A Guide to Reimbursement of Medical Expenses by Employer

Employee Benefits, Employee Training, Family, HR, Human Resources, Mental Health, Wellness

Today’s healthcare consumers often find that they can quickly incur medical expense costs and wonder how to manage them. Some typical medical expenses include diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation, or prevention of a particular disease. Whether a patient suspects something is wrong or their doctor discovers a problem during a routine exam, these costs alone can add up quickly and substantially.

by Chris Freitas

Insurance Needs for Each Generation

Employee Benefits, Employee Training, Family, HR, Human Resources, Mental Health, Wellness

Employee benefits are a key consideration when candidates are reviewing job offers. Medical benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, and a 401k or retirement plan are just a few of the benefits employees have come to expect.

In today's world, organizations are faced with the challenge of meeting the benefit needs of a multi-generational workforce: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. How can a business provide benefits to meet the needs of all generations and remain competitive?

Clearly, it's not an option to offer different benefits to different generations due to the risk of discrimination claims. It is possible, though, to personalize benefits so that employees have options for the benefits they have to choose from.

Read on to learn about the differences between what's essential to insurance needs for each generation to gain some insight into approaching employee benefit planning moving forward.

by Chris Freitas

Does Medicare Cover Telemedicine?

Employee Benefits, Family, FMLA, Health Care, HR, Human Resources, Insurance, Wellness, Leave of Absence, PTO, Health Care Cost

Telemedicine became an essential technological tool in the healthcare industry amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone’s interactions were restricted, including health patients with pressing needs and their dedicated healthcare providers.

Fortunately, telemedicine was already in place before the pandemic, available to meet the needs of people in rural areas and in other complicated situations where an office visit didn’t work.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), however, telemedicine in the U.S. hadn’t taken off before COVID-19. The interest was minimal. But the pandemic changed everything, opening the healthcare community’s and patients’ eyes to the immense value of remote patient services.

Many patients and healthcare providers are now taking the time to learn more about what telemedicine means in terms of private insurance and Medicare coverage.

As your organization’s benefits manager, it might help to take a deeper look at the now fast-rising telemedicine trend and its vast potential benefits for the healthcare industry, patients, and employers.

by Chris Freitas

Employee Benefits Trends in 2022

Employee Benefits, Employee Training, Family, HR, Human Resources, Mental Health, Wellness

As the new year begins, many employers are faced with a myriad of challenges. The continuing COVID-19 pandemic—which is now into its third year—remains a top-of-mind concern as it wears on employees’ mental, physical and financial well-being and continues to affect all aspects of daily life.

For employers, the pandemic continues to perpetuate the Great Resignation, exacerbating the labor shortage and tight labor market and leading employers to re-evaluate many of their benefits offerings and workplace procedures in an effort to attract and retain top talent. Moreover, the pandemic’s effects are permeating other aspects of the employee benefits world, including health care costs and health care benefits, as well as life, disability, and retirement benefits.

As the pandemic wages on, employees, who are more burned out than ever before, will look to their employers to provide more comprehensive benefits and support. In some cases, if they don’t receive the offerings and support they’re looking for, they may leave. That’s why, in today’s times, you can’t afford to not stay on top of employee benefits trends.

by Chris Freitas

Paid Time Off (PTO) for Overtime: Ask the Experts

Human Resources, PTO

Question: Should we include holidays, PTO, vacation, or other leave taken during the workweek in calculating overtime premium pay under FLSA rules?

by Chris Freitas

4 Identity Theft Prevention Tips

Custom Content, Identity Theft

Recently, the “Happiest Place on Earth” wasn’t living up to its name for many families. For almost a full year, malicious software had been installed on point-of-sale systems at several Earl Enterprises restaurants. This software then captured debit and credit card numbers, expiration dates, and cardholder names of users purchasing food at these venues. Identity theft has become too commonplace in our day and age and we need to become better educated on where we are most likely to encounter threats as well as ways to avoid becoming victims.

by Chris Freitas

Mental Health in the Construction Industry

Employee Benefits, Employee Training, Family, HR, Human Resources, Mental Health, Wellness

The past few years have taken their toll on people everywhere. Everyone from students to working moms to workplace professionals has struggled to stay afloat, physically, financially, and mentally.

Mayo Clinic confirms that the ongoing worry and anxiety surrounding COVID-19, related vaccinations, and new and emerging variants have proved overwhelming to many people from all walks of life.

by Chris Freitas

AI in HR

Human Resources, Technology

Artificial intelligence is pushing humans and machines closer together.  It’s exciting!  AI’s influences are being felt across the HR space… being used to automate business processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce bias among other things.  In fact, McKinsey’s latest forecast of AI’s impact on the global economy is that it will generate $13 trillion in economic activity across the globe by 2030.

by Mike Radakovich

How to Beat the Heat: Our Top 5 Tips

Custom Content, health, Wellness

There’s no denying that summer has arrived. In fact, the news has been abuzz with Alaska’s heat wave in July that sent temperatures soaring between 20 and 30 degrees above average. When you are caught in the middle of a heat wave, it may seem like there’s nothing you can do to keep cool. But, there are ways for you to beat the heat this summer and stay safe from heat related illnesses. Below, we explore how to beat the heat by providing our top five tips!

by Mike Radakovich

Top 10 Company Culture Tips

HR, Workplace Wellness, Company Culture

When it comes to culture, companies have to walk the walk and talk the talk.

HR professionals have all been there.  A potential new employee comes in for an interview.  Company representatives question the prospect and then ask if the candidate has any questions.  With surety, the first question uttered will be about the company’s culture.  The response has to be real and backed-up with proof.

Why?

by Mike Radakovich