Benefits administration outsourcing has been on the rise for years, and those who outsource benefits administration are also outsourcing other complex HR functions at a similarly rapid pace. For example, among those organizations who outsource, the average number of vendors used ranged from a low of two (for companies with under one hundred employees), to a high of five (for those with more than 1000 employees). The increase in number of vendors used is a telltale sign that employers are looking for a “best-of-breed” technology strategy - one service from different vendors - versus the all-in-one model.

Let's face it; annual enrollment is a busy time, and chances are — you might be playing catch-up. Here's a quick refresher on topics you may have missed on your LinkedIn feed.

Federal court actions have called to question wellness programs which offer incentives for employees to participate in clinical testing or require disclosure of personal health information (PHI). This legislative update is intended to provide resources for guidance on these regulations. 

HR pros, if you follow our blog, you may already know that the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a valuable employer incentive. As outlined by the United States Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA), it allows for an employer credit for hiring employees who may face barriers to employment. Compliance with the requirements to earn the incentive – up to $9,600 over one to two years – can be challenging; however, automation can make it easy.

Keep reading to see how automation can help solve the most common WOTC challenges and improve the overall application process for your organization.

A Standing Ovation is a special reward program at benefitexpress that honors employees who have gone above and beyond in fulfilling our Community Pillars. Each quarter, nominations are tallied, read, and carefully considered before being awarded to two employees. We announce this recognition at our company “Town Hall” all-staff meetings where the final nominations are read aloud to highlight just how much the winners have done to deserve the award. Aside from the recognition, each winner also receives a check for $2,500.

Alyssa Newswanger, in-house staff counsel, wins the first Standing Ovation award for the third quarter at benefitexpress. The award is gathered from the positive feedback given directly from company employees through the “Cheers for Peers” program.

benefitexpress, the leading provider of cloud-based technology solutions and services for employee benefits administration, releases best practices for an effective enrollment communication strategy ahead of open enrollment planning season. As featured in benefitexpress’ Annual Enrollment Survival Guide, these practical ideas and tips are designed to assist benefits professionals in human resources roles with a successful open enrollment season.

When hurricanes make landfall, many HR pros move into emergency communications mode. With this in mind, we are offering several helpful resources for crisis communications to employees.

It's no surprise that technology has shifted the way that people digest information. Long, in-depth publications have their place, but if there's something that needs to be communicated on a yearly basis, such as benefits administration, then a one-time campaign will no longer cut it.

To really engage your employees, develop an ongoing communication plan. Check out these best practices to supercharge your benefits communication.

With 2019 on the horizon, you may be ramping up to, or in the middle of business planning. Perhaps you've decided to add a new, or enhance an existing benefits enrollment technology strategy. A quick Google search confirms that there are a lot of options out there. So where do you begin? What qualities are important in the evaluation process, and how do you know when a benefits administration vendor is the right fit for your business? 

Don't worry – we'll make this easy for you. Use our 23-point checklist as a guide for evaluating potential benefits administration partners.

Whether you are spending your Labor Day relaxing at the beach, or curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee, there are few better ways to soak up the last days of summer than with a good read.

Here are five (plus one bonus) hr e-books to binge now and bookmark for future use.