Say what you will about social media. It can be a highlight reel that evokes thoughts of “how is she possibly in Bora Bora again” or “does he ever work?” It can also reconnect you with people you haven’t seen in a decade, without even stepping foot in the same room as them. I hadn’t…
Is income-protection a “luxury good” like designer clothing, fine wine, or—dare I go there?—a Peloton? A look at Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employee Benefits Survey data on availability of employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance benefits suggests you wouldn’t be totally off-base if you answered “yes” to that question. For both STD and…
It used to be that when an employer and employee parted ways that was it. The employee presumably had moved on because they were dissatisfied with some aspect of the job, and the employer was either glad to have them leaving in the first place or felt slighted that they had dared to imagine they…
By Peter Fabiankovic, Corporate Counsel, U.S. Insurance Law, MetLife Workplace leave and absence management is top-of-mind for employers and employees, as it provides an important element of financial stability. Several studies bear this out, including MetLife’s 17th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, where more than 90 percent of employees said short-term disability insurance…
No one plans to have cancer. Aside from the shock and anxiety for the future a diagnosis brings, cancer also presents a financial situation that few people fully consider. Huge medical bills, on top of the typical expenses like college loans, mortgages, and car payments, can leave survivors concerned about their finances. Despite this, there…
Becoming a parent is an extraordinary and, at times, stressful endeavor. Your life is about to fundamentally change. And as you plan the myriad dimensions of this new reality, you may be wondering how you’ll cover all the bills while you take time off work. Family leave is a complex issue and it requires a…
The start of a New Year—and decade!—is the perfect time to kick off or refresh HR-related programs. As company culture becomes more important than ever for employees, the payoff that comes from programs that meet their needs can be huge in terms of retention. Don’t forget that with the New Year comes resolutions—and for some…
Student loans and the increasing size of their associated debt continue to grab headlines. The ongoing political environment and upcoming presidential election is significantly increasing the discussion of various proposals and ideas. From a historical perspective student loans are certainly not new. The debt levels, however, are even more evident when you look at the…
By Katie McCord Jenkins, President and Chairperson, Illinois Mutual. If you were to ask me what type of business my company is in, you might be surprised with my response: We are in the business of preserving dreams and enabling people to live fearlessly in a time when so many live paycheck to paycheck. Yes,…
Annual enrollment will soon be underway for many employees. During this time, workers choose benefits they feel are most important to protect their health and financial well-being. Understanding the benefits your employer offers and their associated costs are most likely key considerations for you. In this post, I am going to focus on one…
