To The Point Podcast

Betsy Kamler, Director of Client Engagement sits down with Amy Glynn, Financial Strategist with Global Retirement Partners to discuss the benefits of offering a financial wellness program and why it is important to offer this program during our current COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 3, 2020, a New York federal district court vacated portions of Department of Labor regulations under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). While the decision is binding over employers with employees working in southern New York, the order does not specifically address the scope of its application over the rest of the country. For that reason, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with these updates. 

It’s August 2020 and time for many kids to go back to school. However, school looks very different this year for so many, and parents are left scrambling to try to figure out once again how to balance life as both an employee, and a parent to a child whose school or daycare may not be open. 

Understanding Suicide & Mental HealthHaving a mental illness issue does not guarantee you will be suicidal. However, depending on the illness, it can make positive thinking much harder. The CDC describes mental illness as “conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior.” Common types of mental illness include depression, anxiety and personality disorders. By current estimates, about 1 in 5 Americans are living with a mental illness. This dispels the idea that mental health is something that can be willed away. Chances are that you personally know someone with a mental illness or at least work with an individual who has one. It’s important that you take meaningful steps to help people with these conditions, not just pretend they do not exist. In fact, inaction is a large part of the problem.What Employers Can DoCompanies cannot expect employees with mental illnesses to simply “snap out of it” or wipe away thoughts of self-harm. Employers need to acknowledge that mental illness comes

What is an opioid?An opioid is a type of drug found in prescription pain medicine. It is also found in “street drugs” such as heroin. Prescription opioids can help with pain when used under a doctor’s order. They may be addictive and cause side effects and even death when used incorrectly. prescription opioids include: Hydrocodone (Vicodin®), Oxycodone (OxyContin®), Oxymorphone (Opana®), Codeine, Morphine, Methadone, FentanylHow is treatment provided?Treatment is typically provided on an outpatient basis. In some cases, it is also provided at a residential program. Both programs often use medications to help get patients off opioids.Talk with your doctor or other health care professional about the options. Check with your insurance provider for what they cover, as costs can vary.How can I get someone to seek help?When a person with an opioid use disorder is ready to get help, they need help right away. But they also need to want to participate. This can be hard for friends and family members if the person doe

Betsy Kamler, Director of Client Engagement sits down with Hayes Stevens of Benefit Technology Resources to discuss what to expect when you decide to vet out a new solution. 

Betsy Kamler, Director of Client Engagement sits down with Hayes Stevens of Benefit Technology Resources to discuss the purpose of a Human Capital Management System and the pitfalls of not having it within your company. 

Betsy Kamler, Director of Client Engagement sits down with Hayes Stevens of Benefit Technology Resources to discuss the importance of technology in your workforce, the cost savings and how it can impact your company’s culture. 

Tune in to listen to our ERISA counsel explain how the deadlines have been extended, and for a word of caution about delaying premium payment.  

While this cost reduction is certainly a positive gesture, to the extent that the refund or credit is considered a plan asset, it must be used in accordance with ERISA and fiduciary obligations. Listen to learn more about determining whether your credit is a plan asset, and your options from there.

On May 12, 2020 the IRS finally issued long-awaited relief for employers and employees regarding medical election changes and other new allowances for cafeteria plans, health FSAs, and dependent care accounts. Tune in to learn more about these changes and for some Q&A on how they will work.

Stress in the workplace can have many origins or come from one single event. It can impact on both employees and employers alike. It is generally believed that some stress is okay (sometimes referred to as “challenge” or “positive stress”) but when stress occurs in amounts that you cannot handle, both mental and physical changes may occur.The majority of employees experiencing burnout will remain at work. Being aware of changes in attitudes and energy can help with early identification. Employees may not realize that they are dealing with burnout and may instead believe that they are just struggling to keep up during stressful times. Stress, however, is usually experienced as feeling anxious and having a sense of urgency while burnout is more commonly experienced as helplessness, hopelessness, or apathy.Employees may not be aware of the negative impacts on their performance that this can have, such as increased errors or lower productivity. Employers and co-workers may attribute the changes to a poor attitude

Employers Can PROMOTE Awareness About the Importance of Mental Health and Stress ManagementWorkplace health promotion programs have proven to be successful, especially when they combine mental and physical health interventions.The workplace is an optimal setting to create a culture of health because:Communication structures are already in place.Programs and policies come from one central team.Social support networks are available.Employers can offer incentives to reinforce healthy behaviors.Employers can use data to track progress and measure the effects.Action steps employers can take include:Make mental health self-assessment tools available to all employees.Offer free or subsidized clinical screenings for depression from a qualified mental health professional, followed by directed feedback and clinical referral when appropriate.Offer health insurance with no or low out-of-pocket costs for depression medications and mental health counseling.Provide free or subsidized lifestyle coaching, counseling, or self-

Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease and Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.

The IRS is sending penalty letters to certain large employers they believe didn’t fulfill their obligation within the employer shared responsibility provision of the ACA, or because they didn’t complete the ACA reporting at all. 

Be sure to tune into this podcast for a review of some of the compliance milestones of 2019 and their implications. Sarah and Stacy also discuss some expectations for 2020.

Tune in as we discuss the if an ROI can be achieved in a wellness program and what you need to make it profitable for you and your employees.

Employers are often unsure what to do with them, or aren’t aware that the DOL has issued guidance to help plan sponsors decide how to handle their rebate. Listen in to a conversation between our Compliance Director and our ERISA attorney that will help explain employers’ options. 

Many medical carriers offer their own wellness programs or there are many stand alone wellness programs offered by various vendors. Tune in to learn the difference between the two and what might be best for company.

Employers with group health plans must generally extend coverage to the children of an employee when a state court or agency issues a qualified medical child support order. Listen to this podcast to better understand your obligation as an employer and to help answer a variety of “what if” questions often encountered upon receiving an order like this.