ASHHRA Health and Wellness Pulse

FROM ASHHRA
Join ASHHRA and receive a special gift from ASHHRA. Already a member? Join or renew your membership by December 25, 2014, and receive a special holiday gift as our THANK-YOU for supporting ASHHRA by clicking here.
 
ASHHRA, in collaboration with PwC Saratoga, formally invites you to participate in the 2015 HR Metrics Tool. The mission of this collaboration is to enable ASHHRA members to benefit from PwC Saratoga's expertise in HR analytics and knowledge of the health care field in order to obtain relevant benchmarks for workforce and HR metrics. Additional information is here, and you can apply to participate hereEarly Bird Rate extended until December 19, 2015.
 
Are you exploring career opportunities? Having a certification exclusive to health care human resources will add value to your resume as you differentiate yourself in a competitive marketplace. Explore how you can obtain a new Certified in Healthcare Human Resources (CHHR) certification by clicking here.
 
Assess your CHHR knowledge. Try the demo exam. Purchase the CHHR SAE here. Additional information on the CHHR is here.
 
The ASHHRA Mentoring Program is designed to create a mentorship community for health care HR professionals to enhance and grow knowledge, skills and abilities to excel in their career. The 2014/2015 Mentoring Program is accepting registrations from practitioner members. If you are interested in participating in the Mentoring Program, complete and submit the requested information here.
 
BENEFITS

By Brian Feeley, Employee Benefit News 

With 2015 fast approaching, employee benefit decision makers are scrambling to ensure that they stay ahead of the curve – particularly as the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate kicks in next month. As employers look to increase benefit offerings and weather rising health care costs, here are the top five areas to which everyone should be paying attention.

Visit http://ebn.benefitnews.com/blog/ebviews/5-employee-benefit-trends-to-watch-in-2015-2745204-1.html to view the full article online.

 

By Michael Giardina, Employee Benefit News

With mental illness and substance abuse costing employers an estimated $100 billion annually in indirect costs alone, benefit decision-makers are seeing value in promoting employee assistance programs as a means to improve their workforce’s mental well-being.

Visit http://ebn.benefitnews.com/news/ebn_hc_wellness_disease/eaps-critical-in-promoting-mental-well-being-2744872-1.html to view the full article online.

 

By Dan Cook, BenefitsPro

Employers must be listening to what employees are telling pollsters when they say they want more flexibility at work. A survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans finds that nearly half of those employers who responded are offering flexibility in scheduling as part of their 2015 benefit package.

Visit http://www.benefitspro.com/2014/12/10/more-employers-embrace-flexible-schedules?t=employer-paid to view the full article online.

 

By John Tabis, Mashable

The holidays can be an incredibly busy time for small business owners and those in the retail space. A recent report by Forrester Research predicts that consumers will spend $89 billion shopping online during the holiday season this year, and Deloitte’s 2014 annual holiday survey revealed shoppers plan to spend a little more than half of their holiday budget in-store.

Visit http://mashable.com/2014/11/23/employee-morale-holidays/ to view the full article online.

 

Employee Benefit Research Institute

People enrolled in so-called "consumer-driven" health plans are more involved in their health care, according to a new report from EBRI. 

Visit http://ebri.org/publications/ib/index.cfm?fa=ibDisp&content_id=5470 to view the full article online.

 

World at Work

While DC plans are the primary company-sponsored retirement program, most employers haven't moved the needle in preparing workers for a financially secure retirement.

Visit http://www.worldatwork.org/adimComment?id=76235&from=Benefits%20News%20All to view the full article online.

 

By Mike Nesper, Employee Benefit Adviser

As employee benefits plans evolve, so too does the employer’s perspective, particularly when it comes to voluntary benefits. More and more, employers are viewing benefits holistically instead of taking a siloed approach. As Mercer’s U.S. innovation leader, Betsy Dill expects to see that trend continue as we head into the new year as employers continue to personalize benefit plans to their workforces.

Visit http://eba.benefitnews.com/news/eba_voluntary/new-non-insurance-benefits-hit-the-market-2745179-1.html to view the full article online.

 

By Marlene Y. Satter, BenefitsPro

Only two in 10 baby boomers plan to retire by 65, according to a survey commissioned by Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement.

Visit http://www.benefitspro.com/2014/12/09/just-2-in-10-expect-to-retire-at-65 to view the full article online.

 

By Susan Scutti, Medical Daily

The benefits commonly offered to employees have been changing over time; and while today companies offer more health-related perks such as gym memberships, acupuncture reimbursement and even on-site doctors, the future will bring personalized medicine. 

Visit http://www.medicaldaily.com/employee-benefits-today-and-tomorrow-what-future-looks-311466 to view the full article online.

 

By Ann D. Clark and Erin Krehbiel, BenefitsPro

Work-life balance is dead. The concept that work and life are opposing forces is unraveling. And that’s a good thing for benefits. At the same time working hours are getting longer, work-life satisfaction is increasing. What’s behind these seemingly counterintuitive trends?

Visit http://www.benefitspro.com/2014/12/04/why-businesses-cant-afford-to-ignore-work-life-per to view the full article online.

 
CULTURE OF HEALTH

By Andrea Davis, Employee Benefit News 

2015 could prove to be a trying year for employer-sponsored wellness programs with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission having filed suit in recent months against at least three employers – the largest one being Honeywell – over their wellness programs.

Visit http://ebn.benefitnews.com/news/ebn_hc_wellness_disease/wellness-programs-in-2015-what-employers-need-to-know-2745110-1.html to view the full article online.

 

By Greg Goth, Employee Benefit News

Seattle-based 2Morrow Inc. has launched SmartQuit, a smartphone-based smoking cessation app based on technology pioneered in a groundbreaking trial at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Visit http://ebn.benefitnews.com/news/ebn_hc_wellness_disease/smoking-cessation-app-shows-results-2744853-1.html to view the full article online.

 

By Portia Williams, portsmouth-dailytimes.com

According to reports from King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC) in Portsmouth, Ohio, they are among 46 Ohio employers selected by the Ohio Department of Health and the Healthy Ohio Business Council to be recognized for healthy worksite practices.

Visit http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/news/150887109/KDMC-of-Ohio-receives-Healthy-Worksite-Award to view the full article online.

 

By Sandi Eskew, Employee Benefit Views

For any employer that has implemented a wellness program as part of employee health benefits, there are two things to say: First, congratulations. Not only do these employers clearly recognize that helping employees become more aware and educated about their well-being will ultimately reduce cost and improve productivity, but they’re also creating an incredibly positive internal culture.

Visit http://ebn.benefitnews.com/blog/ebviews/inexpensive-ways-to-enhance-your-wellness-program-2745111-1.html to view the full article online.

 

HR.BLR.com

Some 64 percent of employees report having high levels of stress, according to the latest StressPulse report by ComPsych® Corporation. ComPsych Corporation provides employee assistance programs and is the pioneer of fully integrated EAP, behavioral health, wellness, work-life, HR, FMLA and absence management services under its GuidanceResources brand.

Visit http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Benefits-Leave/Employee-Wellness/High-stress-has-employees-seeking-wellness-assista# to view the full article online.

 

By Dan Cook, BenefitsPro

With the flu season in full swing, new information from the Centers for Disease Control should be unsettling to human resource departments.

Visit http://www.benefitspro.com/2014/12/15/nasty-flu-strains-pose-added-threat-to-workers?t=employer-paid to view the full article online.

 

By Dan Cook, BenefitsPro

Pollster Gallup is narrowing its focus in an effort to find out why some companies perform better than others.

Visit http://www.benefitspro.com/2014/12/15/employee-well-being-vital-to-business-success?t=wellness to view the full article online.

 

World at Work

While few employers plan to make major changes in their health care benefits, changes are inevitable, particularly in the growth of wellness programs designed to address worker risks and behaviors.

Visit http://www.worldatwork.org/adimComment?id=76240&from=Benefits%20News%20All to view the full article online.

 

Employee Benefit Adviser, Slideshow Gallery

Numerous studies have indicated that having a healthy culture in the workplace can help increase engagement and lower health costs. Now, as a new plan year approaches, here’s a breakdown of the top wellness culture ideas for employers to consider.

Visit http://eba.benefitnews.com/gallery/ebn/building-a-better-wellness-culture-top-tips-2745137-1.html?portal=eba_hc_wellness_disease to view the full article online.