With multiple generations working side-by-side in this economy, the needs of your staff in terms of employee benefits will vary greatly depending on their age. You may have baby boomers who are nearing retirement and have health issues, working with staff in their 30s who are newly married and have had their first kids. And…
Efforts are afoot to create new laws and regulations that would require California employers to include the opioid overdose medication Narcan in their first aid kits. The National Safety Council (NSC) recently asked the Cal/OSHA Standards Board to create new regulations requiring construction sites and general industry workplaces to stock medications that can reverse opioid…
If you have staff with health savings accounts, they still have until April 15 to make additional contributions to their accounts if they want to reduce their tax bills for last year. HSAs allow your employees to put away funds to pay for future medical expenses. Usually, these accounts are funded with pre-tax deductions from…
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California will recommend changes to class codes for some electronics manufacturing sectors, as well as increases to the wage thresholds for construction industry dual classifications. The move comes after the Rating Bureau’s governing committee unanimously approved proposed changes, which will be sent in March to the state insurance…
As the economy continues roaring, the market for top talent stays exceedingly competitive. Multiple studies have consistently shown that a robust set of employee benefits is a vital component of an overall compensation package. But it’s tough for smaller companies to compete with their large counterparts, who have the advantage of economies of scale. As…
The trend toward employees working remotely that began during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven popular, and many employers have been able to shrink their office costs by leasing smaller spaces. However, these changes have resulted in increased commercial building vacancy rates, and that can leave their owners with insurance problems. The National Association of Realtors…
One of the by-products of the digital revolution – with most people staring many hours each day at tablets, smart phones and computers – is eye strain. According to The Vision Council, the average U.S. adult spends more than two hours a day looking at electronic screens. Looking at such screens for too long can…
With more than half of all private sector employees enrolled in high-deductible health plans, it’s important that employers have in place certain protocols to ensure that they are a success. As health insurance costs have risen, more employers have started offering their employees this option as the upfront premiums are often lower than with other…
The growing popularity of electric vehicles is encouraging businesses to install charging stations in parking lots for their employees and visitors. Commercial real estate owners and investors are always looking for ways to increase the value of their properties. Adding EV charging infrastructure is an obvious way to increase property value while providing a much-needed…
The U.S. Department of Labor in January 2024 finalized a new federal rule that will make it more difficult for employers to classify workers as independent contractors. The final rule formally rescinds the independent contractor rule issued by the DOL a few years ago and provides a different interpretation of how the key test of…