Two bills wending their way through the state Legislature would increase the amount of sick days workers in the Golden State can take as well as expand — once again — the definition of “family” for the purposes of paid family leave. Business groups have come out against both of the bills, which they say…
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued new guidance for employers to provide reasonable accommodations for visually impaired workers who request it. About 18.4% of all American adults have at least some difficulty with their vision, even when wearing corrective lenses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new guidance addresses…
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued its long-awaited proposed changes to the nation’s overtime rules for American workers, proposing to increase the threshold for exempt status by more than 50% to $55,000. If the proposed rules become permanent rules, employers will need to prepare their bookkeeping and budgets to account for the new salary…
The IRS has significantly reduced the group plan affordability threshold — which is used to determine if an employer’s lowest-premium health plan meets the Affordable Care Act rules — for 2024. The threshold for next year has been set at 8.39% of an employee’s household income, down significantly from 9.12% this year. The lower threshold…
A controversial bill that would require every employer in California to have in place a workplace violence prevention plan has been passed by the State Senate and is now in play in the Assembly. The bill — SB 553 — would require any company with at least one worker to “establish, implement and maintain” a…
A new report by Aon warns employers to expect average group health insurance costs to increase 8.5% in 2024, as inflation starts hitting the cost of delivering care as well as pharmaceuticals. The report predicts that employers will pay an average of $15,088 in 2024, compared to the average this year of $13,906. The cost…
Automobiles are one of the most significant exposures to loss a company can face. To ensure that you effectively manage your company’s vehicle liability and risk exposure, you need to have an effective risk management strategy. Without one, the consequences to your company’s bottom line can be severe. With one, you can reduce your total…
If you are running a business, you need to get an early start on preparations for your small group health plan open enrollment, particularly now as so much confusion abounds about the state of health insurance in the country. With recent new regulations, options have changed for employers and you need to stay focused on…
The sizes of large jury verdicts have exploded in recent years, putting a strain on businesses not only for what they have to pay out of pocket, but also the size of the premium they pay for their liability coverage. These damages juries are awarding have gotten so large that they’ve been given a new…
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more employers are allowing their staff to work remotely on a permanent basis, often allowing them to never have to set foot in the office again. This newfound freedom for American workers has allowed many of them to leave the cities they were living in for small towns or even more…