Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have been around for decades, and your company likely has one. You may not pay much attention to it, but if you don’t, you may be missing an opportunity to really reap its maximum value. Recently, the National Business Group on Health (NBGH) (businessgrouphealth.org) created a work group charged with a […]
“Corporate culture” is a term tossed around a lot. It’s easy to see why a particular corporate culture may be desirable. After all, it is often cited as the reason for low turnover and high participation in certain types of benefits and programs. You know what corporate culture means, even if you may be unable […]
In a time of economic uncertainty, employers are looking for innovative ways to balance the needs of their workforce with the realities of the post-Healthcare Reform era. Kristen Allison, president of Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, a leading employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm based in Orange County, offers insight into today’s hottest trends set to […]
By Burton J. Fishman In a prior notice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that its new Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) regulations would be issued this month and that new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations should be out in July. It now appears those dates were overly optimistic. In a public session […]
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) creates a grant program to assist small businesses with providing comprehensive workplace wellness programs.
I’m trying to get a wellness program going in our company but I can’t seem to get top management to “get it.” Can you help out by outlining why wellness is important— something even our VPs can understand?— Stephen P., Manager of People, San Francisco
On July 1, 2007, new rules take effect regarding group health plan compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and wellness programs in particular. The rules are effective on the first day of the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2007. For calendar year plans, the […]
In light of new evidence that overweight workers are costing U.S. businesses more, many employers may find new motivation to help their workers stay healthy and fit. If you’re not sure where to start or how to get a workplace wellness program up and running, consider the California 5 a Day—Be Active! Worksite Program, developed […]
The cooler weather that has arrived in many parts of the state has also ushered in cold and flu season—which could mean the beginning of high rates of absenteeism in the workplace. Here are some measures you and your employees can take to help keep everyone healthy and productive:
After being flooded with more than 11,000 comments from the public about proposed changes to federal health care privacy rules, the government has now released new privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Generally, the new rules require health plans and providers to take steps to safeguard an individual’s PHI, or […]