A new wave of class-action lawsuits is targeting employers that apply health insurance premium surcharges to employees who use tobacco, accusing them of discrimination and violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), according to two new blogs by prominent law firms. The lawsuits, according to a blog by Chicago-based Thompson Coburn LLP, assert that…
When employee files a federal Family and Medical Leave Act request to either deal with a health issue or care for a loved one, their employer is often put in a tight spot, particularly if the person serves a vital role in their organization. There are also a number of rules that employers need to…
Announcing 2023 InterWest Insurance Services Distinguished Employee Winner! Ben Stultz Commercial, Account Manager Chico Each year, InterWest recognizes employees who are identified by their co-workers as having demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their clients, workmates as well as their community. This partnership between work and giving back makes them stand out for their invaluable contributions.…
It’s almost time for year-end small group open enrollment and you need to drive engagement so that your employees can make informed decisions about their health insurance options. We want to help you help your employees understand all of their options so that they can purchase a plan that is appropriate for their situation. So…
A new study has found that the fastest-growing cost associated with cyber incidents is business interruption, reinforcing the need for businesses to have in place robust response and data restoration measures, particularly after a ransomware attack. Between 2019 and 2023, the average cyber insurance claim that involved business interruption ended up costing 450% more than…
More than half of employees regret the coverage decisions they make during open enrollment, according to a new study. Part of the problem may be that the average employee spends only 30 to 60 minutes selecting their benefits during open enrollment, which typically lasts about two weeks in most workplaces, according to the study by…
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill that provides a right to paid time off and other protections for employees who are victims of violence, including threats, assaults, stalking and domestic abuse. AB 2499 makes significant changes to California’s “jury, court and victim time off” law by expanding instances when a victim of…
You’ve managed to put together a crack team of producers and you suddenly find yourself with more business than you can handle. You didn’t put systems and support personnel in place to handle the volume of new business your new agents have started producing and if you don’t get a handle on it quickly,…
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has relented to threats from Federal OSHA and voted to align its residential construction and roofing fall-protection trigger with its federal counterpart at 6 feet. California has been the only state that runs its own OSHA and not comply with the federal mandate that requires laborers working at heights of more…
Announcing 2023 InterWest Insurance Services Distinguished Employee Winner! Jessica Lack Commercial, Account Manager Chico Each year, InterWest recognizes employees who are identified by their co-workers as having demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their clients, workmates as well as their community. This partnership between work and giving back makes them stand out for their invaluable contributions.…