Workplace well-being transforms every day, so employers’ wellness initiatives will continue to grow this year. All signs indicate that employee well-being will become a primary focus for employers in 2023. And in a general sense, many organizations will have a renewed focus on employees as people. Employees want to be treated like human beings—not just resources.

Organizations thrive through a sense of belonging and shared purpose. As employers navigate on-site, hybrid and remote work models, many may worry that those critical success factors could get lost in the workplace. Luckily, there are still ways for employers to promote their organizational mission with all employees, regardless of location.

If you miss your open enrollment deadline, you could lose coverage and be unable to make benefits changes or enroll until the next enrollment period. One exception to this rule is if you experience a life-changing qualifying event that would trigger a special enrollment period (SEP). Events such as getting married or divorced, having children or losing eligibility for other health coverage can trigger special enrollment rights.

Insured natural disaster losses hit an estimated $120 billion in 2022, with North America making up the bulk of the tally due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, according to Munich Re. Economic losses reached $270 billion, down from $320 billion in 2021.

On Jan. 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) proposed regulations that would reduce monthly payments for certain federal student loan borrowers. The agency’s proposal overhauls one of the four existing income-driven repayment (IDR) plans—also known as the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) plan—that aims to make student loan payments more manageable.

Benefits have always been crucial for attracting and retaining top performers, and voluntary benefits are a great way for employers to round off their offerings. These extra perks allow for more personalization that can help satisfy the unique needs of each worker, especially in today’s multigenerational workforce.

Two new laws that were included in the federal omnibus spending bill, enacted on Dec. 29, 2022, will expand workplace rights for employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions starting in 2023.

The winter months are known for bringing sickness. In particular, this winter, health experts are warning of a “tripledemic” due to the threat of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and COVID-19. Viruses transmit more effectively in cold and dry weather, increasing your chances of coming into contact with someone contagious.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 6.5% year over year in December 2022, down from 7.1% in November. Moderating inflation is a welcome relief for Americans and a positive development for the Federal Reserve (Fed) and other policymakers; however, the fight against inflation isn’t over.

The United States experienced the second year of decline in life expectancy in 2021, while other comparably large, wealthy countries saw a rebound in life expectancy since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Health System Tracker analysis from the Peterson Center on Healthcare and Kaiser Family Foundation (Peterson-KFF).

Between the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and evolving job duties, more employees are experiencing mental health challenges. In fact, a 2022 Lyra survey revealed that 84% of employees experienced at least one mental health challenge over the past year. They’re feeling anxious, burnt out, stressed and depressed.

Deciding how many HR professionals an organization needs to operate effectively is a hotly debated topic. Some organizations rely on metrics to guide them in making this decision. One of the most common metrics organizations use when deciding whether to hire HR professionals is the HR-to-employee ratio. When properly analyzed, this ratio can aid employers in meeting their HR needs and benchmarking their organizations against others.

On Jan. 11, 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice of implementation of medical examiner refresher training and recertification every 10 years. The regulation is required for all eligible medical examiners certified and listed on the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry).

Ransomware events that occur on holidays and weekends cause much higher revenue losses than cyber incidents occurring on weekdays—primarily due to lower staffing levels—according to a survey of over 1,200 cybersecurity professionals.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law providing eligible employees of covered employers with unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. In general, eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of leave each year for FMLA-qualifying reasons, including for treatment of a serious health condition.

Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain traction in the U.S. auto market. Last year, Americans bought nearly 450,000 EVs—an 83% jump over 2020. With many federal and state governments pushing for lower CO2 roadway emissions, EV demand is expected to soar during the next decade.

More businesses are exploring low- and no-code development, which enables employees outside of IT to design and develop software solutions to problems specific to their function. A low-code development platform requires users to have little or no coding experience, increasing accessibility and feasibility for many functions and teams, including HR professionals. Similarly, no-code platforms require no coding experience.

On Jan. 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed rule that would ban noncompete clauses in employment agreements. In making its historic announcement, the agency stated that noncompete agreements harm competition; suppress wages for workers, including those not subjected to noncompete clauses; reduce labor mobility; and hamper innovation.

The global reinsurance landscape tightened significantly on Jan. 1, with one broker deeming this renewal season “one of the hardest reinsurance markets in living memory.” Frequent natural catastrophes and economic and political shifts have introduced significant uncertainty and volatility into the insurance market, along with the biggest capital crunch in more than a decade, per recent broker reports.

Today’s society has become increasingly digital in nature, prompting businesses to leverage additional technology and online services in their operations. Specifically, some businesses have grown more reliant on the internet and social media platforms to market their products and services, allowing them to connect with a wider range of customers.