Code review tools can help developers collaborate and Improve code quality so they can ship robust, issue-free software. This guide will discuss the following top code review tools in terms of their features, pros, cons and pricing:
- GitHub: ideal for developers using Git repositories and who are already on the popular software development platform.
- GitLab: a great pick for developers needing comprehensive code review, CI/CD and collaboration from a DevSecOps platform.
- Bitbucket: a solid choice for development teams that already use other Atlassian tools and are in the market for a comprehensive code review, collaboration and CI/CD tool.
- Crucible: a sensible selection for Atlassian users needing a collaborative peer code review tool with reporting.
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GitHub
GitHub is an AI-powered developer platform with lightweight code review capabilities and is one of the most popular tools for software development. It offers diffs, comments, review requests, permissions, protected branches and more.
Features of GitHub
Some of GitHub’s top code review features are:
- Diffs that highlight code changes.
- Timeline history of comments.
- Blame view.
- Comments for improved communication.
- Branch permissions.
- Protected branches.
- Integrations.
GitHub has side-by-side diffs to easily spot code changes, a timeline-style history to browse comments, references and other details related to your pull requests. Plus, it has a blame view to see how a file looked prior to specific changes.
Comments allow for conversations alongside code and review requests, which let developers ask for feedback (and receive it). Permissions and protected branches limit human error to protect code quality. Lastly, GitHub lets you easily integrate with other third-party tools, including those that offer additional code review capabilities.
Pros of GitHub
GitHub’s pros include:
- Free plan.
- Ideal for Git users.
- Intuitive user interface.
- Plenty of integrations with other developer tools.
Getting code reviews with GitHub’s Free plan is a significant plus. If you already use the GitHub platform and Git repositories, choosing this code review tool is a no-brainer. The intuitive interface is another plus, as are seamless integrations with third-party programmer tools that add functionality like automated pipelines, build features, and code analysis.
Cons of GitHub
GitHub’s cons include:
- Supports only Git repositories.
- Complexity for beginners.
- Pricing not very flexible.
The fact that code review here only works with Git repositories hosted on GitHub limits flexibility for some developers. Beginners may find version control challenging at the beginning and the pricing plans are not too flexible for differing budgets.
GitHub Pricing
GitHub has three pricing plans developers can choose from:
- Free: Basic features at no cost. The Free plan has unlimited private and public repositories, 500MB of storage, community support and 2,000 monthly CI/CD minutes.
- Team: $3.67 per user, per month. Team has 3,000 monthly CI/CD minutes and 2GB of storage and adds draft pull requests, pages, wikis, protected branches, GitHub Codespaces access and multiple reviewers in pull requests.
- Enterprise: $19.25 per user, per month. Enterprise offers user provisioning, single sign-on, advanced auditing, GitHub connect, 50GB of storage, 50,000 monthly CI/CD minutes and more.
All three of the developer tool’s plans come with code review capabilities, allowing you to review new code, see visual changes and merge those changes with automated status checks.
SEE: How to Clone a GitHub repository
GitLab
GitLab is a popular AI-powered DevSecOps platform with code review, project management capabilities, collaborative features, automation, CI/CD and more for software development teams seeking an all-in-one tool.
Features of GitLab
Some of GitLab’s features that make it highly-regarded code review software include:
- Merge requests.
- Diffs for code changes.
- Commenting alongside code.
- Code suggestions.
- Code controls.
- Advanced reporting and analytics.
Merge requests in GitLab kickstart the code review process and let software development team members, reviewers and approvers collaborate. Reviewers can easily spot code changes via diffs, while comments let them discuss changes and ask questions for clarity. They can also insert suggestions for lines of code for convenience.
GitLab has code controls to ensure quality, such as defined code owners, approval rules, etc. And the programmer tool also has code quality reports for spotting quality changes in the merge request and code review analytics to spot patterns and trends that could slow the development cycle.
Pros of GitLab
GitLab’s pros include:
- Comprehensive code review.
- Built-in collaboration tools.
- Secure.
- Compatibility with major frameworks and languages.
GitLab offers comprehensive code review. It checks for code quality and complexity, ensures code remains readable, concise and easy to maintain and looks for bugs and other problems before production.
Software development teams can use the tool to stay on the same page regarding issue and merge requests, etc. with various collaborative features. More importantly, GitLab offers enhanced security with its dependency and container scanning. Another GitLab pro worth mentioning is compatibility, as the programmer tool works with the most popular frameworks and languages.
Cons of GitLab
GitLab’s cons include:
- User-friendliness.
- Complicated user interface.
- Cost.
- No code reviews in the Free plan.
Getting started with GitLab can take some time, and the initial setup may be more than what you bargained for. The user interface could use a modern facelift, as it is outdated compared to some competitors and even appears sluggish at times.
Additionally, GitLab is costlier than some other code review tools. And while it does have a Free plan, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan to access code review capabilities.
GitLab Pricing
GitLab lets developers choose between SaaS and self-hosted options. The developer tool’s pricing plans are as follows:
- Free: Basic features for individuals at no cost. The GitLab Free plan lacks code review capabilities. It offers 5GB of storage, 400 monthly compute minutes and free static websites.
- Premium: $29 per user, per month. Premium offers code reviews, advanced CI/CD, merge requests with approval rules, Agile planning, 50GB of storage and 10,000 monthly compute minutes.
- Ultimate: $99 per user, per month. Ultimate offers suggested reviewers, container and dependency scanning, vulnerability management, security dashboards, dynamic application security testing, 250GB of storage and 50,000 monthly compute minutes.
- Dedicated: Custom pricing. Dedicated, built for those with a 1,000-seat commitment, offers data residency, enterprise-grade security and data and source code isolation.
Check out our GitLab Tool Review for more information.
Bitbucket
Bitbucket from Atlassian is a Git code management tool for software development teams that offers comprehensive code review, collaboration and built-in CI/CD. Due to seamless integration, it is ideal for developers that already use other Atlassian tools, such as Jira, for project management.
Features of Bitbucket
Bitbucket has many code review features, such as:
- Code-first interface.
- Side-by-side view.
- Code Insights feature.
- Code control with reviewer conditions.
- Jira integration.
Bitbucket has a code-first interface that simplifies collaboration, bug-spotting and merging.
The side-by-side view offers task management capabilities and commenting to make it easier to review large diffs.
The DevOps tool integrates test and security scan results in the pull request view with its Code Insights feature, allowing developers to find and fix bugs quickly before shipping. You can list reviewer conditions that must be checked before approval for ultimate code control, plus enjoy added collaboration and project management features via seamless Jira integration.
Pros of Bitbucket
Bitbucket’s advantages include:
- Easy to use.
- Free plan.
- Integration with Jira.
- Security features.
Bitbucket is easy to use and configure. The Free plan offers the Code Insights, which is excellent news for individuals or small teams with limited budgets looking to find and fix issues with fewer resources. The seamless integration with another Atlassian product, Jira, makes Bitbucket a no-brainer if you already use the issue-tracking and project management software. If you opt for the Premium plan, Bitbucket offers top-notch security to keep your code shielded.
Cons of Bitbucket
Bitbucket’s disadvantages include:
- Outdated interface.
- Slow at times.
- Cost.
Bitbucket is easy to use, but its outdated user interface could use a modern facelift to keep up with the times. If you deal with large repositories or complex operations, do not be surprised if the developer tool’s performance slows significantly. If you have a larger team and need to opt for the Premium plan, Bitbucket’s cost could creep up on you.
Bitbucket Pricing
Bitbucket’s pricing plans are as follows:
- Free: No cost. The Free plan works for up to five users. It offers Code Insights, 50 monthly build minutes, 1GB of storage, 10 deployment environments, unlimited private repositories, CI/CD, unlimited pull request viewers, merge checks and Jira project management software integration.
- Standard: $3 per user, per month. Standard works with unlimited users and offers 2,500 monthly build minutes, 5GB of storage and 50 deployment environments.
- Premium: $6 per user, per month. Premium offers 3,500 monthly build minutes, 10GB of storage, 50 deployment environments and adds IP allowlisting, deployment permissions and two-step verification.
Check out our Bitbucket Review for more information.
Crucible
Crucible is a collaborative peer code review tool from Atlassian with reporting that lets developers review, discuss and track changes.
Features of Crucible
Some Crucible highlights include:
- Threaded discussions.
- Complete audit trail.
- Advanced reporting.
- Version control systems compatibility.
- Integrations.
Developers can use Crucible’s threaded discussions to review code and discuss any changes or issues. The developer tool offers a complete audit trail with code review details down to specific reviews, plus reports to spot areas where you can Improve code quality. Crucible works with all the top version control systems and integrates with Atlassian tools and other add-ons for extended functionality and customization.
Pros of Crucible
Crucible’s strengths include:
- Atlassian integration.
- User-friendly.
- VCS support.
- Customizations for continuous integration.
Atlassian users will love how Crucible integrates seamlessly with other developer tools from the Brand, such as Jira, Bitbucket, and Confluence. Crucible’s interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Additionally, the tool’s support for multiple version control systems like Git, Mercurial and Perforce is advantageous. Customization is another pro in Crucible’s favor, as you can customize it with other add-ons to promote continuous integration.
Cons of Crucible
Areas where Crucible could Improve include:
- No free plan.
- Lack of AI and Machine Learning.
- Slow loading.
Although the Small Teams plan is affordable, including a free plan like other code review tools would be nice. Adding AI and machine learning, as other code review tools have, would be another welcome addition to Crucible’s capabilities. If you work with large codebases, do not be surprised if you experience occasional slow loading times.
Crucible Pricing
Crucible has two pricing plans:
- Small Teams: $10 one-time payment.
- Growing Teams: Starts at $1,100 one-time payment for up to 10 users. Price increases according to team size.
The Small Teams plan has unlimited repos and works for up to five users. The Growing Teams plan offers the same, only its number of users depends on what you pay.
What to look for in code review software
Besides user-friendliness, support and pricing, there are other factors you can look at before choosing the proper code review software for your needs. Look for collaboration capabilities like commenting and discussions that help multiple developers review code simultaneously. Ensure that the code review tool has a diff viewer, reporting features and code analysis tools to spot potential problems and areas for improvement. Additionally, make sure that the code review software integrates with your version control system.
Final thoughts on the best code review tools
The code review tools listed above can help your development team collaborate to enhance code quality and ensure you ship top-notch software. Be sure to review each developer tool’s features, pros, cons and pricing before deciding so you make the right pick for your software development team’s needs.
Chris MacKechnie is a graduate of Carleton University's Law Program and has been writing professionally for more than a decade. He is a regular contributor for a number of travel and business magazines and marketing websites, including "OutPost Magazine," "Report on Business" and several insurance trade publications. MacKechnie also writes extensively for several Fortune 500 companies located around the globe.
The lakehouse platform enables businesses to not only lower their total cost of ownership but increases productivity and collaboration on a unified platform, making data a team sport in the organisation.
Data and AI firm Databricks pioneered the lakehouse platform back in 2010.
As the world’s first and only lakehouse platform in the cloud, Databricks combines the best of data warehouses and data lakes to offer an open and unified platform for data and AI.
Ed Lenta, senior vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific and Japan for Databricks.
Ed Lenta, senior vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific and Japan for Databricks says democratising AI levels the playing field for businesses of all sizes.
“Democratising AI is about ensuring that any business, from the largest enterprises to the smallest mum-and-dad operations, can access and leverage the power of AI to transform their operations, enhance decision-making, and create new value for their customers,” he says.
Lenta says the role played by accessible AI solutions in breaking down barriers that once hindered smaller enterprises is and will be “pivotal”.
Lenta describes the lakehouse as the “iPhone” of data platforms – “a single unified platform that’s going to allow people to drive an agenda of radical simplicity through the data estate by effectively having a single cloud data platform to do all of those things, the benefits of which will be to break down to remove all of the silos that exist inside of their data”.
This drive to democratise AI aims to empower businesses to harness AI’s potential to drive innovation and growth, regardless of their scale.
Lenta says governance is a major concern for Databricks’ customers.
“Governance is really foundational, we make sure that we can provide a central layer of governance across the lakehouse platform so that all the people in the organisation have the right access to data,” he says.
This approach resonates with both industry leaders and smaller players, catalysing a broader shift towards data-driven decision-making and innovation.
But the story doesn’t stop there.
“For organisations who are able to unify their data on a lakehouse, they are now best placed to take advantage of an incredible new trend we’re seeing around generative AI.”
While in most organisations the ability to get value from data is limited to technologists, data scientists, and engineers who know how to code in order to execute use cases, generative AI is now enabling anyone from the organisation who knows English to create use cases by telling the systems what to do - in English.
He says it can all be done in plain language “rather than actually writing code”.
“Our focus is on enabling businesses to adopt AI solutions without the need for extensive technical expertise. Through user-friendly interfaces, AI tools can be seamlessly integrated into everyday business processes, optimising operations and providing valuable insights.”
“By making AI technology more approachable and user-friendly, we can enable the entire organisation from marketing, HR to all business units, to unlock insights from their data and apply them to drive better outcomes,” he says.
Sherif Mansour, head of product for Atlassian Intelligence, a trailblazer in collaboration and productivity software, is pioneering the integration of generative AI to enhance team collaboration.
Sherif Mansour, head of product for Atlassian Intelligence.
Atlassian, Australia’s largest technology company by market cap, is using the lakehouse platform and Databricks’ tools to analyse data and fine-tune the models it uses for generative AI projects.
“We have 20 years’ worth of data on how millions of different kinds of teams plan, track, and deliver work. Generative AI enhances and creates new customer experiences and ways of working,” says Mansour.
Mansour says Atlassian’s unique dedication to teamwork sets the firm apart from industry competitors.
“Unlike vendors building AI tools for individual productivity, our goal is to amplify teamwork. We’ve been dog-fooding our generative AI capabilities internally, and thousands of customers are already using them,” he says.
The term dog-fooding, whose obscure derivation is from a 1970s US TV commercial, means to road test your own IT products within your own firm before releasing them to clients.
“It’s been energising hearing all the great feedback from customers already about how it’s going for them,” says Mansour.
“Many customers are reporting that they’ve been more productive in writing, or save a lot of time when trying to get an answer to a question from their company knowledge base in Confluence, or getting help through our virtual agents in Jira Service Management.”
Jira Service Management is Atlassian’s IT service management software; Confluence is a collaboration and documentation platform.
“Right now, we are focused on building and getting feedback on those AI capabilities that do things like accelerate work, provide instant help, teach on the fly, and answer anything,” says Mansour.
The integration of generative AI into Atlassian’s suite of tools reveals its power when it comes to enhancing customer experiences.
“Users can interact with our products to gain clearer context, jumpstart projects, and remove the friction of getting work done,” says Mansour.
An example is the integration of generative AI into a virtual assistant that handles internal IT help desk requests.
“The virtual agent understands questions and responds in natural language, referencing internal documentation. It has saved 2400 hours in service desk team time, assisting with over 50 per cent of all incoming requests,” Mansour says.
Looking at the broader trend, Mansour says the landscape of AI is still evolving.
“We’re starting to see a democratisation of AI tools, with various new and different AI models developing rapidly, including more capable high-end models, cost-effective models, and task-tuned models,” he says.
This democratisation expands possibilities for teams across sectors and paves the way for collaborative AI-augmented work.
Looking ahead, both Lenta and Mansour envision a future where AI becomes seamlessly intertwined with business processes.
“AI-augmented work reflects a paradigm shift where humans working with AI can achieve more than either can alone,” says Databricks’ Lenta.
He says the future lies in a collaborative synergy between AI and human expertise, leading to a burst of unprecedented innovation.
Atlassian’s Mansour concurs: “We believe that AI will be a great accelerator for teams, changing the way work is done. Developers, for instance, will focus more on tasks like architecting data structures and instructing models.”
Lenta aptly sums up: “Democratising AI isn’t just about technology; it’s about empowering people to achieve more and realise their full potential.”
Attend the Data + AI Tour in Melbourne on 31st August to learn more.
Businesses of all sizes need effective ways to manage relationships with customers. Small-business owners, however, have an exceptionally keen interest in customer management, because effective customer management means an improved client experience, a focused marketing plan, increased revenues and stronger working relationships for small businesses.
Improving Customer Experience
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Effectively managing your customers includes maintaining a good relationship with them, seeing to their needs and answering their questions. All of these things add up to an improved customer experience, which should be one of the goals of any small business. The reason for this is simple: customers who are happy with your business will want to come back again and again; they will choose to give your their money rather than spend it with someone else.
Focusing Your Marketing Plan
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Closely related to improving customer experience is the idea of focusing your marketing plan. As an added benefit of effective customer management, a focused marketing plan allows your business to see both its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to meeting consumer demands. If your relationships with your customers are strong, you'll be able to have honest conversations with them about what's working and what isn't. The key here is to take customer feedback seriously. If you are hearing from customers that they can get similar products or services from your competitors at lower prices, take this as a warning to revamp either your price point or your sales and advertising strategies.
Building Relationships
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Of course, the more effort your business puts into its marketing strategies and into improving customer experience, the stronger your relationships with your stakeholders will become. Stakeholders are the people and groups that have a keen interest in how well your business does. Customers are the most obvious stakeholder group, but potential customers are another group that you can focus on. The benefit of managing to build these relationships is that your marketing machine starts to work on its own accord, meaning that happy customers will spread the word about the good products and service they received at your small business. Word of mouth, as the old adage goes, really is the best form of marketing and can serve as a huge benefit to your organization.
Increasing Revenue
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As mentioned earlier, the most tangible benefit of effectively managing customers is increasing revenue for your small business. Ultimately, your business, like other for-profit ventures, is concerned with its bottom line. There is a clear correlation then between happy customers, increased sales and a thriving business. If you are able to keep your current customers coming back for more, plus use these customers to help you Improve on your operations and marketing strategies, you'll be in a good place to keep your business afloat.
Workers leaving their 9-to-5 jobs to set up shop for themselves often look forward to the freedom of being their own bosses, setting their own hours, and charting their own courses.
Then sometime between the office goodbye party and the final paycheck, reality hits. Self-employed workers are also their own benefits managers, responsible for finding and paying for their own health insurance and any other benefits they may need. Where to start?
In its 1998 survey, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics found that more than 10 million people are self-employed, either full-time or part-time.
The soon-to-be self-employed who are leaving a job with health care benefits may be covered under a federal law commonly called COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act of 1985). Under this act, group health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more workers must let ex-employees continue their coverage for up to 18 months, although the worker pays the entire premium and it can be pricey.
Another option is to investigate whether you can be added to your spouse's plan.
If neither of these applies to you, begin your research by examining your health insurance needs, advises Gene Fairbrother, a spokesman for the National Association for the Self-Employed. Look at what health care services you've used in the past, and figure out what you may need in the future. "When it comes to health insurance you can't just plan for today," he says.
It's also a good idea to research the market in your state, and find out what your state law requires of insurance carriers, says Madelyn Flannagan, spokeswoman for the Independent Insurance Agents of America, Inc., a national trade group in Alexandria, VA. Trends, rates, and options vary greatly from state to state, Flannagan says. Consider a call to your state department of insurance, or check out its Web site.
As your own boss, you're not limited by what any one company offers in the way of health plans. You can choose whatever plan works best for you: traditional fee-for-service or a managed care plan. Another potential option is a medical savings account, says Flannagan, but this route isn't chosen often by newly self-employed workers because of the relatively high cost.
Web sites -- such as www.quotesmith.com, among others -- can yield instant quotes and give you an idea of rates based on your location, age, and other factors. Your state department of insurance may be able to provide you with names of companies that sell individual policies.
"Talk to friends and business associates who are also self employed," Fairbrother suggests. Ask them what works and what doesn't.
"Look also at organizations you may belong to," Flannagan says. These might offer group plans, which are generally less expensive than individual ones. One often-overlooked source of insurance is your college alumni organization. Call your school, or the Alumni Insurance Agency and Administrators at 800-726-2422.
You might also ask the agent who handles your homeowners' or car insurance if they write health insurance. According to Flannagan, most do. If your agent has never mentioned this, there may be a good reason: Commissions are usually lower, so your agent may be less motivated to market the product.
Flannagan cautions self-employed workers to ask up front about family coverage if they have dependents. Some plans, she says, don't cover spouses and children.
Contact at least three to five companies so you can do some comparison shopping, says Fairbrother. In general, expect to pay more for fee-for-service plans than managed care plans. Be aware that some managed care plans increase the premium as you change age brackets, perhaps every 10 years.
Before deciding, consider doing some research on the company's rating. A.M. Best and Standard and Poor's offer rating information. Another group, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, posts report cards on various plans. The Health Insurance Association of America also offers many tips on its Web site about buying health insurance.
Digitization has become a necessity for businesses to stay ahead of the curve. This is no exception for companies with field service operations. The advent of field service management software has revolutionized the way businesses approach field service management, moving from traditional paper-based systems to digital solutions. With enhanced efficiency, productivity, and data management capabilities, more and more businesses are making the transition to field service management software.
Elimination of paper-based systems
Field service management softwares have been around for years, but businesses are still finding new ways to optimize their processes with the help of technology. One of the most significant benefits of field service management software is the elimination of paper-based systems. Field management solutions can digitize many of the tasks and processes that were formerly done on paper, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient workflow. This can reduce the administrative tasks associated with managing field workers and eliminate the need for manual data entry, ultimately saving businesses time and money.
Improved communication and data sharing
One of the most significant benefits of field service management solutions is the ability to Improve communication and data sharing. Manual methods of data collection and sharing, such as paper-based systems, can be time-consuming and error-prone. However, with service mangement software, all data is stored in a digital format, making it easier to access and analyze by relevant personnel. The use of a field service scheduling app enhances communication between field workers and dispatchers, enabling real-time monitoring of job progress and increasing overall efficiency.
Help you track the progress of each job
One of the key benefits of field service management solutions is the efficient scheduling and dispatching of field service teams. With field management solutions, you can easily automate the scheduling and dispatching process, which is a time-consuming and complex task when done manually. These field service scheduling apps allow you to assign the right technician to the right job based on their availability, location, and skill set while ensuring that they have the right tools and parts for the job. By using open source scheduler software, you can streamline your dispatching process, minimize the response time, and increase your field service team’s efficiency and productivity.
Adopting a field service management software can greatly benefit any business with field technicians. The software can help streamline operations, increase productivity, and Improve overall customer satisfaction. The paper-to-digital transformation can be overwhelming at first, but the long-term benefits make it a wise investment for any business seeking to take their field service operations to the next level. With the right software and implementation process, businesses can achieve better efficiency and effectiveness while reducing costs and improving service quality.
Whether or not you have lupus, exercise is an important way to take care of yourself. Exercise has many physical, emotional and social benefits. It is particularly helpful for people with lupus, and most people with lupus can take part in some form of activity.
Here’s why exercise is helpful for managing lupus:
- Exercise can strengthen parts of your body that may be affected by lupus — the heart, lungs, bones and joints.
- Exercise helps reduce inflammation by regulating some of the chemicals involved in the inflammation process.
- Exercise can help control weight gain caused by use of corticosteroid medications and keep your body conditioned.
- Exercise, and even simple low-impact movement, will make muscles less stiff, increase your range of motion and help you reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Exercise may boost your mental health, making it easier to cope with life stressors and potentially improving mood and self-esteem. In addition, exercise can reduce fatigue.
If you are considering starting an exercise program, working out with a buddy can give you the moral support to stick with your exercise routine while making your fitness time double as social time.
Be sure to discuss your exercise plans with your physician or exercise specialist in order to maximize results and minimize possible harm.
It’s also a good idea to vary the exercises, so that different muscle groups all get a regular workout. If you are experiencing swollen joints or muscle pain, you should avoid or at least limit activities that may be demanding on joints and muscles, such as jogging, weightlifting, or high-impact aerobics.
There are four main types of employee benefits:
1. Health and wellness benefits
2. Financial and retirement benefits
3. Time-off and leave benefits
4. Work-life balance benefits
Health and wellness benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, prescription drug coverage, employee assistance programs and wellness programs. Financial and retirement benefits include 401(k) plans, pension plans, employee stock ownership plans, profit-sharing plans and financial planning assistance. Time-off and leave benefits include vacation days, sick days, paid holidays, parental leave and extended leave. Work-life balance benefits include flexible work arrangements, telecommuting, child care assistance and eldercare assistance.
There are some benefits that are required by law, such as workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and Social Security. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also requires employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to offer health insurance to their employees or pay a penalty. Employers should consult with an attorney or HR professional to ensure they are complying with all applicable laws.
Pension and Retirement Plans
Pension and retirement plans are employee benefits that help employees save for retirement. There are two types of retirement plans: defined benefit and defined contribution.
Defined benefit plans provide a source of income for retirees that is typically based on their years of service and salary history. This income is paid out in regular monthly payments. Defined contribution plans, on the other hand, allow employees to contribute a set amount of money to their retirement account each month. The employer may also make contributions to the employee’s account.
There are several different types of retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457 plans and pension plans. Each type of plan has different rules and regulations regarding employee eligibility, employee contributions and employer contributions.
401(k)
401(k) plans are the most common type of retirement plan offered by employers. Under a 401(k) plan, employees can contribute a percentage of their salary to their retirement account each month. Employers may also make matching or discretionary contributions to employee accounts.
403(b)
403(b) plans are similar to 401(k) plans, but they are available to employees of public schools and certain nonprofit organizations. Under a 403(b) plan, employees can contribute a percentage of their salary to their retirement account each month. Employers may also make matching or discretionary contributions to employee accounts.
457
457 plans are available to state and local government employees and employees of certain charitable organizations. Under a 457 plan, employees can contribute a percentage of their salary to their retirement account each month. Employers may also make matching or discretionary contributions to employee accounts.
Pension
Pension plans are defined benefit plans that provide a monthly income to retirees, usually based on their years of service and salary history. Pension plans are regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Healthcare and Dental Benefits
An employee benefit that helps pay for medical expenses is health insurance. Health insurance plans vary in terms of the services covered, the deductibles and copayments required and the premiums charged. Health insurance plans can be offered by employers, health insurance companies or the government.
There are several different types of health insurance plans, including PPOs, HMOs and HDHPs. PPOs allow employees to see any doctor or specialist without a referral. HMOs require employees to select a primary care physician who will coordinate their care. HDHPs have high deductibles but lower premiums.
An employee benefit that helps pay for dental care expenses is dental insurance. Dental insurance usually pays for preventive measures, such as teeth cleanings and X-rays, as well as common procedures such as fillings or a tooth removal. Some dental insurance plans also cover major procedures, such as crowns and bridges.
Employers can offer health insurance and dental insurance as part of a group health plan. A group health plan is an employee benefit plan that is sponsored by an employer and provides health and/or dental coverage to employees and their dependents.
Transgender Healthcare
Transgender-inclusive health benefits are employee benefits that cover medically necessary care for transgender employees. Depending on the provider, this type of coverage may include hormone therapy, mental healthcare and surgical procedures.
Healthcare discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and age is prohibited by the ACA. However, at the time of publication, the ACA’s application to transgender individuals has been challenged in several pending court cases. The outcomes of those cases may affect whether employers are required to offer transgender-related healthcare as part of their employee health insurance plans. Considering how rapidly this space is changing, we recommend discussing these options with your benefits provider to ensure your healthcare coverage is compliant with current regulations.
Telemedicine/Telehealth
Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, is the use of electronic communications to provide medical care from a distance. Telemedicine can be used for a variety of purposes, including diagnosing and treating patients, providing consultation to other healthcare providers and delivering distant learning opportunities. Telemedicine services are typically provided via video conferencing, but can also be delivered by phone, email or text message.
There are many potential benefits of telemedicine, including increased access to care, improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Telemedicine can also benefit employers by reducing employee absenteeism and increasing productivity.
Although telemedicine is not a new concept, the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a significant increase in the use of telemedicine services. This is due in part to the fact that telemedicine can help reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.
Fertility Benefits
Fertility benefits are employee benefits that help cover the costs of fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is a process by which eggs are harvested from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are then implanted in the woman’s uterus. Fertility benefits may also cover the costs of freezing eggs or sperm. This can be useful for employees who want to preserve their fertility for future use.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are medications that are prescribed by a doctor to treat a medical condition. Prescription drugs can be obtained from a pharmacy with a valid prescription. Employers often provide prescription drug coverage as part of a group health plan. This type of coverage typically pays for a portion of the cost of prescription drugs, with the employee paying the remainder.
Mental Health
Benefits that help cover the costs of mental healthcare are called mental health benefits. Mental healthcare includes counseling, treatment for mental illness and substance abuse treatment. Mental health benefits may be provided as part of a group health plan or as a separate employee benefit.
Employers are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental healthcare and are offering mental health benefits to their employees. This is due in part to the fact that mental health problems can have a significant impact on employee productivity and well-being.
Employee Assistance Program
An employee assistance program (EAP) is a type of benefit that gives confidential counseling and support services to workers who are having personal or work-related difficulties. Employee assistance programs can provide employees with support for a range of issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, financial troubles and relationship problems.
EAPs are typically provided by employee assistance professionals, who are trained to provide confidential counseling and support. EAPs can be accessed by employees through a variety of methods, including face-to-face meetings, telephone hotline numbers and online resources.
EAPs can be beneficial for both employees and employers. Employees can get the help they need to resolve personal or work-related problems, which can Improve their productivity and well-being. Employers can also benefit from lower employee turnover and absenteeism rates.
Paid Time Off
Paid time off (PTO) is leave that is provided to employees at no cost to the employee. PTO can be used for vacation, sick days, personal days or other purposes. Employers may offer PTO as a benefit to attract and retain employees. PTO can also help employees manage their work-life balance.
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off for specified family and medical reasons. It applies to employers with 50 or more employees for at least 20 weeks in the current or preceding year. Many states also have laws requiring employers to provide certain types of paid leave, such as sick leave or family leave.
Employers typically offer PTO as part of a comprehensive employee benefits package. PTO is often one of the most popular employee benefits.
Child and Dependent Care Benefits
Employee benefits sometimes help cover the costs of child and dependent care. Child and dependent care benefits may be provided as part of a group health plan or as a separate employee benefit. These benefits can help employees with the costs of daycare, babysitters and other child care expenses.
Employers often offer child and dependent care benefits to attract and retain employees. Child care benefits can also help employees with young children manage their work-life balance. Some employers even offer on-site child care facilities.
Life Insurance
Life insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial assistance to the beneficiaries of an employee who dies. Life insurance benefits may cover the cost of funeral expenses, debts and other final expenses.
To qualify for life insurance, employees must be enrolled in their employer’s life insurance plan. Life insurance benefits are typically paid to the employee’s beneficiaries upon their death.
Disability Insurance
Disability insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial assistance to employees who are unable to work because of a serious injury or illness. Disability insurance pays workers a percentage of their paychecks, helping them remain financially stable until they can return to their jobs.
To qualify for disability insurance, employees must be unable to work due to an injury or illness. Short-term disability insurance benefits are typically paid for up to 26 weeks. Five states and one territory require short-term disability insurance by law. These are California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.
