Healthcare costs set to spike, pay transparency gains ground, RTO impacts employee mental health, and more
Employer healthcare costs (like seemingly everything else) are going up, and the U.S. was ranked among the worst in the world for work-life balance.
Employers can’t overcome wellness challenges without first understanding them. It’s in that spirit we’re breaking down the top headlines, trends, and hot takes we uncovered this month.
Trending Topics & News
How return-to-office policies are shaping employee mental health
The rise of return-to-office policies is sparking an interesting discussion about employee mental health. Are the downsides of in-office work, like loss of flexibility and stressful commutes, worth it in exchange for the benefits, like in-person connections and clearer work-life boundaries? Take a closer look at the trade-offs employers are weighing as they call workers back onsite.
Read the full Yahoo News article here >>
New Zealand’s Work-Life Balance Presents a Teachable Moment for Us All
In a survey of countries with the largest economies, New Zealand takes the top spot for work-life balance for the third year in a row. The Global Life-Work Balance Index evaluates countries on different aspects of the employee experience, like wages, time off, and inclusivity. New Zealand workers enjoy four weeks of paid leave per year, up to 26 weeks of parental leave, and one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cultures in the world. The U.S., on the other hand, didn’t fare so well–it came in second to last. See which countries rounded out the top and bottom slots in the full breakdown.
Read the full HR Digest article here >>
Benefits & Compensation
US employers coming around to pay transparency
Pay transparency is gaining ground in the U.S., with nearly 40% of employers saying they share salary information with employees. The news comes as more than a dozen states have passed legislation mandating salary disclosures. But some pay-based information is still hard to come by; less than half of employers explain how base pay is determined and progresses over time. Read on for a better understanding of where American employers stand and what’s driving the shifts in pay transparency policy.
Read the full CFO.com article here >>
Employers let workers trade in PTO for cash, student loan payments
For years, we’ve seen stats that show U.S. workers don’t fully utilize their PTO. Now, more organizations are giving employees new ways to use that time, letting them trade it for student loan payments, 401(k) contributions, and even cash. It’s part of a broader trend we’re seeing with employers, especially large ones, striving to give workers more flexibility. Check out the full article to get a feel for whether PTO conversion options could work as part of your benefits strategy.
Read the full HR Dive article here >>
Healthcare & Insurance
Healthcare costs projected to rise 9% in 2026
Employers are in for another year of steep increases to healthcare costs. The last two years have seen the largest-ever back-to-back jumps. Driving the surge: demand for costly GLP-1 medications, a rise in chronic health conditions, and growing mental health care needs, in addition to increasing drug costs. Keep reading to discover the single-largest driver of healthcare costs and explore what employers can do to counteract the spike.
Read the full Employee Benefit News article here >>
More employers are giving workers money to buy their own health insurance
DIY health benefits are on the rise. More employers, especially small businesses, are taking advantage of ICHRAs. That’s a type of health plan that allows companies to give employees nontaxed contributions toward medical expenses, which can include health insurance premiums. Delve deeper into the benefits of ICHRAs and learn who qualifies for them in the full article.
Read the full Yahoo Finance article here >>
Industry Conversations & Voices
3 reasons to adopt more robust parental leave benefits
The bar for parental leave in the U.S. is low–we’re the only wealthy country in the world without national paid maternity and paternity leave. For employers, offering more robust parental leave benefits can be a tangible way to stand out while reducing employee burnout and boosting retention in the process. This insightful take outlines three reasons now might be the perfect time to reimagine benefits for working parents.
Read the full Employee Benefit News article here >>
Is ‘Emotional Salary’ the New Pay Bump?
Changing jobs once came with an automatic pay bump, but in an era of tightening budgets and shrinking margins, it’s no longer a guarantee. Enter in the emotional salary. It’s a term for the non-monetary parts of a job that make the company appealing to employees–think meaningful support, flexibility, and career development opportunities–and it can be a tool for employers when a pay bump isn’t on the table. Click through to see how.
Read the full HR Morning article here >>
Latest From Agile Telehealth
Top 7 Health Challenges Facing Truck Drivers
The job of a long-haul truck driver comes with inherent wellness risks, with 80% of employees in the profession having at least one major health problem. It’s a challenge that doesn’t just affect individual drivers; it can be a threat to the entire fleet. Check out this post from our series on the trucking industry to learn which health conditions pose the biggest threat and what steps trucking employers can take to overcome them.
Read the full Agile Telehealth article here >>
Best Alternative Health Benefits for Truckers
We continue our trucking industry series by exploring health benefits that are most valuable to truck drivers. These are eight of the best offerings that align with drivers’ schedule, lifestyle, and the unique demands of the profession. They can also reduce overall costs for employers.
Read the full Agile Telehealth article here >>
Affordable virtual wellness programs from Agile Telehealth
Improve employee health at no added cost with Agile Telehealth. Through our network of board-certified physicians and pharmacy partners, we help employers like you deliver high-quality wellness solutions that are available remotely, often at a fraction of the cost of traditional programs.
Browse all of our solutions to enhance the health and well-being of your team. Check out available programs here:
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