I recently read an interesting article regarding fitness and its relation to a company’s bottom line.  The article referenced two studies which added credibility to the idea that implementing a wellness program is beneficial to both the company and the participants.

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Surviving to an old age is the dominant good-news story about aging. Improved medical care and better diet and exercise habits, particularly among higher-income seniors, are adding years to lives. This welcome trend, however, is running head-on into the harsh reality that even normally aging older Americans are likely to need expensive long-term care assistance. Few have money or plans for this likelihood.

Here are five compelling reasons for older people and their families to get serious about how they will deal with old-age care needs:

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The final regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) are now in effect, and have broadened the definition of "disability." The basic definition remains the same - a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities - but the component terms, “substantially limits,” and “major life activities” have been significantly broadened. Therefore, employers would be wise not to assume that an individual is not disabled without following the “Rules of Construction” as set forth in the new regulations.

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Continued focus by the federal government on Independent Contractor (I.C.) status may soon result in new legislation that will cause major headaches and increased penalties for employers for misclassification of I.C.’s.   According to a recent presentation on I.C.’s by James Patterson and Jon Harris, Attorneys with Ogletree Deakins, the proposed new litigation as well as other recent legislation serve to demonstrate there is an all out assault on I.C. status. 

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By Barbara J. Stewart, shapingHR, LLC Recently, there has been a lot of public commentary regarding the dangers of distracted driving, including texting while driving.  In fact last January, Oprah Winfrey rolled out her “No Phone Zone&rdq...

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We’ve all heard the expression a woman’s work is never done, and the saying can certainly apply to men these days, too. Just as we cross the threshold into adulthood, many of us get married and have children. New parents often agonize over the decision to stay home and parent full-time or leave the children in someone else’s care in order to pursue a career and earn that much-needed second income. For years, many of us will juggle careers, domestic responsibilities, and our children’s extra curricular activities, all while trying to squeeze in some quality time with our spouses. Then, just as our children begin to grow up and become more self-sufficient, our parents begin to age and gradually become more dependent.

In the 21st century, caregiving has become increasingly difficult. Many will have to take a leave of absence or switch to a part-time schedule at work in order to meet the needs of a loved one. This can limit our availability, which may hold us back professionally. What’s more, income disruptions can interfere with our ability to save money, plan for retirement, or attain financial security. Moreover, because women have a longer life expectancy than men, wives often end up caring for their elderly husbands, as well as aging parents.

With just so many hours in a day to meet professional and personal obligations, it’s no wonder we are seeking ways to minimize stress and anxiety, as well as financial hardship. If you are a baby boomer, these scenarios may sound all too familiar.

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Why have an employee handbook? Is it better to have one or not? No matter what size your organization is, employees need to be given some general guidelines as to what is expected of them and what they can expect from you.  Consolidating your company policies into an Employee Handbook is an excellent way to both communicate and educate employees on company policies, and also helps to ensure that supervisors do a better job of keeping your company out of trouble by knowing what your policies are so that they can consistently enforce them. Consistency is key in administering Company policies to avoid claims of discrimination and helps reassure employees that they will be treated fairly and uniformly. 

 

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Classifying a worker as an independent contractor can seemingly provide a win-win financial exchange for both parties. For the employer it means reduced payroll tax obligations, no minimum wage or overtime requirements, no benefit costs, and other administrative savings.  For the independent contractor, the benefits include flexibility, more upfront money and tax advantages not available to employees.  The downside for the independent contractor, though, is that the employment rights to which employees are entitled under the law are not available to them.

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Since this is our first article, I thought we would start with the most common question we are asked by our clients and employers, how can I get less expensive Health insurance? You can always cut back on benefits like increasing deductibles, coinsurance, copays and drug plans, and this will always be an essential tool to keeping costs under control, but you are only passing these cost on to your employees. The good news is there are several ways to make a positive impact on your health plan that are in your control and all it takes is a little employee education.

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Many employers tend to keep every document, note, and form concerning the employee in the employee’s personnel file – it essentially becomes a catch all for everything. But is this a good practice? Not really. Why? In a worst-case scenario, the personnel file could become evidence in a lawsuit brought by a disgruntled employee.  In addition, often careless comments or unsubstantiated criticisms written in a note, memo or email, that reference one’s personal life, political beliefs or protected status (race, religion, age, sex, disability, etc.), wind up in the personnel file and aren’t directly related to the employee’s qualifications or job performance. When/if that happens, it will come back to bite you.     

So what should you keep/not keep in the personnel file to keep it from turning into evidence in a lawsuit?

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It has long been said that regular physical activity and better sleep go hand in hand. Burn more energy during the day, the thinking goes, and you will be more tired at night.But only recently have scientists sought to find out precisely to what extent. One extensive study published this year looked for answers by having healthy children wear actigraphs — devices that measure movement — and then seeing whether more movement and activity during the day meant improved sleep at night. The results should be particularly enlightening to parents.

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  Up-to-Date Topics: Employee Benefits Link Name Link Description ...

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  Up-to-Date Topics: Wellness Link Name Link Description ...

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  Up-to-Date Topics: Wellness Link Name Link Description ...

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