We're halfway through the year, which means it's a good time to ask: is your benefits package working as hard as you are? In this edition, we've got new offerings to strengthen your total rewards, help with compliance needs, and streamline your daily tasks.
Featured update: Give your team a benefit that sets you apart (at no cost to you!)
Businesses that offer more comprehensive benefits packages attract stronger candidates and see higher employee retention.1,2 Voluntary life and disability insurance, now available through Gusto, lets you add meaningful financial protection to your total benefits, without increasing your budget.
Employees choose their coverage level and pay their own premiums via payroll deduction. For many people, group rates through an employer are lower than what they'd find on the individual market, making quality coverage obtainable at an accessible price. Evidence of insurability (EOI) is not usually required, meaning no doctor’s appointments or questionnaires, for life coverage up to $150k. Employees can also often convert their plan to an individual policy if they leave the company. It’s portable coverage that goes with them.
What’s new in benefits
Benefits questions, answered instantly
Have a benefits question? Gus — Gusto's AI assistant — can answer common benefits questions in seconds. From "What's a deductible?" to "How is a PPO different from an HMO?" you'll get clear, plain-language explanations instantly.
Gus pulls from Gusto's Help Center to give you quick explanations and step-by-step guidance. Whether you're trying to understand your plan options during open enrollment or just figuring out how a copay works, help is always a click away.
Gus also links to source articles so you can dig deeper whenever you need more detail.
Gusto now works where your team already does
You can now access Gusto's payroll and benefits data directly inside Slack, Claude, and ChatGPT. Ask questions, pull plan information, and complete tasks without switching tools. For eligible customers, payroll can now be run directly inside Claude, Slack, or ChatGPT. Gusto meets you where you work, answering questions like:
"What drove my payroll increase last pay period?"
"How much have we spent on overtime this quarter?"
"How many active employees do we have today, and how has that changed over the last three months?"
500,000 businesses. 75+ new features. Gusto's biggest spring yet.
This spring, Gusto hit a big customer milestone and launched tons of updates across payroll, HR, and benefits. Our Spring Showcase recap covers voluntary life & disability, the Benefits Homepage redesign, AI integrations, and the rest of Gusto's Q2 2026 release. It’s a practical overview of exactly what's new in your account.
Explore everything new at Gusto
Benefits education
Gusto is in Washington, advocating to bring down benefits costs
Healthcare costs have risen more than 50% in the past decade, and small businesses shoulder a disproportionate share of that burden. This June, Gusto is on Capitol Hill advocating for two policy changes that could meaningfully change that: expanded access to Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs), which let businesses offer health reimbursements without the cost of group coverage, and expanded Health Savings Account (HSA) access so more employees can save pre-tax for medical expenses.
Steve Abbott, who leads Gusto’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team, noted "Small business owners care deeply about their employees, and they need the system to work for them. ICHRAs and HSAs are essential tools that allow small business owners to help their employees afford health insurance.”
Health insurance 101: what every small business owner needs to know
Last month, we held a webinar that broke down health insurance fundamentals in plain English, and offered practical guidance from Gusto’s benefits experts. If you missed it, no worries- access the recording to review everything from plan types, to pricing, to building a package your team will love.
Register to get a link to the recording
What’s changing in compliance
State retirement mandate deadlines are closer than you think
The list of states rolling out retirement programs continues to grow Utah and Mississippi both enacted voluntary programs in early 2026, and New York's rollout is happening in waves right now. If you have 10–14 employees in the state of New York, your enrollment deadline is July 15. Vermont employers with 2+ employees face a June 30 registration deadline. Rhode Island (100+ employees) has until October 15.3 We’ve helped thousands of businesses meet their mandate with a Gusto 401(k).4
Disclaimers:
This content is not to be taken as tax, legal, benefits, financial, investment, or HR advice. Since rules and regulations change over time and can vary by location, consult a lawyer, tax, or HR expert for specific guidance.
Insurance products and services offered through Gusto Insurance Services, LLC (CA Lic # 0K28399).
LIMRA. (2025). The role of workplace benefits brokers is changing. https://limra.com/en/newsroom/industry-trends/2025/limra-research-the-role-of-workplace-benefits-brokers-is-changing
LIMRA. (2025). Workers' benefits satisfaction tied to understanding and knowledge [BEAT Study]. https://limra.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/2025/limra-workers-benefits-satisfaction-tied-to-understanding-and-knowledge
The information provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for specific tax, legal and/or financial advice; this summary was prepared from third-party sources as of May 2026. This information is considered to be reliable at the time of writing, may not necessarily be all-inclusive, is not guaranteed as to accuracy and is subject to change at any time without notice. You are advised to consult a qualified financial adviser or tax professional before relying on the information provided. Deadlines, fees, and other program details are subject to change by the state without notice and should be checked prior to making any decisions. If you already offer a qualified employer-sponsored plan, exemptions may be required. Please consult with your state's specific exemption information for more details.
Based on Gusto internal analytics as of January 2026
