Live Well, Work Well – What to Know About This Year’s Flu Season
Influenza (flu) season lasts from October through May in the United States, with peak flu activity happening between December and March. The country’s flu activity has been unusual since the COVID-19 pandemic began, which could pose consequences for the upcoming season.
Furthermore, flu season in the Southern Hemisphere may indicate what’s to come in the United States. In particular, Australia has been experiencing an unusual surge in flu activity early in the season. Health experts now warn that the same could happen in the United States later this year.
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast cancer is the second-leading type of cancer among American women, behind skin cancer. In fact, nearly 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lives—the disease can also affect men, although it’s considered rare. So, if you’re a woman, don’t ignore your breast health.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, meaning now is when you should learn about this serious disease, its risk factors and symptoms.
View and download the Breast Cancer Awareness of the Month Information
HR Brief – Building Employee Skills With Microlearning
Addressing current and future skills gaps is a top workplace challenge for employers today. In addition, learning and development are key priorities for workers in today’s competitive labor market who may seek out a new employer if their current one does not offer the career development opportunities they desire.
While employers can approach these challenges in various ways, many are leveraging microlearning, which provides an affordable, feasible and time-friendly opportunity to build employee skills.
Live Well, Work Well – The Art of Mindful Eating
Taking time to be mindful of your eating process and not focusing on restricting calories could enhance your awareness of the experience, improve your relationship with food and help you lose weight. Mindful eating can be an essential practice in today’s multitasking world. Multitasking while eating can lead to less satisfaction with your meals, less awareness of the food and, often, overeating.
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
Benefits Buzz – ACA Pay or Play Penalties Increase for 2023
On Aug. 16, 2022, the IRS updated its FAQs on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer shared responsibility (pay or play) rules to include updated penalty amounts for 2023. The adjusted $2,000 penalty amount is $2,880 and the adjusted $3,000 penalty amount is $4,320.
Pay or Play Penalty Calculations
An applicable large employer (ALE) is only liable for a penalty if at least one full-time employee receives a subsidy for Exchange coverage. Employees who are offered affordable, minimum value coverage are generally not eligible for these subsidies.
HR Brief – Proposed Overtime Rule Expected in October 2022
In its spring regulatory agenda, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced its plans to issue a proposed overtime rule in October 2022. According to the agency’s regulatory agenda, this proposed rule is expected to address how to implement the exemption of executive, administrative and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements.
Changes to minimum wage and overtime requirements under the FLSA could impact compliance costs and litigation risks for employers.
Benefits Buzz – Federal Guidance on Reproductive Health Care
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing states to regulate abortion, federal agencies have been issuing new guidance focused on reproductive health care.
HIPAA Guidance
New guidance addresses covered entities’ obligation under the HIPAA Privacy Rule to safeguard patients’ protected health information (PHI) related to reproductive health care, including abortions. It focuses on health care providers but refers to covered entities, including health plans.
Client and Employee Resources
The more your employees understand your benefit plans the more they become educated, empowered consumers. The programs you provide will also gain an enhanced value.
As your strategic partners in employee benefits, we can provide multiple avenues of ongoing support, including:
- Employee Meetings (English and Spanish)
- Webcasts
- Payroll Stuffers
- Poster Campaigns
- Newsletters
Carrier Directories
E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. Click the image below to begin.
