So many of today’s everyday items—dinnerware, electronics, toys, clothing—are made with plastic. Not surprisingly, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually, and at least 14 million tons end up in the ocean each year, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. From there, the particles can be ingested by animals and risk entering the human food supply chain. As such, the reality is that microplastics are everywhere, including the water, soil, air and even your food.

As more employees work remotely or adapt to a hybrid schedule, workers face a new set of stressful challenges. Managers can play a crucial role in helping employees manage their stress levels but must also be able to gauge the pulse of their team to effectively help them feel less tired and stressed due to their job.

According to HR services provider ADP, salaries have been rising rapidly, nearly on par with inflation. Year-over-year pay raises increased by 7.6% leading up to August 2022, compared to an average of around 2% in early 2021. While pay has increased overall, its growth has flattened since April.

If you suffer from back pain, you’re not alone. Nearly 80% of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, according to a study conducted by The Lancet medical journal. But just because you’re experiencing back pain now doesn’t mean you will be in pain forever. Consider these tips to manage the pain and start incorporating healthy habits for your back into your everyday routine.

Whether it’s a stroll in the park or a bike ride through the woods, being outdoors can positively impact your well-being. There are numerous ways nature can boost your mood and overall health.

The second quarter of 2022 marked the 19th consecutive quarter of commercial price increases, with brokers reporting continued easing in the market and average price increases of 6.1% across all lines of business, according to The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers’ (CIAB) latest quarterly survey.

On Aug. 16, 2022, the IRS updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the employer shared responsibility (pay or play) rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to include updated penalty amounts for 2023. For calendar year 2023, the adjusted $2,000 penalty amount is $2,880 and the adjusted $3,000 penalty amount is $4,320.

As summer comes to an end and fall begins, employees with school-age children may have increased caretaking responsibilities as their kids begin a new academic year. In addition to other day-to-day challenges, parents are now dealing with school pick-up and drop-off, unexpected breaks and other occurrences that could affect their work-life balance.

The average health benefit cost per U.S. employee is expected to increase by 5.6% in 2023, according to early results from Mercer’s National Survey of Employer-sponsored Health Plans 2022. This is significantly higher than the 4.4% projected increase for 2022 but is still lower than overall inflation. The expected 5.6% increase accounts for changes employers plan to implement to reduce their overall health care expenses.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) increased 8.3% year over year in August 2022, remaining uncomfortably rapid for the month. The CPI didn’t ease as much as expected by economists, putting continued inflation-related financial pressure on consumers.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have recently proposed a permanent rule to allow employers to remotely review the Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9) identity and employment authorization documents when hiring, reverifying or rehiring employees.

Financial stress can be a burden, but it can also negatively impact your mental health. During this period of increased inflation, it is especially important to understand the relationship between financial and mental wellness so you can apply strategies to help you improve both areas of your life.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized a rule establishing a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for people age 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing impairment. This will enable millions of Americans to buy hearing aids online and in retail stores without needing to see a doctor for an exam or a prescription or visit an audiologist for a fitting adjustment.

On Aug. 24, 2022, the Biden-Harris administration announced a student debt relief plan that provides a one-time student loan debt cancellation targeted at low- and middle-income families. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) will provide up to $10,000 in debt relief for non-Pell Grant recipients and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, according to the plan.

The latest Gallup and West Health poll found that 38% of American adults—an estimated 98 million—are forced to choose between health care and other basic needs. Rising health care prices are driving people to delay or skip medical care, drive less, skip meals and borrow money.

Efforts to improve health outcomes have traditionally focused on expanding access to the health care system. Recently, there has been an increased focus on improving health outcomes by taking a broader approach due to the challenges of affordability and access in the health care system. This more holistic approach to health and well-being includes examining and addressing the social factors, such as income, access to food and neighborhood location, that may well be linked to an individual’s health and well-being.

In the wake of the Great Reshuffle—the mass movement of workers to jobs that prioritize their needs—and macro trends like the tight labor market, attraction and retention are top of mind for employers. In fact, according to Zywave’s 2022 Attraction and Retention Benchmarking Overview, over 75% of employers consider attraction and retention to be among the top-five business challenges for their organizations.

Lower back pain is one of the most common health conditions in the world, as well as a leading cause of disability. According to the American Chiropractic Association, 1 in 4 adults will experience lower back pain for at least one day during a three-month timespan.

On Aug. 12, 2022, a federal district court blocked the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) from removing “instruction in fertility awareness-based methods, including the lactation amenorrhea method” from its list of recommended preventive health services.

While repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) are common among athletes, these injuries can occur in the workplace. Also known as repetitive stress injuries or cumulative trauma disorders, RMIs impact a broad range of occupations, including jobs that require heavy lifting and stationary office roles. RMIs occur when continuous physical stress from daily tasks damages nerves, tendons or muscles quicker than the body can heal from such stress.