Unum joins Generali Employee Benefits Network as its new employee benefits partner in the UK market for Group Risk products. Generali UK branch transfers the renewal rights of its employee benefits (Group Risk) business to Unum and its employee benefits team is to be welcomed to Unum.

The IRS’s May 2025 official bulletin sets out health savings account and high-deductible health plan parameters for 2026. For benefits and payroll teams, the immediate task is to label each figure correctly. Contribution ceilings, minimum deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses describe different controls in a qualifying arrangement. Read the dated development The HSA contribution limits are USD4,400 for self-only coverage and USD8,750 for family coverage. HDHP minimum deductibles are

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in April 2025 announced that it will be enhancing its MAXIS Global Pool Solution. Its updated solution, designed to support multinational employers at every stage of their pooling journey, includes a multi-employer pool (MEP) methodology, complementing its single-employer pool (SEP) offering. Under this new model, smaller MAXIS pool programmes will become part of the MEP, transitioning to a SEP if and when their

MAXIS Global Benefits Network in April 2025 released its 2025 whitepaper which looks in-depth at the growing impact of rising cancer rates on multinational employers and insurers. The whitepaper uses MAXIS GBN’s global claims data, drawn from standardized, anonymized data from millions of claimants around the world, to provide practical strategies for addressing claims trends. Cancer is a topic that has dominated discussions in the global health space in

Published in April 2025, OECD Taxing Wages 2025 provides an updated view of taxes and social contributions on employment income. It is a new annual dataset for reward and mobility comparisons. Its observations concern 2024, so the report’s publication year should not become the payroll year in an employer’s analysis. Read the dated development For a single worker on average earnings, the average OECD tax wedge was 34.9%, up

As of April 2, 2025, European nationals must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom. This marks the final stage of deployment of the U.K. ETA requirement, after all other already eligible nationals. As of early March 2025, the ETA application system is open for E.U. nationals as well. E.U. travelers must now factor in time and cost (GBP 10 per person) when planning

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in March 2025 announced it is now working with Danish carrier Danica. Danica will offer life, critical illness, disability and medical coverage to MAXIS GBN’s multinational clients in Denmark. Danica, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Danske Bank Group, is a private life insurance company, specializing in pension plans, life insurance and health insurance. It is focused on preventing illness and reducing absenteeism,

In January 2025, the UK government announced plans to ease restrictions on returning defined-benefit pension surpluses. For employers, the proposal raised a funding and governance question: how might a future release support their pension arrangements or wider reward decisions while protecting promised benefits? Read the dated development The announcement envisaged agreements between employers and trustees. It preserved the trustees’ overarching duty to protect members’ benefits. The policy announcement did

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in January 2025 published its November 2024 year-on-year inflation figure of 4.5% globally, with marked differences between countries. Year-on-year inflation in the OECD, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was stable at 4.5% in November 2024 compared with October. At country level the picture was more mixed, with inflation rising in 14 of 38 OECD countries including notable increases

According to a review conducted in the UK, 10% of full-time and part-time employees missed days at work due to financial stress. In the private sector, this meant that more than 2.5 million workers took time off due to financial wellbeing, and 13 million worker days were lost. A 2022 survey conducted in Asia found that those without emergency savings are 60% more likely to have difficulty concentrating at work compared with those who had emergency funds saved. According to Lyra Wellbeing’s 2023 US survey, 48% of employees cited financial stress as the top factor impacting their mental health.

Abelica Global, a network of independent actuarial firms, announces its new Executive Director, Kulin Patel, who has taken over the role from 1 December 2024 as Carl Hansen retires. Kulin Patel brings over 28 years of global pensions and insurance consulting experience including a wealth of knowledge representing, building, and leading strong brands and alliances. Kulin’s dedication to excellence, entrepreneurial style, and innovative spirit align well with Abelica Global’s

In December 2024, New York’s governor confirmed that an additional twenty hours of paid prenatal leave for privately employed pregnant workers would take effect on 1 January 2025. Official employer guidance describes a separate entitlement for pregnancy-related health appointments, including access for part-time staff and newly hired employees. Keep the entitlement distinct The guidance measures the twenty hours over fifty-two weeks from first use and permits hourly increments. It

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) in December 2024 announced the appointment of Nicolas Denys as Chief Underwriting Officer, effective 1 February 2025. Nicolas will sit on the MAXIS GBN Executive Committee, reporting to CEO Mattieu Rouot. In his new role, Nicolas will lead a team of pricing underwriters who work closely with the MAXIS network of local insurers, the MAXIS E.U. Underwriting Hub and our multinational clients. Nicolas joins MAXIS from

In November 2024, Germany adopted the Social Insurance Calculation Parameters Regulation for 2025, which took effect on 1 January 2025. It set the general pension-insurance contribution ceiling at EUR96,600 annually, or EUR8,050 monthly, and the general annual earnings threshold for compulsory health insurance at EUR73,800. These are historical 2025 values, not inputs for 2026 payroll. Label the parameters by function The regulation also sets a distinct health-insurance threshold under

In an increasingly globalized world, human resources (HR) professionals and risk managers of multinational companies face the growing challenge of managing employee well being and insurance strategies across borders. For companies with a global workforce, the rising costs of healthcare services and insurance premiums make it crucial to explore innovative and cost-efficient solutions that maintain or enhance the quality of care provided to employees. One such solution that has

In August 2024, AXA Hong Kong and Macau announced heatwave parametric insurance aimed at outdoor workers. The launch described a premium of HKD19.9 per person and a HKD100 payment or an equivalent anti-heatwave kit when the specified temperature trigger was met. It provides a concrete example of climate insurance being connected to a workforce need. Understand the trigger before the benefit The announcement tied the trigger to an arithmetic-average

In October 2024, the UK Autumn Budget announced a replacement for the non-domiciled remittance-basis regime and changes to employer National Insurance, with key measures planned from 6 April 2025. HM Treasury’s original overview brings the mobility and payroll elements together. It is a historical announcement record, rather than a complete guide to an individual’s present tax position. Examine the employee population The announcement described a residence-based regime, including a

In October 2024, Aon forecast a 10.0 percent global increase in medical-plan unit costs for 2025, compared with its 10.1 percent forecast for 2024. The release and report describe projections for employer medical plans. For benefits teams revisiting that period, the figures should remain labelled as forecasts rather than measured 2025 outcomes or individual renewal quotations. Read the regional comparisons carefully The report put the Middle East and Africa

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) has announced an exciting new initiative in partnership with Maven Clinic, the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health. On 1 October 2024, MAXIS GBN launched a comprehensive educational toolkit designed to help multinational companies provide essential support to employees experiencing menopause symptoms. The new service, available to MAXIS GBN’s multinational clients, aims to create a menopause-friendly work environment by providing

In a strategic move aimed at driving innovation and addressing evolving market needs, MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) has appointed Nicola Fordham as its new Chief Solutions Officer. This significant development was announced on 18 September 2024 and represents a fresh direction for the company’s approach to delivering solutions to multinational clients. Nicola Fordham, who previously held the position of Chief Underwriting Officer at MAXIS GBN, will now

London, 4 September 2024 – MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) proudly announces its latest partnership with Abi Global Health, a leading virtual care platform utilizing AI technology to connect individuals with healthcare professionals in under 40 seconds. This collaboration enables MAXIS GBN’s multinational clients to offer their employees immediate access to healthcare services, including physical and mental health support, via text, phone, or video consultations—anytime, anywhere. Abi’s cutting-edge

Zurich Global Employee Benefits Solutions (ZGEBS) has taken a bold step forward in its digital transformation journey, unveiling a suite of enhanced digital tools designed to streamline the way businesses manage global employee benefits. With new interactive dashboards, a dynamic online collaboration platform, and automated data transfer solutions, ZGEBS is setting a new standard for efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction. Innovation at the Core of Employee Benefits At the

In September 2024, Swiss voters rejected the occupational-pension reform in the referendum held on 22 September. The Federal Social Insurance Office records the package as a rejected reform. For employer benefits teams, the immediate significance is that its proposed changes should not be described as benefits rules enacted by that vote. Close the proposal with its outcome The package sought to strengthen second-pillar financing, broadly maintain pension levels and

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) proudly announces the appointment of Tamara Truta Amizic as the new Regional Business Development Manager for the West US and LATAM regions. In her new role, Tamara will spearhead outbound business initiatives, providing strategic leadership to the existing team, and fostering close collaboration with MAXIS’ esteemed clients and partners. With over two decades of experience in global employee benefits, Tamara brings unparalleled expertise

In July 2024, Luxembourg government guidance explained how compensation should be handled when two statutory public holidays fall on the same day. Coincidence does not simply erase one entitlement. The appropriate treatment depends on the employee’s normal work schedule and whether work is actually performed. For employers, this is a practical leave and payroll administration issue with consequences for employees working different patterns. Begin with the individual schedule The

Willis Towers Watson (WTW) in June 2024 published the 2024 edition its annual “Employee benefits: Global insurance networks’ matrix” table. An indispensable tool of the trade for global employee benefits practitioners, it is available for download as a PDF, no registration required. The matrix “provides a complete listing of the eight global benefits networks, and their affiliated insurers and their offshore (third-country national or expat) capabilities.”

In June 2024, the US Social Security Administration documented Guernsey’s phased secondary pensions programme, citing local law and guidance. Employers with at least twenty six employees entered the first phase in July 2024, with smaller employers following under the published timetable. The programme supplements the State Pension and includes automatic enrolment for eligible workers, with opt out and re enrolment provisions. For multinational employers, the milestone illustrates how a