Resources

Mental Health Benchmarking

As of 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most individual and small group health insurance plans, including plans sold on the Marketplace and Medicaid…

Children in Your Business? Blessing or Curse?

For the family business, the biggest uninsurable risk may be – the family! Few family business owners think of managing risk and family members as…

The Promise and Peril of Wearables

Wearable technology has made it’s way into the mainstream, embraced by consumers eager to track their calories and heart rate and catch the latest tweets…

Is Wage Growth Becoming a Risk

Since the 2009 recession, wages in the United States have been essentially flat. As the economy improves and employment increases, we are hearing many clients…

Saying Goodbye to Annual Performance Reviews

Annual performance reviews have dominated the HR landscape for decades. In recent years, though, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of annual performance reviews,…

Are you prepared for medical cannabis?

Authored by SmithAmundsen LLC – Noah A. Frank Medical marijuana (MMJ) is now permitted in 23 states and Washington D.C. Out of those 23 states…

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season is going strong and many families across the nation are jazzing up their homes with holiday décor and lights. While trees, lights…

Comparison of HSAs to HRAs and FSAs

This table details ACA changes to what is considered a qualified medical expense for reimbursement purposes from FSAs, HSAs, HRAs and Archer MSAs. …

Health Insurance Terms You Need To Know

The health care system in the United States can be confusing. In order to get the most out of your health care benefits, you need…

The ADA: 25 Years Later

On July 26, 1990, President George W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA makes it illegal for an employer…

Common Questions about the GAWDA Health Insurance Program

Can I join the GAWDA program at any time? Yes, with appropriate notice to your current carrier (typically 30 days), you can move into the…

What is Buffer Liability Insurance?

Buffer Liability Insurance is a useful risk transfer tool as the P&C insurance cycle transitions from a soft to hard market. A “soft” market is…

5 Ways to Avoid Contracting the Flu

Although flu season traditionally peaks in winter, it can start as early as October and put employees out of work for an extended period of…

Cleaning Your Gutters + Ladder Safety Tips

Gutters divert rain away from your home and are its first line of defense against water damage. However, as autumn progresses, leaves, twigs and other…

Text Messaging: R U Aware?

Pauline Jakubiec, MS, CPHRM / Risk Management Consultant The intended effect of utilizing hand-held devices and laptop computers is improved communication and streamlined work flow.…

Lawsuits are Just Part of the Risk

Business owners are aware they risk the financial consequences of an accident. These are generally insurable events such as automobile accidents, injuries to customers or…

COBRA Qualifying Events

Key Areas: Overview Important Definitions including plans subject to COBRA, qualified beneficiaries, maximum coverage period and qualifying events Chart of Qualifying Events Overview The…

Driver Qualifications And Driver Shortage

A Moving & Storage Industry Dilemma Have you heard this one recently from your insurance provider, “sorry…….this driver does not meet our qualification standards”. “They…

Higher Education Student Safety and Liability

Since universities could potentially be held liable for harm to students due to negligence, it is crucial to acknowledge risk and take steps to prevent…

The unrecognized danger lurking new hire employment testing

Many employers know that screening employees before they start work is essential for the safety of the company, employee and their co-workers. Unfortunately, many employers…

Are you hiring your next workers comp claim?

Many injuries occur because the employee hired to perform the work is not physically capable of performing the essential functions of the job. The inability…

Protect Against Used Auto Fraud

If you’re looking to buy a used vehicle, you need to make sure that the vehicle is actually in good condition. After extended rainstorms or…

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit

Effective Jan. 1, 2006, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) added a voluntary outpatient prescription drug benefit to the Medicare…

Confined Space Entry in Construction

OSHA has recently instituted a new regulation concerning confined spaces in the construction industry, which will come into effect on August 3, 2015. Understanding the…