Lee Hafner

Wake Forest

Editor at Employee Benefit News

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Articles

How telehealth is saving this employee thousands in vet bills

1 week ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

Pet benefits may seem trendy, but access to convenient, affordable vet care is high on employees' lists of supportive offerings. For Synchrony, a consumer financial services company, employee input on the most impactful benefits prompted a partnership with global veterinary telehealth platform Airvet in January 2024. Employees have free, 24/7 digital access to expert vet care.
This 529 benefit platform offers gift cards for college

1 week ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

With National 529 Day approaching on May 29th, benefit managers should start a conversation around the importance of supporting employees' long-term financial wellness. 529 plans are a tax-advantaged education savings option that can broaden K-12 and higher learning opportunities for employees' families, and save people the hardship of student loan debt.
Put a stop to micromanaging

2 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

Micromanaging, the close control of every part of someone's work, is a quick way to demoralize employees. By identifying the source of their micromanaging tendencies, leaders can foster better relationships with their teams. As experts in people management, HR professionals can play an important role in helping diagnose why micromanagement is happening and train leaders in healthier practices.
The best benefits to support an employee's IVF journey

2 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a journey filled with emotional, physical and financial challenges — and is increasingly becoming a more popular way to build a family. According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, there were more than 432,000 IVF cycles performed at their clinics in 2023. Employees going through IVF can find that the process chips away at their ability to be present and productive at work.
How to support cancer survivors in the workplace

2 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

For the millions of working-age cancer survivors, challenges go beyond medical, including the ability to work through — or return to work after — diagnosis and treatment. Despite benefit managers' clear desire to help, there is an unfortunate lack of protocol for adult cancer survivors, says Caroline Savello, president at healthcare organization Color Health. This can make it difficult for employees to adjust to life after diagnosis, and for employers to know exactly how to approach support.
A less high-maintenance healthcare plan? Yes, please

2 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

To improve the healthcare experience for users, some healthcare plan vendors are finding ways to make seeking, receiving and paying for care more manageable. This is good news for benefit managers looking to cut costs without sacrificing quality of care. Increasingly, self-funded healthcare plans are becoming more appealing for employers seeking to ease high costs and have more flexibility.
How this KinderCare exec leads by example to support working parents

3 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

Dan Figurski, an executive at early childhood learning and child care company KinderCare, has a strong appreciation for education, cultivated by one special teacher and the gratitude he feels for being the first in his family to graduate from college. His efforts in the education industry have been a way to thank those who supported him and pay it forward, and it's having a tremendous impact on working families.
How benefit managers can maximize 401(k) plans

3 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

Few things are more devastating for retirees than outliving their savings, but that is the projection for much of today's workforce. According to a report by the Morningstar Center for Retirement & Policy Studies, 45% of current employees who retire at 65 risk running out of money, with single women, Hispanic and Black Americans and low-income workers being at higher risk than others.
Working moms share their favorite employee benefits

4 weeks ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

For working moms, wearing two hats is much easier when an employer is not just tolerant, but encourages employees to put family first. This doesn't mean work suffers — just the opposite. When parents are bolstered by an empathetic workplace culture and family-friendly programs and benefits, they have the ability to focus and excel, and that's great for business.
Benefit managers: Get with the postpartum program

1 month ago | benefitnews.com | Lee Hafner

Part of a series: The new world of the working momWhile every postpartum journey is different, the one common denominator is that the more support a woman has, the better the outcome will be for her, her family and her career. But in the U.S., women often manage this stage largely on their own, which can take a toll on their health and ability to successfully return to work.