Benefits Buzz

From the rising costs of healthcare and benefits packages to retaining and recruiting to helping employees understand their benefits to the ever-changing regulatory landscape, HR teams face many challenges that present obstacles to organizational success.

We’re opening season 7 of our Benefits Buzz podcast with a webinar covering:

Part 2 of our webinar is coming soon! And don’t forget to check out our guide on how to overcome the benefits engagement barrier.

The 20th anniversary of HSAs marks a significant milestone in the life of these accounts that empower tens of millions of Americans to save for current and future medical needs and make more informed healthcare decisions. 

As we celebrate this anniversary, it is evident that HSAs have become an integral part of the employee benefits landscape and will continue to play a vital role in improving the medical and financial needs of your employees. Chris Byrd, senior vice president health executive at WEX, joins us to discuss the growth of HSAs over the past 20 years, HSA misconceptions that still exist, and his predictions for how HSAs will continue to evolve in the future. Check out our HSA Day webpage to learn more!

Is your in-house benefits administration team struggling to juggle the multitude of complexities behind running a successful benefits administration program? Are you spending too much time and resources trying to keep up to date with compliance changes and providing the technology and services your employees need for a positive benefits experience? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may be considering outsourcing your benefits administration. Steve Carroll, senior vice president of client services at WEX joins us to talk about the perks of outsourcing your benefits administration and upcoming 2024 benefits administration trends to keep in mind as you prepare for open enrollment.

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.

Voluntary benefits provide employers with an opportunity to support employees with additional benefits that meet their individual needs.  And they serve as an excellent cost-effective recruitment and retention tool for employers as they look for ways to improve their benefits offerings. In fact, 76% of employees in a recent survey said voluntary benefits would entice them to stay at their current company. Chris Wiley, director of partnerships at WEX, joins us to share his tips on offering voluntary benefits to your employees.

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.

Open enrollment is just a couple months away for many of you. And that means you are already in the throes of planning for it. We surveyed our participants earlier this year to learn more about their benefits needs, with nearly 60,000 responding to the survey. The information they provided can help inform your open enrollment planning as you look to better support your employees while boosting your retention numbers. Hayden Goethe, who is our senior content marketing strategist at WEX, joins us to discuss the results of the survey. 

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.

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.

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.