The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our world, impacting the ways that we receive our education, earn our living, and even seek our entertainment. For persons with disabilities, however, the digitization of daily life has had some unexpected and rather positive consequences. In fact, for the tens of millions of Americans who…
Is your office quiet that last week between Christmas and New Year’s? Chances are good it is; one survey found that 1/3 of U.S. workers planned to take the entire week as vacation, with nearly 70% expecting to take at least part of it. But while the rest of your office might be relaxing by a…
When we think back to how “stressed” we used to feel during the holidays, we might long for a bit of that back…especially as we look ahead to what might be an isolated holiday. With your employees coping with burnout and COVID fatigue, the “holiday blues” may be stronger this year than ever. Here are…
How has the real estate industry changed over the past year? From full-time remote employment to social distancing measures, 2020 has been a year that constantly questioned the status quo and the way we interact with the world. The home buying process is one of the best examples of how a well-established procedure has adapted…
If there ever was a time to pull out all the stops for the holiday, this is it. Unfortunately, many companies are forgoing the traditional year-end celebration, with one survey finding that 44% of organizations say they won’t hold one this year. However, there’s no reason to be a Grinch, given that your team might…
Inspiration for employee benefits research can come from unexpected places – like earthquakes and shooting ranges. In my work leading an innovation team, we use a variety of techniques to gain deeper insight into what an employee may experience while on disability leave or when enrolling in their benefits. Most absence and leave management companies…
FMLA, PFML, and Disability Insurance: What are your options when you need to take care of yourself or a family member? Caring for your health is tricky enough, but being a caregiver with a full-time job can strain your finances, job, and overall mental and physical wellbeing. A 2020 report from AARP states the number…
Recently, I was on a call with a prospective client company’s human resource department along with representatives from a national employee benefits firm. The purpose of the call was a ‘finalist presentation’ for a voluntary Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) program for the executive class of employees. I provided the framework for an interesting ‘ask’ from…
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact millions of employees across the United States, nearly half of workers say open enrollment is more important this year. In fact, 75 percent of employees indicate there are benefits they are more interested in this year than last year, according to MetLife’s 2020 open enrollment survey. There…
Bipolar disorder – sometimes known as “manic depression” – is a disorder of the brain. People with this disorder will often experience extreme shifts in levels of activity, mood and energy. Such extremes are referred to as manic and depressive episodes. Out of all bipolar disorder cases, 83% are classified as severe. Most cases of…
