Organizations are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in employment-related decisions. According to the Society for Human Resources Management, around 25% of organizations use AI for HR processes such as recruitment, hiring, performance evaluations and retention determinations.

Many employees continue to feel financially strained because of inflation. With open enrollment fast approaching, inflation could impact the choices employees make when it comes to their benefits. Specifically, employees are likely to consider which benefits matter the most and how to optimize the money they spend on those offerings.

It’s generally understood that what you eat affects your physical health, but it’s lesser known that diet also impacts your mental health. A 2019 review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption positively impacted psychological health.

Nicotine pouches have gained recent popularity as an alternative to chewing tobacco. Unlike chewing tobacco, nicotine pouches don’t require users to spit. Instead, these products are placed on the inside of the cheek or under the tongue. They don’t contain tobacco, but they do contain highly addictive nicotine, sweeteners and plant-based fibers.

While federal law generally does not prohibit discrimination against workers because of their weight and height, a growing number of states and localities have or are considering passing laws to prohibit workplace weight and height discrimination. Even without mandatory legal protections or requirements, employers can consider how best to address weight and height discrimination in the workplace.

Health care costs are expected to grow 7% in 2024 due to rising pharmaceutical expenses driven by specialty drugs and insurers increasing rates in response to inflation, according to an annual report from professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This trend is higher than 2022’s and 2023’s projected medical cost rates, which were 5.5% and 6%, respectively.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has created revolutionary advances across many industries. Now, it’s paving its way as a tool to self-diagnosis medical conditions or get answers to health-related questions. Self-diagnosis is a growing practice, as people’s primary access point for health care information has shifted from professionals to the internet.

Many employees need help with open enrollment. This is particularly true among younger workers, who typically have less experience selecting benefits than older generations that have been in the workforce longer. A study by insurance and employee benefits provider MetLife found that 26% of Generation Z (Gen Z) employees are insecure about making benefits decisions.

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 sick days and other occurrences that could affect their work-life balance.

One in 10 people in the United States will get the flu in a given season, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while viruses can live year-round, flu activity tends to rise in October and peak between December and February. Doing what you can to protect yourself and others from contracting the flu is essential.

Fewer employees are confident that they understand how their health care plans work in 2023 than last year, according to the 2023 Healthcare Literacy Report by benefit solutions provider Optavise. Notably, this confidence is linked to satisfaction; 90% of employees who said they were extremely confident they understood their plan reported plan satisfaction, compared to just 13%-14% of employees who weren’t confident at all.

Voluntary benefits are becoming increasingly important to employees as they focus on their physical, mental, social and financial health. As a result, many employers have expanded their voluntary benefits offerings to address employees’ needs and improve their attraction and retention efforts.

Many remote professionals seek public spaces with Wi-Fi for a change in scenery during the work day. This can reduce feelings of claustrophobia, create healthy boundaries between work and home life and increase daily enjoyment. However, a poorly planned remote work excursion can also reduce focus, decrease productivity and increase cyber risk.

As labor challenges continue throughout the year, more employers are exploring skills-based hiring to help them compete for job candidates and expand talent pools. While specific qualifications may be valuable for some roles (e.g., knowledge roles requiring degrees and licensure) or industries (e.g., health care and education), HR professionals and senior leaders may benefit from considering candidates based on desired skills rather than experience or education.

The labor landscape was undoubtedly a roller coaster in the first half of 2023, and employers are still along for the ride. During the past year, the market experienced a record number of employee quits, a jump in talent shortages and increased workplace demands from workers—many of whom had the upper hand in employment negotiations.

When an employee welcomes a child into the world, it’s often a joyous occasion. It also comes with significant responsibilities, including ensuring the child’s health and well-being. Securing health insurance for newborns and newly adopted children is a crucial step toward safeguarding their health and providing the employee and their family financial protection against unexpected medical expenses.

Influenza (flu) season lasts from October through May in the United States, with peak flu activity between December and March. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing and duration of flu activity have been unpredictable.

Companies today face a growing need to reimagine traditional workplace practices amid labor shortages and evolving employment regulations. As the workforce landscape evolves and expectations shift, organizations are discovering that maintaining a competitive edge goes beyond the usual perks and benefits.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) was launched nationwide last summer, and mental health experts report that it’s made help more accessible for Americans. Like dialing 911 for medical emergencies, people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis can call or text 988 to connect with counselors who will listen, provide support and connect them to resources.

Many employers have instructed employees to return to the office, either full time or for a specified number of days per week. Despite employers’ efforts, many employees have refused to return to in-office work. In fact, numerous organizations, including large corporations like Amazon, Apple and Twitter, are currently struggling with workers refusing to follow return-to-office (RTO) orders. Employee refusals have caused some organizations to change course and soften RTO orders, while others have doubled down on their efforts to have employees return, threatening to terminate those who don’t.