As companies make their employee benefit decisions for the new year, HR leaders and benefit brokers are focused on the new realities of the ongoing pandemic and its effect on the workplace. Purchasing Power®, a voluntary benefit company, HR professionals and benefit brokers to assess the impact that both COVID-19 and financial stress is having on workforces.

Listing the things we’ve missed out on in 2020 is easy, but what about the things we are thankful for?  Even during challenging times, it’s important to reflect upon the things in your life that you are thankful for.

(TROY, MI, November 24, 2020) – In the just released 2021 National Business Trends Survey from the Employer Associations of America (EAA), 44% of executives expect the overall outlook for the 2021 economy to be improving. This annual survey shares information on what executives nationally are doing to address the changing business climate. Survey responses also reflect the impact COVID-19 has had on this year’s business trends.

Many organizations have had to tighten their budgets due to the pandemic.  Employees understand this, but it’s still nice to feel appreciated, and employees have become accustomed to employers expressing that appreciation at year-end.  It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to show your employees you appreciate them.

When workers went remote back in March, corporate culture went with them. And if that culture was toxic, it’s likely still toxic. The toxic environment formerly housed in cubicles and offices, has now moved into workers’ homes.

Mental Health America (MHA) recently released data from its online screening tool showing that the number of people reporting signs of anxiety and depression since the start of the pandemic hit an all-time high in September. The new data accompanies the release of the annual State of Mental Health in America report, showing that nationwide, 19% (47.1 million) of people in the U.S. are living with a mental health condition, a 1.5 million increase over last year’s report.

Livonia, Mich. ---October 28, 2020 --- ASE is excited to bring our Employment Law Conference and AA/EEO & Diversity Conference together into one great legal compliance event. This two-day conference, December 2-3, 2020, will bring the best employment and labor law attorneys together with EEOC and OFCCP officials and AA/EEO/Diversity experts.

Deskless workers, also known as frontline workers, are people who don’t do their jobs from behind a desk. Unlike people who work in traditional office settings, deskless employees are on their feet or on the move throughout their workday. Deskless workers make up 80% of the global workforce, and yet research has focused largely on their employers, until now. A new TalentCards report, The State of Deskless Workforce Training, shines a spotlight on these deskless workers and the state of...

Family health premiums average over $21,000 in 2020:  Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 4% to average $21,342 in 2020, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). 

Employees are prioritizing their safety, security, and personal values over money and titles according to the results of the Worker Value Survey, conducted by WorldatWork. The study of more than 5,400 working professionals uncovered significant workplace shifts and reflects the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and social issues.

A new study, Workplaces in Crisis: Employee Care Still Missing the Mark, was recently released by an employee experience software company, Limeade. The study revisits the Limeade 2020 Employee Care Report from March, comparing results from before the pandemic with today. The findings reveal how COVID-19 has impacted employee burnout, emotional health, overall well-being, and engagement – and how both managers and companies are falling short on showing employees they authentically care.

More than half of working parents fear being a parent is a strike against them in the workplace during COVID-19. According to the new Catalyst-CNBC survey, The Impact of COVID-19 on Working Parents, nearly 40% of working parents say that their employer does not have enough benefits for parents to support blended or virtual learning amidst the uncertainty of students of all ages returning to school.

Mental health, modified school schedules, and more leave requests are some of employers' biggest challenges heading into the Fall. Many companies have made accommodations to make their business and their employees more resilient for what's ahead, according to new research from employee benefits provider Unum.

According to a FlexJobs survey of approximately 4,000 people who have been working remotely during the pandemic, 51% report they have been much more productive working from home than they were in the traditional office. 44% said their productivity was about the same, and only 5% say they have been less productive in their home office.

Livonia, Mich.  September 21, 2020 --- American Society of Employers (ASE), one of the nation’s oldest and largest employer associations, has released its 2020 Healthcare Insurance Benefits Survey.  The annual survey, covering Michigan employers, examines the premiums, deductibles, and co-pays of employer-sponsored health plans as well as wellness benefits and cost control strategies.