Searching Employment Law on page 86

This isn’t just an annoyance but a problem that could lead to employee policy violations, financial losses and confusion, as well as a very real trust breach with the employer.

The survey, conducted by employment law firm Littler Mendelson, found only 5% of reporting executives pulled back from DEI efforts in 2023, while 57% reported growing their programs over the past year.

Key catalysts include: ;Fintech-powered recordkeeping platforms that bring low-cost scalability to small employers;; ;Positive legislative and regulatory incentives , as mandated in the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Acts ;; ;The continued growth of multiple-employer plans (MEPs) and pooled-employer plans (PEPs) that streamline administration and fiduciary oversight; and,; ;Increased awareness of individual retirement accounts (IRAs) driven by state auto-enrollment programs , prompting small employers to adopt their own qualified plans, and for those that do not, enrolling employees in state-sponsored auto-IRA programs.; Together, these developments will widen the reach of the DC system and help close the coverage gap, especially for gig-economy and small-business workers who have traditionally lacked access to formal retirement savings options. 5.

The survey also found 55% of participating employers expect layoffs in 2026, citing AI (44%), reorganization/restructuring (42%) and budget constraints (39%) as the top drivers of employment actions.; ;93: The percentage of recruiters who said they plan to increase their use of AI in 2026, according to new LinkedIn research , released Thursday, Jan. 7.

Compensation and financial difficulties were the top workplace stressors: ;41% of surveyed workers have seen an increase in out-of-pocket expenses for clinical mental health services.; ;38% of surveyed workers have less than $500 in emergency savings.; ;Just 35% of surveyed employers offer any structured financial-well-being program beyond the 401(k).; Report Finds Half of Retirees Fear Running Out Money Fifty-eight percent of pre-retirees aged 50 to 75 who are within five years of retirement and are currently enrolled in an employer’s defined contribution (DC) plan are worried about running out of money in their DC plan in retirement, according to a new report by insurance and benefits provider MetLife.

“In my view, it’s one of the most significant pieces of state employment legislation that’s passed in a long time,” said Kate Andrias, a labor law expert at Columbia University.

.; “The sustained growth in both assets and participation demonstrates a growing awareness among consumers and employers of HSAs’ long-term value in managing healthcare costs,” said Jon Robb, the senior vice president of research and technology at Devenir.

Employers may view that as a negative, but it can be an opportunity.

Workspan Daily Plus+ article; ;Benefits Strategy Guide , tool; ;Benefits: KPIs and Business Formulas, tool; For Everyone ;A Prescription for Rising Drug Costs , Workspan Daily article; ;Workers Want Pharmacy Benefits with Consumer App-Like Ease , Workspan Daily article; ;Employers Showing ‘Growing Appetite for Disruptive’ Benefits Solutions , Workspan Daily article; Healthcare costs will likely soar next year due to weight loss drugs and inflation, according to the 2026 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey by Segal, an HR and benefits consulting firm.

Recognizing Advantages and Drawbacks Denise Visconti, a shareholder at employment and labor law firm Littler Mendelson P.C. in San Diego, notes that “there are a number of states that require all sales compensation plans be in writing and, in some circumstances, signed by the employee and the employer.”