Communication today feels like a relentless loop of Zoom calls, Teams meetings, and overflowing inboxes. We jump from task to task, rarely pausing to think, breathe, or connect. Even a well-intentioned text can land wrong, leaving teammates feeling more isolated than ever.

Employees across the globe are concerned about stress, conflict and performance pressures in the workplace, according to this year’s Psychological Safety Study from Workplace Options.

The intersection of rising costs, the hybrid workplace, and heightened employee expectations is reshaping the way employers think about health care benefits; but this presents an opportunity for brokers to get creative with what they offer their clients.

At a time when the importance of price transparency and fiduciary responsibility have never been more pronounced across the employee benefits space, a recent analysis reveals alarming breaches in retirement savings plan stewardship. It also suggests that most plan sponsors and participants are overpaying for the fees they are charged.

Leaders may wonder whether offering sabbaticals is practical or even possible in today’s organizations. But research shows that the benefits of allowing your employees to take sabbaticals often outweigh the risks. These extended breaks can improve your company in three ways: by boosting performance (through clarifying responsibilities and retaining talent); by building organizational resilience; and by fostering innovation. To introduce an equitable sabbatical program in your organization, focus on eligibility, support, and disconnection.

Steadily rising costs and increased demand for personalization mean employers must keep a closer eye on the return on their benefits investments in the coming year.

The rise in interest around employee wellness benefits has continued for several reasons: the post-COVID return to work adjustment, Gen Z's added focus on wellness and work-life balance, and employers' desire to retain top talent by offering competitive benefits, to name a few.