Wellness

The coffee chain will increase pay for its 150,000 U.S. hourly and salaried employees in April, as well as make its paid-sick time benefit national, allowing workers to save up time off to use for themselves or family.

With employees in a reflective state of mind, January is an ideal time for employers to begin helping employees build their confidence when making smart financial decisions.

Analysis of data on the effects of caregiving responsibilities time lost from work for childbearing and child rearing reveals a financial toll not just on lifetime earnings, but also on Social Security benefits.

Employers have done some work around financial wellness, but largely in the form of one-off lunch-and-learn sessions, webinars and guest speakers that don't have the desired long-term affect on employees.

For every positive benefit of such programs, it seems you can find an equally compelling negative.

A new conscience and religious-freedom division within the Health and Human Services Department is being launched to aid doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in refusing to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.