Young professional employee reviews voluntary benefits with HR: Choosing Resilience, Living Fully: Open Enrollment 2021

Catching up with Reality: The Full Value of Voluntary Benefits

By Jeremy Parr, Director, Voluntary Benefits, Lincoln Financial Group Editor’s Note: It’s time that companies structure, prioritize, and present benefits to reflect today’s financial and societal realities. Employees often must turn to voluntary benefits to help them shoulder higher out-of-pocket costs. And that means employers need to offer a well-rounded benefits package to help their…

Managers being trained on employee benefits. Choosing Resilience, Living Fully: Open Enrollment 2021

Inspiring a More Resilient Workforce: Why Employers should Provide Support to Managers Who are Shouldering the Challenge of Propping Up Employees’ Well-Being

By Missy Plohr-Memming, senior vice president, Group Benefits, MetLife   Acting as a vital bridge between employers and individual contributors, a managers’ role has become even more critical over the last year and a half. Indeed, managers have not only stepped up to the challenge of navigating recent shifts in the workplace, but also meeting…

Mature woman accessing the Social Security Administration online portal: Choosing Resilience, Living Fully: Open Enrollment 2021

The Positive Impact of COVID-19 on the Social Security Administration

By Michael Mattison Editor’s Note: The Social Security Administration was not immune to COVID-19. Like every other aspect of life that changed with the pandemic, the SSA needed to pivot in order to serve the public.  While this was a daunting task, the organization transitioned into an almost entirely remote workforce over the span of…

Young woman recovering from Covid-19 at home: Choosing Resilience, Living Fully: Open Enrollment 2021

COVID-19: Proving The Value of SSDI to American Workers

By Steve Perrigo Editor’s Note: The far-reaching effects of a global virus mean employees with disabilities need Social Security Disability Insurance benefits more than ever. Thankfully, awareness is growing.   Significant health impacts halted work for many American workers – some estimates reach 11 million – and it’s leading to a search for answers. The…

Financial advisor discussing disability insurance with a client: Choosing Resilience, Living Fully: Open Enrollment 2021

Changing the Disability Conversation with Your Clients – Making Financial Plans Disability-Proof

Bob Herum, MSFS, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC Editor’s Note: Facts do not change your clients’ behavior when it comes to understanding their risk for being out of work due to an injury or illness. Bob Herum presents a primer on how to alter your discussion about the impact of disability on financial plans. Traditionally, the…

Millennial office worker discussing open enrollment with HR: Choosing Resilience, Living Fully: Open Enrollment 2021

Millennials: Expecting to Make a Life Change this Year? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Overlook Open Enrollment

Author: Marquis Smallwood, vice president of Workforce Engagement at MetLife   Editor’s Note: As open enrollment season rolls around on the heels of another challenging pandemic year, many employees are looking at their employer benefits through a new lens. This is particularly true of millennial employees. A new MetLife survey found nearly two-thirds (64 percent)…

Family looking off into a bright sunset

Benefit Strategies that Protect Employee Income, Drive Enrollment, and Assist Recruitment and Retention

Ernest Dube Director, Enrollment & Account Management Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® Editor’s Note: Employers can help employees better prepare for their future and help close potential income gaps caused by longer-term workplace absences by providing supplemental income protection. This benefit provides additional coverage benefits from a protection perspective and also enhances employee recruitment…

group of diverse professional workers over a city background

From The CDA Research Files: The Impact of Remote Work on Absence Rates

Editor’s Note: In this latest installment of The CDA’s ongoing research series, Fred Schott, director of operations and research, provides a summary of findings from the Current Population Survey on the connections among occupations, availability of remote work, and absence.  These findings were presented during September 2021, to the National Association of Supplemental Benefit Insurance 2021…

How to offer a supportive, productive environment during an employee's absence

How To Offer a Supportive, Productive Environment During an Employee’s Absence from Work

By Christina Bridges Editor’s Note: Absence and disability – including a short-term disability – often create uncertainty for both the employer and the employee. Employees are contending with health, wellness, and income concerns; and employers are looking to ensure a smooth return to work, as well as a seamless tracking of the leave. It can…