectfully discussing politics at work.

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3 ways to navigate political conversations with coworkers

Cancer will be the top driver of healthcare costs in 2023: What employers should know

The average cost employers pay for their employees' healthcare will jump by 6.5% next year, amounting to more than $13,800 per employee, according to professional services firm Aon. As more Americans feel comfortable seeking testing and treatment in-person and address care they put off during the height of the pandemic, healthcare prices are bound to pick up again, says Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of the Business Group on Health.

"The pandemic meant there was a lot of deferred or missed care happening," Kelsay tells associate editor Deanna Cuadra. "We anticipated seeing a boomerang correct for the prior year, but not to the extent that we saw it materialize." Kelsey discusses the impact of cancer on these costs, and what employers should be prepared for in the new year.

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Cancer will be the top driver of healthcare costs in 2023: What employers should know

Two moms share their experiences with abortion care

Access to abortion care is now in question or outright banned in 22 states, and November's midterm election has the highest number of abortion-related ballot measures on record in a single year. For Kaitlin Soule, a family therapist and mother of three, and Alex Robinson Hunnell, marketing director and mother of a 10-month-old son, access to a safe abortion was the right choice for them, their families and their future.

"I would not have been able to raise a child living in New York with the job I had," Hunnell tells associate editor Deanna Cuadra. "[Motherhood] wasn't feasible at the time, but now I'm married and have a family that is very involved in helping us raise our son. It takes a village and back then I did not have a village I would be able to rely on."

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Two moms share their experiences with abortion care

5 ways to help retirement participants navigate inflation and volatility

Between inflation and stock market volatility, retirement may feel even further away for many of us. In fact, half of worried retirees in a 2022 survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute cited inflation as the key reason they felt less confident about living comfortably through retirement post-pandemic, writes contributor Anthony Bunnell.

Even under ideal conditions, retirement planning can be complex — which is why it is important to collaborate with your 401(k) plan financial adviser on how to communicate and help participants navigate challenging economic conditions like those we face today. Bunnell lays out the steps for helping employees find an achievable balance between their short-term needs and long-term retirement goals.

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5 ways to help retirement participants navigate inflation and volatility