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July 25, 2014
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Health Care Reform Update

Several lawsuits have been filed by individuals and employers to challenge the ability of the federal government to provide tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to individuals in states that did not establish their own Exchanges (that is, in states with federally-facilitated exchanges, or FFEs). These lawsuits were filed in response to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule that authorizes subsidies in all states, including those with FFEs. On July 22, 2014, the D.C. Circuit Court struck down the availability of health insurance subsidies in states with federal Exchanges, while the 4th Circuit Court upheld their availability in all states, including those with federal Exchanges.that authorizes subsidies in all states, including those with FFEs. Click here to view the full article *This information has been provided by Midlands Financial Benefits, Inc.
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July 14, 2014
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How To Avoid Hiring a Work Comp Claim

One of the best ways to reduce the costs of workers’ comp claims is to avoid hiring an employee who is not fit to perform the essential functions of the job. While that may seem easier said than done, particularly in light of the many laws governing the hiring process, one tool has proven to be effective, but is underutilized. And that is the post-offer, pre-hire physical exam. Typically, this consists of a medical history questionnaire and a pre-employment physical exam. The purpose is to measure the individual’s ability to safely perform the job for which they are hired. It’s important to remember that this can only be done after a conditional offer of employment has been made and it carries with it American with Disabilities (ADA) accommodation issues if you have more than 15 employees (five in California). Also, consistency and confidentiality is critical. The exam must be required of all persons offered positions in the same job category […]
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July 8, 2014
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FMLA and Serious Health Condition for A Spouse

From the HR Experts and UNICO HR Solutions: Question- How do we certify a serious health condition for a spouse who is pregnant and not our employee when the husband seeks leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Answer- An employer may require that the need for leave for a serious health condition of the employee or the employee’s immediate family member be supported by a certification issued by a health care provider. Both the mother and father are entitled to Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for the birth of their child and to be with the healthy newborn child (i.e., bonding time) during the 12-month period beginning on the date of birth. A husband and wife who are eligible for FMLA leave and are employed by the same covered employer may be limited to a combined total of 12 weeks of leave during any 12-month period if the leave is taken for birth of the […]
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June 17, 2014
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Who, What, and Why of Cyber Liability

WHO Needs Cyber Liability Coverage? Any communications company engaged in providing computer services, Internet services or those companies using the Internet in its everyday course of business. WHAT Activities Create Cyber Risk? Use of Email • Support of Webmail • Internet Service Providers • Dependence on Network Services • Electronic Storage of Customer Information • Storage of Third-Party Trade Secrets and Data • On-Line Advertising and Marketing • Web Site Design, Development & Ecommerce • Web Site Activities (Content, Links) • E-Commerce • E-Brochures/E-Catalogs • E-Bill Payment • Internet/Digital Media • Electronic Bulletin Boards or Social Interaction WHY Does My Customer Need Cyber Coverage? A General Liability policy will cover a physical injury to TANGIBLE property. Information is not TANGIBLE property. A General Liability policy also EXCLUDES electronic data. Claim Examples: 1. Trademark Liability ISPs are liable for their own activities that constitute trademark infringement. As a result, if an ISP were to advertise their services under a trademark that […]
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May 27, 2014
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Why Good Workers Do Not Work Safely

With occupational injury rates at an all-time low, it’s clear that employers have done a good job making workplaces safer. Yet, accidents and deaths do occur. While some are a result of recalcitrant employees or unscrupulous employers, injuries do happen to good workers in good workplaces. What leads such workers to make unsafe decisions and how can employers reduce the likelihood of this happening? Shortcuts It’s human nature to take shortcuts, believing we have the knowledge and know how to get the job done as quickly as possible. In today’s fast paced world that is often riddled with concerns about job security, employees tend to push even harder. The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Study backs this up with findings that show overexertion maintains its number one ranking as the leading cause of serious non-fatal workplace injuries, costing companies over $13.61 billion in direct costs and representing over 25% of the costs of all workplace injuries. Climbing on shelves rather than […]
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May 27, 2014
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HR Tip: Mindfulness Replacing Multitasking

One of the buzzwords of the hour is “mindfulness” – being focused and fully present in the here and now. Employers such as Google and General Mills offer classes on it, as do several prominent business schools. Proponents argue that substituting mindfulness for multitasking reduces stress and increases productivity. The barrage of information and demands from digital and non-digital resources is endless. It’s easy to see the relationship to safety and accidents; a worker who trips and falls while talking on a cell phone can be a costly injury. Neurologist Dr. Romie Mushtaq says the physiological benefits of clearing away distractions and living in the moment have been documented in many scientific and medical studies. Mindfulness enhances the brain’s efficiency, creativity and sharpness, whereas multitasking depresses the brain’s memory and analytical functions and reduces blood flow to the part of the right temporal lobe, which contributes to creative thinking. She offers these tips for practicing mindfulness in a multitasking world: […]
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May 16, 2014
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Major Issues Currently Facing the Workers’ Compensation Industry

Each year, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. publishes a report that examines some of the major issues affecting the industry. It is a compilation of articles by industry specialists that offer valuable insights into Workers’ Compensation issues facing employers and other stakeholders. Contact us and we’d be happy to send you the full report. Here is a brief overview of what you will find: I. Industry Outlook An article by Stephen J. Klingel, CPCU, WCP, president and chief executive officer of NCCI is cautious about expressing a positive industry outlook for the months ahead. “While most indicators show continued improvement, it’s important to note that the combined ratio remains too high, and achieving an adequate return remains a challenge. These factors, along with the overhanging shadow of the potential loss of the terrorism backstop, add a note of caution to what might otherwise be a relatively optimistic outlook.” Peter M. Burton, CPCU, AU NCCI Senior Division Executive, State […]
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May 9, 2014
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UNICO attends the Big “I” Congressional Conference

Last month, over 1,000 Big “I” independent agents, brokers and industry leaders from all 50 states and several foreign countries converged in Washington, D.C. for the annual Big “I” Legislative Conference in order to meet with members of the House and Senate and their staff on critical issues that directly impact the independent agency system. Steve Robeson, Producer of UNICO Group, was a part of this conference. Topics covered during the meeting include; terrorism insurance, agent licensing reform, insurance regulation and tax reform. Terrorism Insurance: The current Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) expires at the end of the year. The Big “I” expressed to congress the importance of moving forward with an extension of this act prior to the expiration date at the end of this year. Agent Licensing Reform: Big “I” agents urged their federal representatives to support adding the “National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act” (NARAB II) bill to the terrorism insurance extension that will […]
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April 24, 2014
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Why Do Injured Employees Seek An Attorney?

A recent study found that if an injured employee sees out legal representation for a workers’ compensation case, the costs will be much higher. Recently, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) released a study finding that more than 11.6% of all California Workers’ Compensation claims and 80% of claims for permanent disability benefits involve attorneys. Temporary disability claims with attorney involvement had an average of $30,319 in benefits and expenses, compared with $5,598 for claims without attorneys. Permanent disability claims involving attorneys, or 80% of permanent disability claims, averaged $66,208 in benefits and expenses, compared to $25,300 for claims that did not involve attorneys. Time away from work because of disability also was substantially higher and claims were slower to close. So what are the key factors that cause an injured employee to see out an attorney? The severity of the injury, the claims process and the perception of the injured employee. While the correlation between severity of injury and […]
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April 9, 2014
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HR Nightmares- How Can UNICO HR Solutions Help?

The human resources function in companies continues to evolve and change especially with all the complexities being thrown at companies regarding the ACA, OSHA, compliance, and other legal issues. Many companies that we work with don’t have the staff or the money to have a full-time human resources person so they turn those responsibilities over to an employee that is wearing several hats within that company. There are many instances when a complex HR issue arises and these people don’t know where to turn to get the expert guidance they need. Many companies turn to web based HR portals for information but this can only help to a certain degree. It takes time and effort to try and research the issue at hand and many times it is difficult to find the right answer to the issue they are trying to address. Some companies will have to make calls to their attorneys to have questions answered and this can be […]
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March 27, 2014
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The Key to Long Term Wellness Culture

By: Lisa Henning, Executive Wellness Consultant, UNICO Midlands New Year’s Resolution…a term we are all familiar with over the years.  This is the time when we renew our commitments and “make good” on our promises.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could always do the right thing all year instead of having to renew our promises!  Essentially, that is what culture change is about.  Businesses have changed their company culture to one where wellness is front of mind.  ALL of the companies that have been successful with culture change have strong leadership! This is a slippery slope.  While most business leaders are aware of the financial benefits of a wellness program and want to reap the benefits, few are truly willing to commit financially to a comprehensive program.  As with most things, wellness is relational…you get what you pay for.  If you purchase baggies with fold over tops, you get stale bread. If you invest in the zip close baggies, […]
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March 27, 2014
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The Key to Long Term Wellness Culture

By: Lisa Henning, Executive Wellness Consultant, UNICO Midlands New Year’s Resolution…a term we are all familiar with over the years.  This is the time when we renew our commitments and “make good” on our promises.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could always do the right thing all year instead of having to renew our promises!  Essentially, that is what culture change is about.  Businesses have changed their company culture to one where wellness is front of mind.  ALL of the companies that have been successful with culture change have strong leadership! This is a slippery slope.  While most business leaders are aware of the financial benefits of a wellness program and want to reap the benefits, few are truly willing to commit financially to a comprehensive program.  As with most things, wellness is relational…you get what you pay for.  If you purchase baggies with fold over tops, you get stale bread. If you invest in the zip close baggies, […]
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March 27, 2014
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The Key to Long Term Wellness Culture

By: Lisa Henning, Executive Wellness Consultant, UNICO Midlands New Year’s Resolution…a term we are all familiar with over the years.  This is the time when we renew our commitments and “make good” on our promises.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could always do the right thing all year instead of having to renew our promises!  Essentially, that is what culture change is about.  Businesses have changed their company culture to one where wellness is front of mind.  ALL of the companies that have been successful with culture change have strong leadership! This is a slippery slope.  While most business leaders are aware of the financial benefits of a wellness program and want to reap the benefits, few are truly willing to commit financially to a comprehensive program.  As with most things, wellness is relational…you get what you pay for.  If you purchase baggies with fold over tops, you get stale bread. If you invest in the zip close baggies, […]
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February 24, 2014
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From the HR Experts-Final Rules for ACA’s 90-Day Waiting Period Limitation Issued –

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services announced the publication of final regulations implementing a 90-day limit on waiting periods for health coverage as part of the reform provisions of the Affordable Care Act on February 20, 2014. These regulations require that no group health plan or group health insurance issuer impose a waiting period that exceeds 90 days after an employee is otherwise eligible for coverage. The rules: Do not require coverage be offered to any particular employee or class of employees; Are designed to ensure that eligibility conditions based solely on the passage of time are not used to evade the waiting period limit by stating that such conditions cannot exceed 90 days; Include other permissible eligibility requirements, such as meeting certain sales goals, earning a certain level of commission, or successfully completing an orientation period; Allow provisions requiring employees to complete a certain number of hours before becoming eligible for coverage as long […]
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February 11, 2014
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ACA Update

Employers with less than 100 employees will avoid ACA Mandate until 2016 In the ever changing world of health care reform the government has announced yet another change. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced on 2/10/14 that the Affordable Care Act’s health coverage mandate for employers with fewer than 100 employees will be delayed another year until 2016. Right now only those employees working at least 30 hours per week are counted in this tally.  That also may change as congress continues to evaluate the impact on small business. Employers with over 100 employees working at least 30 hours per week will become subject to the health coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as previously announced beginning in January 2015. If these employers decide not to offer insurance to their employees, they will make an employer shared responsibility payment beginning in 2015 to help offset the costs to taxpayers for employees getting tax […]
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February 11, 2014
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ACA Update

Employers with less than 100 employees will avoid ACA Mandate until 2016 In the ever changing world of health care reform the government has announced yet another change. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced on 2/10/14 that the Affordable Care Act’s health coverage mandate for employers with fewer than 100 employees will be delayed another year until 2016. Right now only those employees working at least 30 hours per week are counted in this tally.  That also may change as congress continues to evaluate the impact on small business. Employers with over 100 employees working at least 30 hours per week will become subject to the health coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as previously announced beginning in January 2015. If these employers decide not to offer insurance to their employees, they will make an employer shared responsibility payment beginning in 2015 to help offset the costs to taxpayers for employees getting tax […]
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February 11, 2014
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ACA Update

Employers with less than 100 employees will avoid ACA Mandate until 2016 In the ever changing world of health care reform the government has announced yet another change. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced on 2/10/14 that the Affordable Care Act’s health coverage mandate for employers with fewer than 100 employees will be delayed another year until 2016. Right now only those employees working at least 30 hours per week are counted in this tally.  That also may change as congress continues to evaluate the impact on small business. Employers with over 100 employees working at least 30 hours per week will become subject to the health coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as previously announced beginning in January 2015. If these employers decide not to offer insurance to their employees, they will make an employer shared responsibility payment beginning in 2015 to help offset the costs to taxpayers for employees getting tax credits […]
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January 31, 2014
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UNITEL Now Offers Innovative HR Solutions

UNITEL Insurance has an outstanding human resources service called UNITEL HR Solutions. When you need answers to touch HR questions, where can you go? Your lawyer? Friends? The web? These options either cost too much or leave you with incomplete answers. You have direct phone access to HR professionals to give you answers you can trust. •Direct access to certified SPHR/PHR consultants with the HR Hotline. Receive immediate guidance and best practices advice to handle the toughest HR issues swiftly, and get right back to business. Calls last 35 minutes on average and most are also followed up with a written summary. •Unlimited access to self-paced training with over 200 on-demand employee training courses available. •A comprehensive online HR Library which has step-by-step guides for federal and state law compliance, COBRA and FMLA and thousands of invaluable templates, forms, guides and online tools. Stop searching and start finding accurate information that applies to the situation at hand! With UNITEL HR […]
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