The future of work is here. Is HR ready?

While meeting with a client recently, she said something that’s stuck with me. “We need to stop talking about the future of work and start actually taking action,” she said, “because it’s here.” She’s right. We’re at an inflection point with a labor market that’s as tight as it’s been since the Great Recession and […]

Midterm Elections Won’t Affect The Employer Mandate

Since President Trump took office, a top priority has been to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and his administration continues its attempts to undermine the law. With midterm elections less than 90 days away, we can expect the ACA will once again take center stage. Much is at stake. The upcoming midterm elections are […]

Complying with California’s Consumer Privacy Act of 2018

If you received a wave of “We’ve Updated Our Privacy Policy” e-mails recently, here’s why: California just passed the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 affording California residents unprecedented, expansive data privacy rights. While the act, effective Jan. 1, 2020, is broadly applicable to qualifying businesses, employers should pay special attention to their duties under […]

How Important Are Employee Handbooks?

Very important! Not only do they reflect a company’s culture and values but they also communicate important policies and procedures, and can even help shield employers from litigation. Examples of topics that effective employee handbooks cover include: Anti-discrimination policies- Handbooks should include a section on sexual harassment, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and equal […]

More employees opt for high-deductible health plans over traditional plans

High-deductible health plans are gaining ground on traditional insurance plans, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the past 10 years, adults aged 18 – 64 with employment-based coverage have increasingly opted for high-deductible health plans both with and without health savings accounts. The percentage of adults enrolled […]

The HSA opportunity clients miss

Odds are your clients are struggling with higher insurance costs and worried about incurring any future medical bills. Here’s one option advisors can help them explore: health savings accounts. These accounts, which are offered in combination with high-deductible health insurance plans, provide a unique opportunity for clients to save. Better still, they afford triple tax […]

3 things employers need to know about Congress’ effort to expand HSAs

Health savings accounts are at the top of the health policy agenda as Congress grapples with how to rein in ever-rising costs. House and Senate committees have held several hearings over the past few months on how to expand HSAs and update the rules, and House on Wednesday just passed two healthcare bills containing a broad array […]

Signing up for Medicare while covered by employer’s health plan

You have a seven-month window to enroll in Part A, which is free and covers hospital services. The enrollment period begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after your birthday month. You can enroll in Medicare online at SocialSecurity.gov or visit your local Social Security office, even if you’re not ready […]

Question of the Month: Penalties for failing to comply with Section 125 requirements

Q.What are the penalties for failing to comply with Section 125 requirements, such as failing to follow a cafeteria plan document’s terms? A: An operational failure occurs when a plan fails to follow its cafeteria plan document’s terms. There are several potential penalties for operational failures, including: Cafeteria plan disqualification Requiring the cafeteria plan to comply […]