Talking Benefits

This episode features Jennifer Gunter, who leads total rewards and benefits strategy for Premier Health. She shares insights from her 20+ year journey in HR and her philosophy of never saying no to a growth opportunity. The episode dives into healthcare cost mitigation, designing benefits for five generations of employees, cutting through communication noise, and supporting a benefits team through crunch times like open enrollment.

For additional context and data, view our Health Care Costs Pulse Survey here:

https://www.ifebp.org/detail-pages/resource/survey/health-care-costs-pulse-survey--2027-cost-trend

In this bonus episode, our colleague Jenny Gartman shares five practical steps for preparing for a Department of Labor cybersecurity audit.

Read her blog at: https://blog.ifebp.org/five-ways-to-prepare-for-a-cybersecurity-audit/

We're taking a look at the evolution of fertility benefits over the last decade from specialized offerings to mainstream components of employee benefits packages.

The Employee Benefits Survey 2026 Survey Report can assist your organization in examining and structuring your benefits to meet business objectives and employee demands, and stay competitive in the hiring market. Plus, it's free for International Foundation members!

Download the report here: https://www.ifebp.org/detail-pages/resource/survey/employee-benefits-survey--2026-survey-report

This episode is based on a Word on Benefits blog post. Word on Benefits is a great source for information on hot benefits topics.

Read the post here: https://blog.ifebp.org/benefits-to-grow-and-support-families-a-ten-year-look/

GLP-1 coverage is quickly becoming one of the biggest benefits questions facing employers today.

In this episode, we dive into fresh Foundation survey data to unpack how organizations are tackling coverage decisions, rising costs, and access for diabetes, weight loss, and other health needs.

We're talking point solutions–what they are and how they could improve your plan participants' health outcomes and potentially lower your costs.

Can AI actually make benefits admin easier? We’re chatting about smart prompts, real-life use cases, and compliance risks you definitely don’t want to miss.

Learn more in Jenny’s blog post:

https://blog.ifebp.org/example-prompts-for-benefits-administration-how-to-direct-ai-effectively/

In this episode, we explore the surprising and rewarding world of employee benefits careers—how people find their way into the field, the wide range of roles it offers, and the real impact this work has on employees’ lives. Featuring stories from benefits professionals, this conversation highlights why this growing profession matters more than ever.

Curious how AI can improve employee benefits? In this bonus episode, our colleague Kathy Bergstrom shares seven practical use cases—plus what to watch for regarding privacy, security, and human oversight.

Learn more in Kathy's blog post:

https://blog.ifebp.org/seven-ways-ai-can-be-used-in-employee-benefits/

Bonus episode: we’re unpacking the DOL’s proposed PBM fee disclosure rules, sharing takeaways from our colleague Jenny Gartman.

Learn more in Jenny’s blog post:

https://blog.ifebp.org/pbm-fee-disclosure-regulatory-and-legislative-update/

In this episode, we celebrate National Employee Benefits Day with a deep dive into the power of volunteering and giving back. Our hosts explore the physical, mental, and workplace benefits of employee volunteer programs, share compelling data and trends—including the rise of micro‑volunteering—and discuss best practices for building meaningful, flexible initiatives. The episode also features real stories from organizations making a difference in their communities and wraps up with ideas and resources to help employers and employees get involved.