By on Sep 4, 2015 in Employee Benefits |

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—also known as the ACA—was signed into law more than five years ago, requiring dramatic changes to the plans employers can offer their workers, how information on those plans are communicated, how eligibility is determined, and much more. It is only natural to believe that changes of this magnitude play a significant...

By on Aug 21, 2015 in Employee Benefits |

As the economy improves, more people are beginning to leave their jobs of their own volition. What’s worse, the people who are leaving aren’t the slackers to whom you would love to give a pink slip. In a recent WorkForces Report,  Aflac notes that the individuals who describe themselves as likely to leave their current position are hard-working, highly educated,...

By on Aug 7, 2015 in Employee Benefits |

The word “benefits” implies that they are an extra bonus that employees receive. Although the term can include this idea, the truth is that federal and state laws require employers to provide certain benefits to all employees upon employment, making them no more of an “extra” than is a salary. Unemployment Insurance Any business who has employees is required to pay...

By on Jul 17, 2015 in Employee Benefits |

In America, vacations are often viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. While workers in every country in the European Union receive at least four weeks of paid vacation each year, paid time off is not legally required in the United States. Among U.S. employees who receive PTO, many days often go unused. In fact, according to one 2014 survey, 59 percent of...

By on Jun 22, 2015 in Employee Benefits |

The Great Recession was a miserable time for most Americans. Property values plummeted, creating underwater mortgages. Stocks took a hit, devastating retirement savings. Thousands upon thousands lost their jobs. But some experts say that enormous storm cloud had a decidedly silver lining: consumer savings spiked after the recession as Americans took a more cautious...

By on Jun 4, 2015 in Employee Benefits |

  Workplace wellness programs are about more than lowering your employees’ blood pressure and helping them reduce stress. In addition to those (and other) health-improving benefits, an effective wellness program can minimize insurance costs, reduce sick days and time away from work, and even increase morale and productivity. Of course, the key word here is...