We post blog articles here regularly about financial, physical, and emotional wellness, and the steps working Americans can take to protect their income and strengthen their resilience, at home and in the workplace.
Whether you’ve been living with a disability for a long time or have recently experienced an unexpected one, seeking ways to nurture your career growth is important for personal and professional development. That said, it’s not uncommon for individuals with…
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Winter is taking hold for people in the northern parts of the U.S., and while the light-filled days of spring are just a couple of months away, a significant number of people in your workforce may be struggling with seasonal affective disorder. The American Psychiatric Association reports that approximately five percent of Americans suffer from seasonal affective…
by Frank Mengert, ebm Open enrollment periods can be a helpful time for employees, but they can also bring a fair amount of chaos to HR teams. However, adequate planning and preparation can make a big difference when it comes to streamlining this process. By taking a more proactive approach to open enrollment planning, you…
By Steve Perrigo, Allsup Each year during benefits enrollment, you likely review your health insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits. One vital program is often overlooked: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Benefits enrollment season is the perfect time to assess the full range of coverage and protections you get from SSDI. Funded through FICA taxes,…
By Ian Bridgman, Executive Director, The Claim Lab; Fred Schott, Consultant, Council for Disability Income Awareness Research shows that depression and anxiety are risk factors for new disabilities. While this is not news to medical experts, it may be for claims adjusters and others in the integrated disability and absence management (IDAM) space, whose…
By Fred Schott I was born in 1950. That means I spent my 20s in the 70s, and now I get to spend my 70s in the 20s. I remember when rock was young. Susie and I had so much fun holding hands and skimming stones. I had an old gold Chevy and a place…
Christi Doe, M.Ed., CPDM, Senior Consultant, Member Relations, Council for Disability Income Awareness With decades of experience in the insurance industry and as someone who has experienced a difficult period of isolation, I’m increasingly interested in the relationship between loneliness and health-related disabilities. Today, America is in the middle of a loneliness epidemic that…
Margaret O’Neill Underwriting & Thought Leadership GC Smith Group Storytelling is an intrinsic part of our humanity. We share stories to reveal aspects of our lives, beliefs, and emotions. Storytelling helps us teach, explain, and connect with others in professional settings. The narratives we create shape our self-perception and worldview. So, how does storytelling…
Can Your Smartwatch Make You Sick? Lately, I’ve started wondering if I should get a smartwatch. Friends of mine routinely take calls or texts on their Apple® or Google® watches. Others track their steps or monitor their hearts. Paying for a coffee with a smartwatch looks so easy. And yes, some designs look terrific.…
The short answer is probably everyone. Your ability to work and earn a paycheck is one of your most valuable assets. It is essential to help support yourself and your family, but what would happen if you became too sick or injured to work? What is disability insurance? Disability benefits replace part of your…
By Dan Iskra, assistant vice president, Group Disability, MetLife No one enters the workforce thinking about how to prepare for an unexpected leave of absence or disability. But the odds of such an event are higher than you think. Over a quarter of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a disability before they retire. That should be…
With the arrival of fall, two things are guaranteed to happen: leaves will begin to change color, and “Open Enrollment” will start for most employers. Employers will inform their employees about new benefits and price changes to existing ones. They will often add new benefits to these packages. Increasingly, voluntary payroll deduction products are offered…
Creating an attractive and motivating compensation package for employees requires more than structuring an annual salary. Today, most employees are looking for comprehensive benefits that support themselves and their families throughout the year. However, with so many benefits options available, it can be overwhelming for organizations looking to make smart choices for their employees.…