Business Insights

Attracting and Retaining Construction Workers in Today’s Labor Shortage

Regardless of company size or industry, employers are struggling to attract and retain quality workers. With the construction industry expected to continue...

Tips for Collaborating Across Different Time Zones

Today’s workforce includes a mix of remote, hybrid and on-site employees. Regardless of your location, you’re likely collaborating with peers in different...

Prevention and Response Considerations for Active Shooter Incidents

An active shooter incident entails an individual or group of individuals entering a populated area to kill or attempt to kill their...

No Surprises Act: Transparency Reporting Pharmacy & Drug Costs

The No Surprises Act (NSA), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), includes transparency provisions requiring group health plans...

IRS Raises Mileage Rates for Second Half of 2022

For the first time since 2011, the IRS has made a midyear adjustment to the optional mileage rate used to calculate the...

Requirement to Post Machine-readable Files Begins July 1, 2022

The Transparency in Coverage Final Rules (TiC Final Rules) require group health plans and health insurance issuers to disclose on a public...

Commercial P&C Price Increases Moderated in Q1 2022

Commercial insurance premiums rose for the 18th straight quarter to start the year. However, the increases moderated compared to the final few...

Remote Work Newsletter – May/June 2022

Identifying and Avoiding Phone Scams Every year, people report fraud, identity theft and bad business practices to law enforcement partners and the...

Safety Focused – June 2022

The Hazards of Poor Housekeeping Poor housekeeping in the workplace can be a serious issue. Not only does it lead to a...

Benefits Buzz – June 2022

HSA/HDHP Limits Increase for 2023 On April 29, 2022, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2022-24 to provide the inflation-adjusted limits for health...

Preventing Road Rage While Driving Company Vehicles

While driving, you may become frustrated or upset on the road for a number of reasons. For instance, being cut off by...

EEOC and DOL Issue Guidance on Artificial Intelligence and ADA Disability Discrimination

On May 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) each issued new technical assistance documents...

Benefits and Me – June 2022

Adoption Assistance Benefits No one can put a price on raising a child, yet the cost of adoption can be difficult to...

What the EEOC’s FY 2023 Budget Justification Means for Employers

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently presented its budget for fiscal year 2023. Examining how the EEOC intends to spend its...

Workplace Technology Trends Quarterly Newsletter – 2nd Quarter 2022

Using an Applicant Tracking System According to Capterra, 75% of recruiters and talent managers use recruiting software or an applicant tracking system...

Know Your Benefits

Employee’s Guide to Health Plans Definition Primary Care Physician (PCP) Network of Providers Referrals Deductibles, Coinsurance, Copayments, Claim Forms Fee-for-service (FFS) Health...

Live Well, Work Well – May 2022

Elevating Your Psychological Resiliency Psychological resilience refers to the ability to mentally withstand or adapt to uncertainty and adversity. Building resilience to...

Benefits Buzz – May 2022

IRS Suspends Notices to Delinquent Filers of Some Returns On March 22, 2022, the IRS announced it will temporarily stop sending written...

Safety Focused – May 2022

Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of combustion. This gas is odorless, colorless and tasteless, so it can...

What Long COVID-19 Means for Return-to-Work Plans

Most of the United States is now open for in-person business, and mask mandates have mostly gone away. This can make it...

OFCCP Issues Guidance on EEO Laws for Federal Contractors

On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new directive issued by its Office of Federal Contract Compliance...

Coverage Insights: Business Owners Policy

A business owners policy (BOP) combines commercial general liability coverage with commercial property insurance for qualifying small and medium-sized companies. A BOP...

House Passes “SECURE 2.0” Bill

On March 29, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 with a bipartisan vote...

DOJ Issues Guidance on Opioid Addiction and the ADA

On April 5, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidance on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can protect...

IRS Proposes Change to Family Coverage Affordability Rules

On April 5, 2022, the IRS released a proposed rule that would change the existing rules for eligibility for the premium tax...

Coverage for Social Engineering Attacks (Crime vs. Cyber Insurance)

In the context of cybersecurity, social engineering refers to a cyberattack method in which a cybercriminal preys on key human behaviors (e.g.,...

The Status of OSHA’s Heat Hazard Protection Standard

On October 27, 2021, OSHA published an advance notice of proposed rule-making to officially start the process of creating a mandatory heat...

Tips for Choosing the Right Primary Care Physician

Selecting a primary care physician (PCP), also known as a primary doctor, is a critical step in managing your health care. A...

HR’s Role in Preventing Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks are a growing concern for employers across the globe but especially for those in the United States. According to the Identity...

Safety Focused Newsletter – April 2022

Fall Prevention Tips Fall hazards are some of the most common causes of serious injuries and deaths in the workplace. Fall-related incidents...

Benefits Buzz – April 2022

Telehealth Coverage for HDHPs Extended A spending bill signed into law on March 15, 2022, extends the ability of high-deductible health plans...

Remote Work Newsletter – March/April 2022

Creating a Psychologically Safe Work Environment Psychologically safe employees feel confident sharing ideas, asking questions, being themselves and even challenging the status...

OSHA Reopens Rule-making Record for COVID-19 Health Care Rule

On March 22, 2022, OSHA partially reopened the rule-making record and scheduled an informal public hearing to seek comments on specific topics...

DOJ Issues Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA

On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new guidance on web accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities...

EEOC Guidance on COVID-19 and Caregiver Discrimination

On March 14, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued 18 frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) about the COVID-19 pandemic...

Spending Bill Extends Telehealth Coverage for HDHPs

A spending bill signed into law on March 15, 2022, extends the ability of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to provide benefits for...

Congress Adopts New Cybersecurity Reporting Requirements

On March 1, 2022, Congress passed the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (the Act), which requires covered entities...

Live Well, Work Well Newsletter – April 2022

Nip Seasonal Allergies in the Bud More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year. In particular, springtime allergies are an...

Supporting Employees Affected by International Crises

Supporting employee well-being is a critical responsibility of HR teams. Unfortunately, this worthwhile endeavor isn’t always straightforward. It can be particularly challenging...

Cyber Raised “Alarm Bells” for Brokers in Q4

A record rise of 34% for cyber insurance in the fourth quarter of 2021 marked the largest average price increase seen, and...

The Impact of Supply Chain Issues and Rising Inflation on Employers

The COVID-19 pandemic tipped off supply chain issues that may take years to reconcile. Due to virus disruptions, global systems that seemed...

Coverage Insights – Insurance Needs for Painters

Painters work on the interiors and exteriors of commercial and residential property and can also be tasked with wallpaper hangings. Since their...

Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines Updated for 2023

The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently updated its preventive services guidelines to expand...

Benefits Buzz – March 2022

Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines Updated The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently updated its...

Safety Focused – March 2022

The Importance of Hard Hats Hard hats are crucial pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) while on the job. Wearing this PPE...

Live Well, Work Well Newsletter – March 2022

Understanding Your Kidney Health March is National Kidney Month, making it a great time to take charge of your health to lower...

Tips for Reducing Your Health Care Costs in 2022

Health care costs continue to rise each year, and 2022 will likely be no exception. In the new year, experts predict a...

Workers’ Compensation and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop in people after they experience a very stressful, scary or...

California Passes Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19

California has enacted a new supplemental paid sick leave law requiring employers with more than 25 employees to provide them with up...

Workplace Technology Trends 1st Quarter 2022

Using Technology in Recruiting Organizations have leveraged technology in recruitment practices long before the pandemic, but COVID-19 and its repercussions have pushed...

The Case for Considering “Boomerang” Employees

Employers are having a hard time finding talent right now. Talent pools that have proven successful for years have suddenly dried up,...

2022 Health Plan Compliance Deadlines

Employers must comply with numerous reporting and disclosure requirements throughout the year in connection with their group health plans. This article explains key...

The Supply Chain Crisis and Business Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a supply chain crisis as businesses were forced to halt operations to slow the spread of the virus...

Benefits Buzz – February 2022

Current Status of the Federal Vaccine Mandates A number of federal vaccine requirements have been imposed, all of which have faced various...

The Impact of Inflation on the Commercial Insurance Market

Over the past year, inflation has become a growing concern. Inflation issues have largely resulted from a culmination of labor and supply...

Safety Focused – February 2022

Flammable and Combustible Liquid Safety Flammable and combustible liquids may be present in your workplace. If these liquids aren’t handled and stored...

Remote Work Newsletter – January/February 2022

Making the Most of Your Home Workstation It’s essential to periodically review your home workstation and ensure you’re set up for success...

DOL Publishes Guidance on $15 Minimum Wage for Federal Contractor Employees

On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2022-1 to help federal contractors understand and...

Executive Risk Updates: 2022 Workplace Class Actions

The number of employment-related class actions reached an all-time high in 2021, with settlements totaling more than $3.62 billion, according to the...

Live Well, Work Well Newsletter – February 2022

Reducing Your Stress During American Heart Month According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading...

Benefits and Me – February 2022

Managing Chronic Conditions According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 in 10 adults have a chronic disease – and...

Understand Your Rights Against Surprise Medical Bills

The No Surprises Act protects people covered under group and individual health plans from receiving surprise medical bills when they receive most...

5 HR Trends to Monitor in 2022

Human resources (HR) departments are given more responsibility each year, often with budgets that don’t match these changes. As a result, HR...

2022 Cyber Liability Insurance Market Outlook

The cyber insurance market is at a critical juncture for both insurance carriers and policyholders. While the last few years have seen...

2022 General Liability Insurance Market Outlook

The general liability market has consistently underperformed for insurance carriers in recent years. As claims have increased in frequency and severity, insurance...

2022 Commercial Property Insurance Market Outlook

The commercial property insurance market has hardened in recent years, resulting in quarterly rate increases since Q3 2017. Unfortunately, these rate increases...

2022 Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Market Outlook

Over the past few years, there has been a shift in the directors and officers (D&O) market, with double-digit rate increases and...

2022 Employment Practices Liability Insurance Market Outlook

Like many other lines of insurance, the employment practices liability (EPL) insurance market has hardened. This is due, in part, to a...

2022 Commercial Auto Insurance Market Outlook

Over the past decade, the commercial auto space has been largely unprofitable for insurance carriers. According to a recent report from AM...

2022 Workers’ Compensation Insurance Market Outlook

Unlike other lines of coverage, the market for workers’ compensation insurance has remained stable across most states and industries, performing as an...

California Employment Laws Effective January 1, 2022

In general, once approved by both the state legislature and the state governor, a new bill in California becomes effective on January...

Benefits Buzz – January 2022

Supreme Court will Review Federal Vaccine Mandates On December 22, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments...

Attracting and Retaining Truck Drivers Amid Labor Shortages

No matter the industry, employers of all sizes are struggling to attract and retain quality workers right now. This is particularly the...

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its 2020 national census of fatal occupational injuries. The census, which represents the...

Safety Focused – January 2022

Lifting Safety Measures There are many tasks that may require you to lift heavy objects on the job. Although these everyday tasks...

Live Well, Work Well – January 2021

How to Make – and Keep – Your New Year’s Resolution As the new year approaches, you may find yourself reflecting on...

Attraction & Retention Newsletter – 1st Quarter 2022

Market Recap 3 Pandemic-Influenced Recruiting Trends to Watch in 2022 With the new year comes new opportunities to attract and retain top...

Benefits and Me Newsletter – January 2022

Making Better Health Care Decisions It’s important to be an active participant in your health care. This can start with feeling empowered...

DOL Published Guidance on Overtime Pay for H-2B Workers

On December 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) No. 2021-3 to help employers understand their...

Considerations for Choosing a Medical Provider for Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Workers’ compensation covers benefits for your employees if and when they are injured on the job. It can provide flexible compensation for...

Preparing for an OSHA Inspection

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the government agency that monitors and enforces compliance with workplace safety laws. Under the...

Remote Work Tips – December 2021

Establishing a Work-from-Home Routine As a remote worker, it’s up to you to be just as motivated and focused as you would...

Why Is It So Hard to Find Workers Right Now?

Employers across the country are facing a pronounced issue right now: too many open positions and not enough workers. On its face,...

Benefits Buzz – December 2021

New Rule Requires Reporting of Medical and Prescription Drug Costs On November 17, 2021, federal agencies released an interim final rule requiring...

Safety Focused – December 2021

Winter Driving Safety Precautions A variety of winter weather conditions – including snow, slush, ice and sleet – can create hazards on...

Cybersecurity Tips for Online Shopping During the Holidays

Increased Civil Penalty Amounts for SBC, MSP, HIPAA Violations

Effective Nov. 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has increased the following key penalties affecting group health...

5 Hybrid Work Model Mistakes to Avoid

The COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to adapt and test their operational capacities. One of the most common pivots has been remote work....

Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission in...

COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS FAQs

On Nov. 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address the danger...

Safety Matters – Bucket Truck Safety

Bucket trucks are one of the best ways to provide a safe, elevated platform for workers, allowing them to use both arms...

Benefits Buzz – November 2021

FAQs Address COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage and Premium Discounts On October 4, 2021, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS)...

Safety Focused – November 2021

Handling Chemical Spills, Leaks and Explosions Storing or handling chemicals in the workplace puts all employees at risk. Workers like you could...

EEOC Adds FAQs Addressing Religious Objections to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Under Title VII

On Oct. 25, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued additional answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how employers should...

California Updates ABC Test Exemptions

On September 30, 2021, California updated its exceptions to the law that regulates independent contractor classification (AB 5). AB 5 requires a...

Affordable Care Act: 2022 Compliance Checklist

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made a number of significant changes to group health plans since the law was enacted in...

How Natural Immunity to COVID-19 Might Factor Into Vaccine Mandates

Recently, President Joe Biden announced sweeping COVID-19 vaccination mandates. Federal employees must now be vaccinated as a condition of employment. And, soon,...

COVID-19 Medical Bills Expected to Rise

COVID-19 medical bills are expected to increase next year. During the height of the pandemic, insurers waived the costs of certain COVID-19-related...

Clarifying Guidance on COBRA Deadline Extension Relief

IRS Notice 2021-58 clarifies the application of certain COBRA deadline extensions for electing COBRA coverage and paying COBRA premiums under prior relief...

Ransomware Largest Driver of Cyber Insurance Claims in the Last Five Years

Ransomware represented the number one cause of loss in a study of almost 6,000 cyber insurance claims, with the average ransom rising...