Resources

U.S. Department of Labor Publishes $15 Minimum Wage Guidelines for Federal Contractors

Important Dates April 27, 2021: President Biden signed EO 14026. November 22, 2021: U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published final rule to implement EO 14026. January…

ACA Reporting Deadlines

In early 2022 the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under Section 6055 and Section 6056 for the 2021 calendar year is due. Specifically, reporting entities…

Voluntary Benefits Trends to Watch in 2022

Benefits have always been crucial for attracting and retaining top performers, and voluntary benefits are a great way for employers to round off their offerings.…

Addressing Molestation and Abuse Liability Through Insurance

The possibility of a costly abuse claim arising is a very real threat for organizations that provide care or services to vulnerable populations, including children,…

SCOTUS Update on OSHA ETS Vaccination and Testing Mandate

Given this new stay, employers are not required to comply with the OSHA ETS vaccination and testing mandate at this time. After months of debate,…

Are You Buying Too Much Insurance? Too Little? Maybe It’s Just Right?

Benchmarking Insurance Limits in the Welding & Gas Industry – helping you make better, more informed, confident decisions for your business and risk profile. When…

Fire Prevention for Idle Facilities

By: Kevin Mershimer, Senior Sales Executive / Risk Advisory Solutions An idle facility is any commercial space, such as an office building, warehouse, or manufacturing plant,…

Mind the Gap: The Oldest and Latest Innovation to Control Health Insurance Costs

By: Paul Shaheen, RHU, REBC; Vice President, Employee Benefits If you’ve ever traveled to London and taken the underground subway (affectionately referred to as “the…

Update on Forms W-2 and 1099

As we begin a new year, it is time to think about properly administering and submitting tax forms – two of the most important and…

Employment Practice Liability and Donated Funds

No employer wants to believe that their employees or volunteers would take legal action against them, especially in a nonprofit organization. Unfortunately, over the past…

Overseeing the Construction Worker Shortage

Home Builders Institute (HBI) released a new report they predict that the construction industry may be on the cusp of an employee shortage crisis. The…

3 Tips for Attracting and Retaining Truck Drivers

Employers of all sizes in every industry are struggling to retain and attract quality workers right now, especially in the trucking sector. This article discusses…

How to Prevent Ice Dams from Forming on Your Home

Winter is a particularly challenging month for homeowners. In addition to shoveling their driveways and salting their sidewalks, they need to prevent ice dams and…

Supreme Court to Hold Hearings on Vaccine Requirements

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Dec. 22, 2021 that it will hear oral arguments on whether or not two federal vaccine requirements can be…

The Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Overtime Pay for H-2B Workers

On Dec. 7, 2021, The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) No. 2021-3 to assist employers in understanding their overtime pay…

Risks and Responsibilities of Employers in the Winter Season

When we were kids, we often held out hope for snow days in the winter months. As adults, snow days still bring joy, but instead…

Considering Employer Coverage vs. Medicare? Weigh These Pros & Cons

If you are approaching age 65, you are likely aware that your window for Medicare enrollment is opening. “I’ve heard it described as a deluge…

The Benefits Of An Outcomes-Based Wellness Program

The Horton Group strengthened their wellness program, which lowered their overall risk and saved them $1.15M in medical plan costs year-over-year. Executive Summary From sick…

In a Push for Transparency, Requirement Released for Reporting on Medical and Prescription Drug Costs

The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) provided an interim final rule on Nov. 17, 2021 demanding health…

Fair Employment – Sexual Harassment Prevention and Training Laws

Starting Jan. 1, 2020, all employers in Illinois have been required to provide annual employee training on workplace sexual harassment prevention. Additional information on the…

HHS Announces Increases to Civil Monetary Penalties for MSP, HIPAA, and SBC Violations

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has increased the following key penalties affecting group health plans effective November 15, 2021: Medicare…

Texas Religious Employers Exempt from Title VII for Sex-Based Employment Policies

A federal district court in Texas has ruled that businesses with religious owners may be exempt from federal prohibitions against employment discrimination based on gender…

Proposed Rule Would Extend ACA Reporting Furnishing Deadlines

The IRS issued a proposed rule that would extend the annual furnishing deadlines for Sections 6055 and 6056 reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).…

Supplemental Insurance 101: What Medicare Doesn’t Cover

Supplemental insurance plans, often called Medigap policies, can help cover costs that original Medicare doesn’t cover. Original Medicare covers medically necessary benefits and typically medications…