Employee Benefit News - January/February 2021

The return to work

EBN's January/February digital cover dives into the top issues facing employers in 2021.

The one-year mark since coronavirus engulfed the U.S. is here. Employers and employees are continuing to adapt to remote work while contemplating their plans for a return to the office.

Vaccine management company VaxAtlas launched a COVID platform to help employers track workforce vaccination rates, while simplifying the process for employees.

COVID-19 has led more employees to engage in dangerous drug and alcohol abuse. With a cost of $740 billion annually in lost productivity and healthcare costs, how can employers intervene before it’s too late?

Since COVID-19 hit the U.S., companies are seeing a spike in drug and alcohol overdoses during stay-at-home orders. What can employers do to support struggling employees?

The large self-insured healthcare provider network added new regions and partnered with programs to help consumers cope with quarantine challenges.

The restaurant chain will host a nationwide hiring event using social distancing safety protocols.

Papa helps employee caregivers by providing their loved one with companionship and help around the house — even during quarantine.

“This pandemic has forced HR directors to become cyber-communication specialists to maintain staffing needs and meet new COVID-19 notification requirements,” Kasey Sellers, marketing director of FastCommand, says.

Employees in non-health related professions who are at the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 include teachers and bus drivers.

It is critically important that leaders recognize and find creative ways to overcome the not-so-virtual burnout to engage effectively with colleagues and customers, while also remaining productive.

With so much stigma surrounding mental health issues in the workplace, managers and colleagues are often afraid of asking how someone is doing. Yet, noticing small warning signs and checking in with the employee shows caring and concern.

In order to discern which health plans offer the best bang for member bucks, benefit advisers need to understand the economics of healthcare today.

Innovative advisers are driving two disruptive benefits trends that both improve the quality of care and reduce year-over-year healthcare costs.

A new survey by payroll services company Paychex found that 20% of employees have a worse relationship with their manager since the start of the pandemic, and one-third of employees communicate with their manager less than when they were working in-person.

HealthEquity explains how the Consolidated Appropriations Act will affect plan participants in 2021.

Working parents need more child care solutions in 2021. One benefit company is making on-demand virtual child care an accessible option.