Tag Archive for 'benefits communications'

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Financial Wellness Makes the “Mega-Trends” List

If you’re a student of employee wellness programs, and if you’re reading this blog, I can assume that you are, you might be interested in a recent Employee Benefits News Blog that breaks down the “7 Emerging

Mega-Trends That Will Change Wellness Communication… Forever.”

Financial Wellness

Financial Wellness is a Key Component of your Wellness Strategy

Note trend #7, “Snacking well and saving well are connected.”  The study notes that smart wellness programs integrate financial and health literacy topics.  More and more, traditional health wellness companies and employers alike are beginning to recognize employee financial health issues as a key issue to address in a complete wellness program.

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Published by Joe Larocque on October 25, 2010

Open Enrollment: How Will You Communicate Medical Care Cost Increases?

While this likely won’t come as a shock to many reading this post, it appears

Benefits Communications

Benefits Communications for Delicate News

that medical care costs will once again rise at near double-digit rates in 2011.  According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute, medical care costs are expected to increase by 9% in 2011, a slight deceleration from the 9.5% rise posted in 2010.

Cost sharing has become a critical tool to help keep medical care costs affordable for both employer and employee.  2011 will be no different.  Here are the key findings of the PwC report:

  • 42% of employers intend to increase employee contributions for health insurance coverage

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Published by Joe Larocque on June 17, 2010

GuideSpark announces monthly newsletter dedicated to financial wellness and benefits communications topics

Financial Wellness Update, GuideSpark’s new monthly email publication will be dedicated to providing Human Resources professionals with information, tips and best practices for implementing workplace Financial Wellness programs and establishing best-in-class Benefits Communications.

“Over the last two years, HR interest in effective approaches for helping employees understand their workplace benefits and solve their personal financial issues has grown considerably,” said John Wolff, Vice President, Business Development.  “This newsletter will serve as a platform for sharing what we’ve learned in a decade of experience helping employees in these areas.”

Sign-up for GuideSpark’s monthly newsletter here:
Financial Wellness and Benefits Communications newsletter

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Published by Barbara Navarro on April 14, 2010

Snoopy Weighs in on Financial Wellness

MetLife released its 8th installment of its Annual Study of Benefits Trends on Monday.  In comparison to prior

Financial Wellness

Employee financial issues a central theme in this year's survey

years, the themes of employee financial security and benefits communications played a more prominent role than ever before.  This was a natural emphasis given the backdrop of economic volatility and a renewed employer focus on benefits cost control.

We wanted to highlight and provide my perspective on three key points that came out of this year’s study:

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Published by Joe Larocque on April 14, 2010

A $16 Million Benefits Communications Problem: CDHPs

One of the largest issue that our clients face is providing comprehensive and affordable health care for employees and

Benefits Communications

Focused Benefits Education Can Help You Drive CDHP Enrollment

their families.  In light of recent studies, employer interest in Consumer Driven Health Plans or CDHPs has grown tremendously.  In fact, a recent study by NBGH/Towers Watson finds that 54% of companies offer a CDHP and that number is expected to grow to 61% in 2011.

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Published by Joe Larocque on April 5, 2010

Benefits Communications for Today’s Employee

Benefits Communications

Traditional Benefits Communications Not Reaching Today's Employee

We used to make this distinction about certain people being “web savvy” but these days it seems we’re all pretty web savvy – perhaps there is just different degrees.  One of my colleagues always uses the example of his 85 year old grandfather forwarding him YouTube clips to illustrate this point.

At GuideSpark we spend much of our time talking to employers about taking a modern approach to benefits communications.  When we meet with an HR professional for the first time to discuss their specific issues, many of them seem to have this sense that the world of communications has somehow passed them by.

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Published by Joe Larocque on March 15, 2010

Contrasting your FSA Employee Benefit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

A mainstay of employer Benefits Communications is to preach the virtues of Flexible Spending Accounts.  But is there perhaps a better tax opportunity out there for your dependent care related expenses?

Tax is an important area of focus when it comes to attaining a productive benefits education.  Before digging into the details of this particular tax opportunity, it’s important that you understand the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit.  Tax deductions are taken “off the top” and ultimately reduce your taxable income, and, of course your taxable income is what ultimately drives the amount of taxes owed.  A tax credit on the other hand, is a dollar-for-dollar reduction subtracted from your tax liability.  If you had a $50 tax credit, it’s sort of like the government saying that they are giving you credit for having already paid them $50 in tax.

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Published by Joe Larocque on January 12, 2010

Financial Wellness in 2010 – Open Enrollment Tips

As November fast approaches, you are likely beginning to receive important communications about Open Enrollment. If you’re like many employees, you may have already decided to just stick with your current elections – after all, they seem to have worked out well enough. This year, more than others in the past, taking a passive approach to Open Enrollment may be an expensive decision.

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Published by Joe Larocque on October 25, 2009

GuideSpark announces Open Enrollment and New Hire Training modules

GuideSpark, Inc. announced two new modules for its online Benefits Learning Center solution, streamlining Open Enrollment communications and New Hire Training.
GuideSpark automates these key yet resource-intensive business processes to free up HR staff, reduce costs and allow employers to realize the full value of their benefits investments.
Each module provides a central online destination to access multimedia benefits education. The Open Enrollment module details benefits changes for the upcoming plan year, offers customized checklists of items to be completed and links to enrollment resources. The New Hire Training module educates new employees about their total compensation package, benefits enrollment procedures and orientation-related topics. Both provide a cost-effective option for using rich, engaging multimedia to educate and communicate with employees on HR topics.
Watch our new demo videos: New Hire Training and Open Enrollment

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Published by Barbara Navarro on August 31, 2009

GuideSpark unveils benefits and financial education web software

GuideSpark, Inc. unveiled its Web-hosted workplace financial education service, a comprehensive approach that helps employees make better use of their organization’s benefits and achieve financial security.
The GuideSpark Benefits and Open Enrollment Learning Center is designed to help employers grappling with how to effectively educate employees on workplace benefits. Engaging multimedia lessons provide in-depth and self-paced information about increasingly complex benefits offerings. GuideSpark provides anytime access to benefits education, and can be customized to support key HR events like open enrollment, new hire training and benefit program changes.
The company’s Financial Wellness Center helps employees avoid pervasive financial distractions that add stress, lower productivity and adversely affect health. GuideSpark experts point out that major employers are beginning to get the message: IBM, Pepsi Bottling Group, and Home Depot have already implemented financial education and planning programs for their employees.

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Published by Barbara Navarro on July 19, 2009