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Benefits Buzz

Benefits Buzz

By WEX

Benefits Buzz keeps you up to date on the world of employee benefits. Learn from industry experts on a variety of topics including leadership, how to attract and retain talent, health savings accounts, lifestyle spending accounts, COBRA, compliance, effective communication, marketing and more!

WEX is in the business of simplifying benefits for everyone. Focus on the things that matter most to you. We’ll take care of the rest. That's the WEX difference.
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#5-10: 5 Takeaways After 25K Views/Listens

Benefits BuzzMay 18, 2022

00:00
24:60
#6-14: HSA Day 2023 - 20 years of HSAs
Oct 04, 202331:15
#6-13: Perks of outsourcing benefits administration
Sep 20, 202332:08
#6-12: Attract and retain talent with pet benefits

#6-12: Attract and retain talent with pet benefits

When we conducted a survey among our participants and asked them what benefit they’d like to learn more about, pet insurance received the third-most responses. Recognizing the importance of pets in employees' lives, companies that implement pet-friendly policies and benefits foster a stronger bond between their staff and the organization. Additionally, pet-friendly initiatives can attract and retain talented individuals who appreciate the flexibility and understanding shown by their employer. Bridgit Moszer, Regional Sales Director, Direct Sales, at WEX and Jessica Shawn, Sr. Manager, HR Business Partner, at WEX join us to talk about the importance of pet-friendly policies and benefits in the workplace.

Sep 06, 202322:42
#6-11: Customize your benefits package with voluntary benefits
Aug 23, 202319:44
#6-10: Employee Surveys: How to create an employee listening strategy to increase employee engagement

#6-10: Employee Surveys: How to create an employee listening strategy to increase employee engagement

Employee surveys are an essential tool for organizations to gauge employee engagement and gain valuable insights into their workforce. By gathering feedback from employees through surveys, companies can assess various aspects of the work environment, including job satisfaction, work-life balance, and employee benefits experience. Melanie Tinto, chief human resources officer here at WEX, joins us to talk about how you can level up from basic engagement surveys to a comprehensive employee listening program.

Aug 16, 202323:57
#6-9: 8 findings from our participant survey to help you prep for open enrollment
Aug 09, 202322:46
#6-8: Onboarding remote employees: Key strategies for success

#6-8: Onboarding remote employees: Key strategies for success

HR plays a crucial role in onboarding remote and hybrid employees, ensuring a smooth and successful integration into the organization. HR teams need to design and implement a tailored onboarding process that addresses the unique challenges and needs of remote and hybrid work environments. Hannah Jabar, talent acquisition program manager at WEX and Justine Thompson, talent acquisition manager at WEX join us to share their tips on onboarding remote/hybrid employees.

Jul 12, 202322:50
#6-7: Embracing DEI strategies for talent acquisition

#6-7: Embracing DEI strategies for talent acquisition

Incorporating DEI into hiring strategies has become increasingly more important to companies over the last few years. In fact, a 2020 survey showed 51% of employers surveyed have formalized a DEI strategy for their company and 44% have made changes to their hiring policies. Laura Shen, chief diversity and inclusion officer here at WEX, joins us to talk about acquiring talent from a DEI perspective.

Jun 21, 202323:38
#6-6: Unlocking the power of an EVP

#6-6: Unlocking the power of an EVP

What is an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and why is it so important for your company? Sherry Olson, vice president of global employee experience at WEX, joins us to discuss her experience with launching a new EVP at WEX, her tips and tricks she learned along the way, and the importance of an EVP when it comes to recruiting and retaining valuable employees.

Jun 07, 202317:17
#6-5: Skip the messaging jargon: 5 tips for better benefits communication

#6-5: Skip the messaging jargon: 5 tips for better benefits communication

Did you know that about half of employees don’t understand their benefits, and 80% of employees never even open communications about benefits? Many employees often feel confused about their benefits plans options, especially if their employer is using “complicated HR jargon” in their benefits messaging. Bri Boerner, Senior Operational Writer, Global Talent Development at WEX and Hayden Goethe, Senior Content Marketing Strategist at WEX, join us to talk about their tips on how employers can effectively communicate benefits messaging to their employees in a way that’s relatable and easy to understand.

May 24, 202323:33
#6-4: 5 tips for a successful benefits budget conversation
May 10, 202312:04
#6-3: What the end of the COVID-19 national emergencies means for COBRA, FSAs, and more

#6-3: What the end of the COVID-19 national emergencies means for COBRA, FSAs, and more

At the end of January, President Biden informed Congress that he planned to end the two COVID-19 national emergencies on May 11, 2023. Recently, House Joint Resolution 7 passed the House and Senate and was delivered to President Biden on April 5, 2023, resulting in immediate termination ahead of the expected May 11th date. From an employee benefits and COBRA perspective, this means that temporary extensions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic will also expire. Let’s talk with Jill Longo, Director of Compliance, Health at WEX, about what the end of the COVID-19 national emergencies means for COBRA, FSAs, and more.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to President Biden signing legislation to seemingly end the COVID-19 National Emergency effective April 10, 2023.

Apr 26, 202322:10
#6-2: 7 things to know when designing an HSA program

#6-2: 7 things to know when designing an HSA program

HSAs offer an excellent opportunity for participants to save money on healthcare expenses and for employers to support their employees’ wellness needs in a cost-efficient way. But it’s important to remember that there are HSA rules and regulations you and your employees need to follow in order to stay compliant. Join us as we talk with Jason Cook, Vice President of Healthcare Emerging Markets at WEX, about HSA rules for employees, designing an HSA program, and how to keep HSAs exempt from ERISA.

Apr 12, 202318:29
#6-1: Your employees are enrolled. Now what?

#6-1: Your employees are enrolled. Now what?

Now that a new benefits plan year is underway, it's time to shift participants from how to "choose" their benefits to how they "use" their benefits to ensure a positive experience. We’re opening Season 6 of our Benefits Buzz podcast with a webinar recording hosted by our new Benefits Buzz host Nathan Coverstone. Our guests share tips and best practices to help you best support your employees in the new plan year.

Mar 29, 202357:01
#5-27: HSA Day 2022 - Beat Inflation with Benefits

#5-27: HSA Day 2022 - Beat Inflation with Benefits

Inflation and a declining financial market have resulted in nearly half of Americans unable to cover a $400 emergency medical expense. Compound that with 50% of employees leaving jobs for mental health reasons and many HR professionals are facing a perfect employee wellness storm. As employees turn to their employers for financial, physical, and mental support, HSA Day 2022 aims to provide meaningful tools and educational resources on one particular benefit that meets the needs of a variety of employees: the health savings account (HSA). Check out our HSA Day webpage to learn more!

Our guests: 

Tori Dunlap: Globally-Recognized Money Expert and CEO/Founder of Her First $100K

Jennifer McClure: CEO of Unbridled Talent & DisruptHR

Oct 05, 202248:21
#5-26: An HSA Story - Multilingual employee benefits education
Sep 28, 202217:13
#5-25: ESG Reporting - Through the Lens of HR

#5-25: ESG Reporting - Through the Lens of HR

ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. In the second episode of our two-part series, we take ESG reporting a level deeper by talking with two of our HR representatives who worked directly with our report. How were they involved? And why is this something every HR team should be thinking about?

Check out WEX’s ESG report here. 

Sep 21, 202223:05
#5-24: ESG Reporting - Why It Should Be Top of Mind

#5-24: ESG Reporting - Why It Should Be Top of Mind

ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. And, chances are, if your company isn’t focused on ESG, it might be falling behind the competition in a variety of ways. More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports in some form. What is ESG? And why is showing your ESG data externally important? In the first of a two-part series, we introduce why ESG has become such a business-critical topic in 2022.

Check out WEX’s ESG report here. 

Sep 14, 202222:37
#5-23: The Basics of VEBAs
Sep 07, 202224:17
#5-22: Improve Your Employee Benefits Experience This Open Enrollment

#5-22: Improve Your Employee Benefits Experience This Open Enrollment

Benefits decision-making can be a daunting task for employees during open enrollment season. And our current inflation rates make these decisions even more important. What can HR leaders and employers do to ease some of this stress and make open enrollment a positive experience for employees? How can you prepare and educate your employees about the benefits you’re offering? We talk with Liz Hill, account executive at WEX, on ways you can improve your employee benefits experience this open enrollment season.

Aug 31, 202221:39
#5-21: Why You Need to Transform Talent Acquisition This Year

#5-21: Why You Need to Transform Talent Acquisition This Year

A pandemic. The Great Resignation. Flexible work arrangements. Employee wellness. The last two-plus years have increased the demand for talent acquisition and transformed what employees are looking for from their employers. What has changed? And how should you be changing your approach to hiring in today’s environment? We sit down with our global head of talent acquisition to discuss these issues and so much more.

Aug 17, 202224:40
#5-20: Discover your savings potential with a limited FSA

#5-20: Discover your savings potential with a limited FSA

Just because you participate in an HSA doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the savings potential of an FSA. Limited FSAs are eligible to be paired with HDHPs and HSAs. We chat with Mike Hagen on our sales team about his experience participating in a limited FSA. You may be surprised to learn how big of an expense his limited FSA was able to cover! Check out our blog post to learn more.

Aug 10, 202218:05
#5-19: Thinking big picture with an HSA

#5-19: Thinking big picture with an HSA

Last week, we shared the story of one family that leaned on their health savings account (HSA) when surprising expenses came up. Today, as part of our open enrollment series, we asked another WEXer to join us to talk about how he takes an investment-heavy approach with his HSA funds. You’ll be amazed by the results he’s experienced by investing his HSA funds over the long haul.

Aug 03, 202220:22
#5-18: Unexpected expenses? Lean on your HSA.
Jul 27, 202218:39
#5-17: The state of employee benefits

#5-17: The state of employee benefits

What are the trending topics our partners and their audiences care about in the world of employee benefits? Chris Byrd and our panelists share their insight and perspective on a wide range of trends surrounding employee wellness, market trends, and more! This episode was recorded live from WEX SPARK 2022 in Hollywood, Fla.

Jul 20, 202242:29
#5-16: Top Benefits Trends Takeaways in 2022
Jul 06, 202224:39
#5-15: LSA Plan Design ... One Step Further

#5-15: LSA Plan Design ... One Step Further

Our "Build Your LSA Your Way" episode was one of the most popular episodes we've recorded this season. We take the lifestyle spending account (LSA) plan design conversation a step further in this webinar recording hosted by Benefits Buzz host Eric Piela. Our guests answer some common questions and share plan design examples to help you build an LSA that meets your employees' needs.

Jun 29, 202256:01
#5-14: Diversity, Inclusion, and Why Now is the Time
Jun 22, 202221:01
#5-13: A tattoo-friendly HR brand
Jun 15, 202219:31
#5-12: Recognition Starts from the Top

#5-12: Recognition Starts from the Top

The time is now to celebrate your employees. With so much change in how we work, where we work, and who we work for, developing an employee recognition program is vital to supporting and retaining employees. And when it comes from the top of the organization, even better! WEX Chair and CEO Melissa Smith is here to tell you about the impact reimagining employee recognition can have on your business or organization.

Jun 08, 202218:30
#5-11: People Analytics and the Value to HR

#5-11: People Analytics and the Value to HR

With employees leaving their jobs in record numbers, HR professionals are looking for ways to stay informed on their employees’ needs so they can better support them. One way they’re learning more is through people analytics. With this data, HR leaders can make informed decisions that lead to higher employer retention rates, reduced bias in the workplace, and improved employee wellbeing. Our own Melanie Tinto talks through her experience with people analytics, including the capabilities, learnings, and other considerations.

Jun 01, 202222:52
#5-10: 5 Takeaways After 25K Views/Listens

#5-10: 5 Takeaways After 25K Views/Listens

WEX’s Benefits Buzz podcast reached an important milestone, with over 25,000 views/listens of episodes all-time. Over the years, we’ve found new ways to reach you and brought on exciting guests, but our mission has remained the same. We wanted to share five big takeaways we’ve learned with our audience of HR professionals and benefits decision-makers.

May 18, 202224:60
#5-9: Removing mental health stigma

#5-9: Removing mental health stigma

Since the start of the pandemic, mental and behavioral health requests increased 100 percent. For the youngest employees, that increase was even higher. While the mental wellness need was always there, employers are increasingly taking notice. One specific area we’re seeing is  simply removing the stigma around mental health and illnesses and making sure we all know how to talk about it.

That’s why we’ve invited Marna Canterbury, HealthPartners Senior Director of Community Health & Engagement and Joel Spoonheim, HealthPartners Senior Director of Worksite Health & Population Well-being, who help lead and support Make it OK, which is a community campaign to reduce stigma by increasing understanding and creating caring conversations about mental health and illnesses.

Visit www.makeitok.org for resources that can help you.

May 11, 202233:11
#5-8: Growing a Team (and You) in 2022

#5-8: Growing a Team (and You) in 2022

Putting out fires. Not enough time for strategy. Even less time to focus on the personal and professional growth of yourself and your team (if you manage one). These are real issues. And the churn of Zoom calls in the last couple years has only compounded the issue for many. We want to talk through time management and prioritizing growth with a real expert in Jones Loflin, who is an author, keynote speaker, and coach. For more on Loflin, go to jonesloflin.com.

May 04, 202222:23
#5-7: Women, the workplace, and the power of support

#5-7: Women, the workplace, and the power of support

The data is clear: In many ways, women have been more disproportionately affected by the pandemic than men. From February 2020 to January 2022, male workers regained all jobs they had lost due to the public health crisis, according to one analysis. However, 1.1 million women left the labor force during that span, accounting for 63 percent of all jobs lost.

And 42% of women and 35% of men have felt burned out in the last few months (up from 32% and 28% respectively, last year). So what is going on? What challenges are unique to women in the workplace? And what can we do to better support them? Elayne Fluker from the “Support is Sexy” podcast is here to share her insight on how to better support working women. Check out Elayne's work at elaynefluker.com.

Fluker's book: “Get Over ‘I Got It’”,

Fluker's podcast: “Support is Sexy

Apr 27, 202230:15
#5-6: Multiple HSAs. Multiple options.
Apr 20, 202218:40
#5-5: Year-Round Benefits Communication

#5-5: Year-Round Benefits Communication

Open enrollment might be the biggest moment on the benefits calendar year. How soon are you letting employees know it’s coming? And how can you get their attention early so they research now and save later? We talk with our own Steve Carroll, who will share his suggestions on building a year-round benefits communication plan to prepare for open enrollment.

Apr 13, 202221:01
#5-4: Retention Interviews - Talk before they walk

#5-4: Retention Interviews - Talk before they walk

You can learn about your workplace culture through exit interviews, but your active employees might provide even more valuable insight. WEX recently started conducting “stay interviews” to learn why employees keep working here. What was the motivation behind it? And how do they work? Chelsie Camp from our HR team joins us to provide you with potentially another way to collect employee feedback.

Apr 06, 202227:25
#5-3: Build Your LSA Your Way
Mar 30, 202218:23
#5-2: An HSA for everyday, but especially today

#5-2: An HSA for everyday, but especially today

Did you know that more than half of Americans do not have enough savings to cover an unplanned expense of $1,000? While HSA funds can be invested, the vast majority of participants need these accounts to save on today’s expenses. One of our subject-matter experts on HSAs shares his insight on HSA messaging so employers can better connect the perks of these accounts with how participants typically use them.

Mar 23, 202227:56
#5-1: New Benefits. Now What?
Mar 16, 202219:39
#4-32: BONUS EPISODE! The new recruiting/retention world
Nov 09, 202121:24
#4-31: HSA Day 2021 and How HSAs Can Change the HR Story

#4-31: HSA Day 2021 and How HSAs Can Change the HR Story

There’s a common story in HR. You wear a lot of hats and those hats come with a lot of questions. Recruiter, therapist, referee, party planner, and benefits guru. Need we say more?

Education is your ticket to fewer emails, IMs, and knocks at your door. The more employees understand their benefits, the more quiet time for you. HSA Day is a day to learn. Let’s change the HR story.

Get everything you need for HSA Day at https://www.wexbenefitsyou.com/hsaday/

Oct 15, 202147:12
#4-30: Incentives and Employee Wellness
Oct 05, 202122:41
#4-29: LSAs, HRAs, and Prioritizing Wellness

#4-29: LSAs, HRAs, and Prioritizing Wellness

This is a time of change for employee benefits. Mental health is getting much-needed attention. And with more employees working from home, inside-the-office games and events are no longer appealing. Employers are needing more flexibility in how they address benefits and employee wellness. Lifestyle spending accounts and wellness HRAs are two options employers can turn to. But which is the right one for you? We’ll break down these two accounts.

Sep 27, 202122:24
#4-28: All Aboard for Innovation!
Sep 20, 202123:21
#4-27: Expense Eligibility - Game Show Edition
Sep 13, 202123:08
#4-26: Benefits Decisions Backed by Data

#4-26: Benefits Decisions Backed by Data

Two-fifths of workers say they are more likely to than they were a year ago to consider a new job that offers better benefits. The benefits employers offer their employees are as important as ever. But how do you know they are meeting your employees’ needs? One way is with data. We’ll chat analytics 101: What data is commonly available and what you should look for to boost your recruiting and retention effort?

Sep 07, 202121:56
#4-25: An LSA Success Story

#4-25: An LSA Success Story

In the midst of the Great Resignation and with recruiting/retention efforts at a premium, the lifestyle spending account (LSA) is one way employers can differentiate their benefits package. Learn how one client has leaned on LSAs for years to improve their recruiting and retention.

Aug 30, 202119:36
#4-24: Open Enrollment Shouldn't Need an Instruction Manual

#4-24: Open Enrollment Shouldn't Need an Instruction Manual

The last 18 months have been unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. For our human resources listeners, it’s required you to be nimble and flexible in responding to dramatic changes to your employees’ needs. But with more changes this year as employees return to the office and with employment demand seemingly outweighing supply in many industries, this could be your most open enrollment period ever. Why? Find out in this episode of Benefits Buzz.

Aug 24, 202126:39