Benefits Magazine

IFEBP > Resources > Magazines > Benefits Magazine

Preparing Public Pensions to Emerge From the Pandemic

Auto-IRAs and Voluntary Marketplaces: States Respond to the Retirement Crisis

Telehealth Truths Revealed: What the Pandemic Taught Our Fund

October Articles Include:

Rethinking Paid Parental Leave

Preparing Public Pensions to Emerge From the Pandemic

Auto-IRAs and Voluntary Marketplaces: States Respond to the Retirement Crisis

Telehealth Truths Revealed: What the Pandemic Taught Our Fund

Opening the Digital Front Door: Building an Effective Communication Strategy

Legal & Legislative Reporter

Benefits Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers benefit issues affecting multiemployer, single employer and public employee plan representatives. It’s filled with timely, important articles from leaders in the employee benefits industry that tackle serious issues and provide tangible solutions.

Benefits Magazine is free to International Foundation and ISCEBS members. If you’re not already a member, Join today!

Search past issues of Benefits Magazine in Foundation Publications Search.

Past Issues

September 2021

Articles include:

Reaching the Most Vulnerable: How to Engage Financially Stressed Workers

by Greg Ward
Employer-sponsored financial wellness programs can be effective in improving financial resilience and reducing financial stress, but employees must engage in these programs to reap the benefits. Targeting specific populations of employees, including the financially vulnerable, may boost the chances of success.
Ten Ideas to Improve the Retirement Outlook for Women

by Catherine Collinson
Factors such as lower lifetime income and breaks in employment contribute to a retirement savings gap among women when compared with men. The author offers ten suggestions for employers to help close that gap and improve women’s long-term financial security.
Breaking Down Barriers: Promoting Care for Problematic Substance Use

by Suzette Glasner, Ph.D.
A workplace culture that is committed to psychological wellness can dramatically impact uptake of addiction care among employees who need it the most. Employers should consider strategies that reduce stigma, promote early engagement in care and expand access to needed treatments.
Making the Case for Empathetic Leadership

by Alyssa Hodder
Organizations that demonstrate empathetic leadership—by openly and honestly communicating with their workforce, showing an understanding of their experiences and providing resources for support—can help to build a culture that’s better for employees and the bottom line.
Reframing Total Rewards for a Workforce Without Walls

by Joseph Torella and Ashley Thomalla, Ph.D.
As they look at the road ahead, employers may need to rethink their total rewards strategies to include flexible work arrangements and find ways to accommodate a variety of employee needs.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

August 2021

Articles include:

Is Retaining Grandfathered Status Still Worth It?

by Stacie M. Kalmer and Gregory A. Storm
Many multiemployer health plans have elected to maintain grandfathered status and are therefore exempt from some Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. The authors discuss the factors that plan sponsors should consider when evaluating whether to retain grandfathered status.
Cybersecurity for Plan Fiduciaries

by Michael A. Ledbetter, CEBS, and Paul E. Stoehr, CEBS
Employee benefit plan trustees and plan fiduciaries should take a proactive approach in addressing their obligation to protect retirement plans from cybercrimes. Recent guidance issued by the Department of Labor provides recommended best practices and tips for protecting participant data and monitoring vendor cybersecurity efforts.
Follow the Money: Medical Claims Reviews

by Michael Cook, Pete Kaehler and Gordon Kuntz
Medical billing errors are more common than some may think. A regular review of medical claims for accuracy may help self-funded multiemployer health and welfare funds discover such errors and save money in the process.
Grief in the Workplace: Helping Workers Deal With Loss

by Judy Plotkin
The average workplace has become saturated with grief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many employees are mourning some kind of loss, and employers can support them through the process with policies and programs that address mental health.
Successful Mentoring for Apprentices

by Stuart Bass
Pairing apprentices with experienced journeyworkers in a mentoring relationship is often critical to the success of an apprenticeship program.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

July 2021

Articles include:

Trustee Succession: Preparing for the Next Generation

by Martha M. Henrickson, CEBS, and Anthony S. Cacace
Multiemployer benefit funds have a fiduciary responsibility to act prudently when appointing new trustees. The authors discuss the important phases of trustee recruitment and education.
Lost Participants: DOL Provides Some Guidance

by Mary Komornicka, CEBS
Recent guidance from the Department of Labor provides some guideposts that should help retirement plan sponsors develop policies and procedures for dealing with missing participants.
Early Retirement Incentive Programs

by Kathleen Cahill Slaught and Ben Spater
More employers may be considering offering early retirement incentive programs (ERIPs) in response to the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs must be thoughtfully designed and implemented.
Decision Support: Helping Health Plan Members Find the Right Fit

by Devon Devine and Andrew Mackenzie
By deploying a decision-support tool, health plan sponsors can potentially help participants choose plans that fit their needs and save money for the plan. This article describes one plan sponsor’s experience in launching a decision-support tool.
Strategic Planning and Plan Sustainability: Part Two

by Tom Iannucci and Laurie Hutchinson
The five phases of strategic planning include setting the strategic direction; performing a strategic gap analysis; and documenting, executing and monitoring the strategic plan. This article, the second in a two-part series, helps pension and benefit boards examine the final four phases as well as the role of key performance indicators in measuring progress toward a plan’s strategic objectives.
Biometrics: What Employers Need to Understand Before Collecting Employee Data

by Jordan L. Fischer
Employers are increasingly using biometric technology to collect employee data, particularly as they shift to remote work models. Being aware of what is permitted by biometric laws and developing robust compliance programs is critical.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

June 2021

Articles include:

Six Ways Employer Wellness Programs Have Changed—Forever

by Debra Wein
The COVID-19 pandemic forced workplace wellness programs to pivot in order to meet changing worker well-being needs.
Amplify Your Workforce Experience: Aligning and Reinforcing DEI and Well-Being

by Michael Gilmartin and Elizabeth Lascaze
Rather than considering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and well-being as separate, niceto- have programs, employers may want to consider aligning and mutually reinforcing efforts in those areas to improve the workforce experience.
Employer Bankruptcies: Protecting Multiemployer Plans

by Jeffrey S. Swyers and Christopher M. Leins
Multiemployer benefit plan trustees have a responsibility to protect the plan’s rights as a creditor when a contributing employer files for bankruptcy. The authors review the important preliminary issues trustees must keep in mind following a bankruptcy filing.
Data-Driven Clinical Management: Reducing Prescription Drug Costs and Improving Member Health

by Mark Campbell, Pharm.D.
As prescription drug costs continue to rise, benefit plans may find opportunities for savings through clinical management strategies informed by data analysis.
Strategic Planning and Plan Sustainability: Part One

by Tom Iannucci and Laurie Hutchinson
In today’s challenging, highly volatile environment, employee benefit plan boards of trustees can help to better position their plans by utilizing the type of strategic planning that is common among private sector organizations and other nonprofits. This article, the first in a two-part series, examines the first of five phases for strategic planning as well as the benefits of a SWOT analysis and environmental scans.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

May 2021

Articles include:

The American Rescue Plan Act: New Relief for Multiemployer Pension Plans

by Paul O. Catenacci and Michael A. Novara
After years of failed attempts, multiemployer pension fund reform efforts have moved forward with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The authors describe the law’s provisions and the impact on multiemployer pension funds.
What 2020 Taught Us About Open Enrollment

by David S. Karlin
Many employers and plan sponsors turned to virtual solutions when conducting annual benefits enrollment in 2020. Lessons learned from that experience should be considered when planning for benefits enrollment this year.
The Multiemployer Actuary and Administrator Tango

by Jay K. Egelberg and Joseph F. Hicks Jr.
Who should take the lead on certain administrative matters for multiemployer defined benefit pension funds? Two actuaries offer their perspectives.
Can Robots Improve the Mental Health of the Workforce?

by Eric Parmenter, CEBS, and Mark Attridge, Ph.D.
From traditional EAPs to bots that use artificial intelligence, the range of options to address worker mental health challenges has grown. What should employers and plan sponsors consider when deciding which tools to use and promote?
Health Care Navigation: Help for Managing Complex Clinical Needs

by Mike Sokol, M.D.
Health care navigation services may improve health outcomes for employees with complex or chronic conditions while potentially delivering cost savings for both the employer and employees.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

April 2021

Articles include:

SECURE Act Guidance Shines a Helpful Light for Retirement Plans

by Steven E. Grieb, CEBS
Federal agencies have been busy issuing guidance on some of the more complex provisions of the SECURE Act over the last year. This article highlights the guidance on provisions affecting the administration of defined contribution (DC) plans.
Sustainable Investment Options in a Post–COVID-19 World

by Linsey Schoemehl Payne
The COVID-19 pandemic and new guidance from the Department of Labor are among the issues retirement plan sponsors must consider when evaluating environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing strategies.
The Plan Custodian: Keeper of the Money

by Andrew E. Staab
As the safekeepers of plan assets, custodians are among the plan service providers that trustees have a fiduciary duty to monitor. The author provides an overview of the role of plan custodians and identifies some red flags that trustees should watch out for.
Cybersecurity Issues for JATCs in the Digital Age

by Jason Kotlyarov
Cybersecurity and privacy threats are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated. With the advent of online instruction, joint apprenticeship training committees (JATCs) may face increased risks.
Real Estate Investing and COVID-19

by Mike Bessell
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and exaggerated many trends in the demand for real estate that were already well underway. While real estate is expected to continue to draw investors, those investors should be mindful of wide variations in performance based on regions and asset type.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

March 2021

Articles include:

Advocating for a Healthier Workforce

by Ruth Hunt, Kelly Conlin and Mary Armstrong-Flippo
As employee well-being suffers during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers can respond by providing better education and communication on preventive care and chronic care management as well as policies around workhour flexibility and leave.
Caregiving and Retirement: Impact of COVID-19

by Anna M. Rappaport
Providing elder care can have a long-term impact on the retirement security of employee caregivers. COVID-19 has further complicated the elder-care landscape by disrupting care arrangements.
Leveraging Data to Combat Substance Abuse in the Workforce

by Allison Brown
The shift to remote work over the past year has made it more difficult for employers and plan sponsors to detect whether an employee is struggling with a substance use disorder. Data from health claims and paid-time-off patterns may help identify employees who need help.
Balancing Risk: Designing and Implementing a Variable Annuity Pension Plan

by Paul Graf and Brian J. Harper
Variable pension plans have gained increased attention from plan trustees seeking to provide retirement security to plan participants while managing costs and volatility for employers. In this second article of two parts, the authors describe how one fund implemented the variable annuity type of plan.
Mergers and Acquisitions and Retirement Plans

by Robert A. Massa, CEBS
During a merger or acquisition, single employer plan sponsors have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that retirement plan assets are properly handled and participant rights are protected.
Navigating Global Privacy Regulations

by Rebecca L. Rakoski
The list of countries passing data privacy regulations continues to grow, creating compliance challenges for global employers. The author provides examples of recent legislation and suggests steps for complying with new laws.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

February 2021

Articles include:

Telehealth: Access, Utilization, Challenges and the Future Landscape

by Louise Short, M.D., and Ryan June
Telehealth has been thrust into the spotlight by the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors discuss the accessibility challenges that remain and the importance of developing a holistic strategy for virtual care.
Critical Decisions: Helping DC Plan Participants Plan for Retirement Income

by Steve Vernon
Preretirees face critical decisions when determining how to generate the most retirement income possible from their financial resources and how to make it last the rest of their lives. In this second article of a two-part series, the author shares how defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors can help their participants make critical decisions such as when to retire and how to deploy savings in DC plans to generate lifetime retirement income.
Balancing Risk: Designing and Implementing an Adjustable Pension Plan

by Gene Kalwarski, Greg Reardon and Christian Benjaminson
Adjustable pension plans (APPs) have gained increased attention from plan trustees seeking to provide retirement security to plan participants while managing costs and volatility for employers. In this first article of two parts, the authors describe the basics of APPs and how one fund implemented the variable accrual type of APP.
Recent Issues in Mental Health Parity Compliance

by Stoddard Davenport and T. J. Gray
As treatment options and payment mechanisms for mental health and substance use disorders continue to evolve, plan sponsors should consider the impact of these changes on their employees and the health plan’s compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
Financial Decision Making During the Pandemic

by Lynn Pettus and Daniel Eck
Workers have faced some tough financial decisions and situations—from whether to delay retirement to figuring out how to make ends meet following a job loss—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comprehensive employer-sponsored financial wellness programs can help guide them through challenging times.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

January 2021

Articles include:

Working in Harmony: Developing an Equitable Approach to Global Benefits

by Jana Bixby, Robb Suchecki and Christine Hoehne, CEBS
Harmonizing employee benefits may help multinational employers improve workforce and organizational well-being while also producing cost-saving synergies.
Infusing Cultural Humility Into Employee Benefit Decisions

by Rikki Gilmore-Byrd, Dr.P.H., and Reyna Gilmore, M.D.
Employers and benefit plan sponsors seeking to meet the needs of a diverse population may want to ensure their leaders have embraced cultural humility when making decisions about employee benefit offerings.
Critical Decisions: Planning for Retirement Income

by Steve Vernon
Preretirees face critical decisions when determining how to generate the most retirement income possible from their financial resources and how to make it last. In this first article of a two-part series, the author reveals the five most important retirement income decisions for preretirees. A second article will look at how defined contribution plan sponsors can help plan participants with those decisions.
Solving the Specialty Drug Puzzle: Employer and Plan Sponsor Strategies

by Susan A. Hayes
Specialty drugs are one of the fastest growing areas of health care costs. In this second article of a twopart series, the author suggests strategies employers and plan sponsors can use to rein in drug costs.
Collecting Withdrawal Liability in the COVID-19 Environment

by Jeffrey S. Swyers and Richard S. Siegel
In the midst of a global pandemic, multiemployer pension funds may need to explore options to identify third parties that may be responsible for withdrawal liability if the withdrawing employer can’t pay. The authors explain theories that can be explored to hold third parties liable for a direct employer’s withdrawal.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

Get Started

Courses

Study Materials

Online Study Groups

Exams

Get Started

Courses

Study Materials

Online Study Groups

Exams

Benefits Magazine

October Articles Include:

Past Issues

September 2021

August 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021

March 2021

February 2021

January 2021

View archived editions of the Benefits Magazine.

Become a Member

Become a Member

67th Annual Employee Benefits Conference

54th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist®

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist®

Got a Benefits Question?

Got a Benefits Question?

Benefits Magazine

October Articles Include:

Past Issues