HANYS Benefit Services

The crises and challenges of the pandemic have put mental health in the spotlight for employers, and 2022 should remain a critical time for workplace mental health. Employees aren’t getting a mental break as the pandemic evolves. Employers continue to work on ways to address short- and long-term mental health issues as their employees live through the pandemic. Fortunately, the mental burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled more transparency and empathy around the topic, especially in the workplace. So, what is mental health? An employee’s mental health includes how they think, feel and act, and it includes their emotional and social well-being. While mental health includes mental illness, the two aren’t interchangeable. An employee can go through a period of poor mental health but not necessarily have an evident, diagnosable mental illness. Additionally, an employee’s mental health can change over time, depending on their workload, stress and work-life balance. Employers should be

No matter the company’s size, its day-to-day needs can feel overwhelming for HR leaders, especially when faced with issues like team vacations and evolving role duties—or new responsibilities due to COVID-19. On top of that, many HR departments are small—they may even operate as a department of one—and have been stretched to the brink during the pandemic. Fortunately, HR technology can help address today’s challenges by easing burdens on HR professionals, enhancing the overall employee experience, improving workflows and assisting organizations in responding to change. HR technology can seem intimidating at first; however, much of what employers use today is user-friendly. When planning how to create efficiencies in 2022 and beyond, employers can consider how current HR technology trends might create an opportunity for their workplace. 2022 Tech Trends

Employee retention is a top concern as we enter a post-pandemic world. As the pandemic progresses, high numbers of workers have left their jobs for better compensation, benefits and work environment factors, such as work-life balance and remote or hybrid arrangements. This reality has impacted employers, who struggle to attract and retain the talent they need. As employers develop and evolve their return-to-work plans, critical retention factors must be thoughtfully included to navigate the current talent shortage. Why Do Employees Stay? Why Do Employees Leave? What Can Employers Do? Download the  HR Edge Q4 2021 Newsletter  to learn answers to these questions and also about 2022 HR technology trends and the importance of mental health in the workplace. For more human resources trends, industry insights and proactive strategies to maintain a competitive edge in today’s workplace, contact HANYS Benefit Services by  email  or by calling 518.431.7735. This is not intended to be exhaustive

Developed markets remain flat while emerging markets struggled in Q3. As the third quarter of 2021 came to a close, U.S. stocks eked out a small 0.58% gain, with the S&P 500 Index posting its seventh consecutive quarterly gain since the first wave of COVID-19. Emerging markets (-8.1%) reversed sharply as mounting regulatory uncertainty in China pressured the broad market. Read the Retirement Market Recap to learn more about the Q3 market performance and weak links in the supply chain that are hampering global growth. If you have any questions, or would like to begin talking to a retirement plan advisor, please get in touch by email or by calling (800) 388-1963.

The Live Well, Work Well newsletter is an employee newsletter that is produced monthly and covers topics like health, wellness, fitness, nutrition and personal finance. This month's newsletter discusses cold and flu season. With the fall and winter months comes flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity peaks between December and February, so now’s the time to ensure you’re prepared. Social distancing and mask mandates significantly prevented a “twindemic” last year as the flu season coincided with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Those safety measures helped prevent a majority of flu cases. However, as more states and businesses lift mask mandates and other preventive measures, the flu virus may circulate much more freely than it did last yea r.  Download the  Live Well Work Well November Newsletter  for safety measures to manage the cold and flu season, as well as tips on the importance of a good night's sleep and meal prepping