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February 3, 2016
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Worksite Wellness as a Business Strategy

The Affordable Care Act has made you think about wellness How do you do it? Where do I start? Do I really need it? People spend more aware time at work than any other place. Time is a precious commodity in our fast-paced world. The saying goes; you can lead a camel to water, but you cannot make him drink. That is true for people as well, but businesses can help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Not only is wellness the right thing to do, it is a smart business strategy! Analysis of 22 large-employer studies showed significant positive impacts on healthcare costs and absenteeism: Employee healthcare costs were reduced $3.27 for every $1 spent on comprehensive worksite health programs. Absenteeism costs dropped by $2.73 for every $1 spent. Local success has matched or exceeded the results indicated in the results listed above. Lincoln Industries, Duncan Aviation, and the State of Nebraska have all received national recognition for their wellness […]
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January 27, 2016
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HR Solutions – Employee Pay and Salary Benchmarking Tools

Question: One of my best employees is asking for a raise because he found salary data on the Internet that he believes shows he is underpaid. How should I handle the conversation? I don’t want to lose him, but I am skeptical that he is underpaid. Answer: Handling this type of discussion on such a sensitive subject can be difficult, but it also provides an excellent opportunity for a conversation with the employee about his professional needs while you get direct feedback about his view of his job and the company. Consider this approach: Involve the employee’s manager in the discussion and have him or her lead the conversation with the employee. Treat his concerns with respect and schedule time with him to discuss his issues. He may have been searching the Internet for jobs as well as salary information. Let him know that he is valuable to the company and you want to hear his concerns and review the […]
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January 20, 2016
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The Importance Of Employee Handbooks

Question: What is the benefit of investing in the creation of an employee handbook? Answer: A handbook sets expectations and general guidelines for employees to operate under, promotes treating employees with fair and consistent practices, outlines employee benefits, and helps defend unemployment claims and lawsuits. Providing a well-drafted and complete handbook permits management to operate efficiently in determining proper steps and actions to take with employees in handling a variety of topics from attendance, leave, performance concerns, and disciplinary action including terminations. When a company invests in the creation and distribution of a handbook, the company empowers the workforce to operate within the guidelines stated, setting rules and processes that define the how, why, and who to go to that will inevitably become a backdrop to defending any allegations of wrong doing when drafted and followed carefully. The return on investment (ROI) of the employee handbook is unmeasurable; it can provide support in the defense of a legal suit, minimize […]
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January 13, 2016
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Understanding Work Comp Can Help You Lower Costs

Control Workers’ Compensation Costs Understanding how it works could save you money: For many companies, workers’ compensation insurance is a necessary evil that is often ignored and left uncontrolled. It is viewed as a commodity which is a mistake. By ignoring this major business expense, you may experience increased premiums or the inability to obtain a policy from a standard carrier. The resulting financial impact on your business could include price increases to consumers, the inability to offer competitive wages, or a reduction in operations. To control your costs, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what workers’ compensation is and what role you play in the process. It also helps to work with a broker that has the knowledge, tools and resources to help you improve your work comp program. A No-Fault System Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system established under individual state law that provides medical and wage loss payment to employees injured in the course and […]
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January 6, 2016
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What To Expect From OSHA In 2016

While it is difficult to predict exactly how OSHA will proceed in 2016, there are a number of changes in the regulatory arena as well as new initiatives that are important guides for employers: Significant Increase in Fines For the first time in a quarter of a century, OSHA can increase the maximum penalty amounts it imposes on employers that violate occupational safety and health standards under a provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act signed into law November 2, 2015. The Act requires OSHA to implement the new maximum penalties in two phases: An initial catch-up adjustment; and An ongoing subsequent adjustment period The one-time catch-up will increase penalties to reflect the changes in inflation from 1990 – 2015. Current estimates using October 1990 to September 2015 CPI data (the latest data available) suggest a nearly 80% increase in fines for 2016. This adjustment will take effect no later than August 1, 2016. Thereafter, employers should expect fine increases by […]
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December 30, 2015
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Current State Of The Work Comp Market: Turbulence

Every year, Stephen Klingel, president and CEO of the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI), chooses one word to define the current state of the workers’ compensation industry. This year, that word is Turbulence. It’s a word that does not emote confidence; rather, it conveys turmoil, unrest, and instability. Not comforting for employers. Speaking at NCCI’s 2015 Issues Symposium in May, Mr. Klingel noted: Lost time claims decreased an estimated 2% in 2014, which is a smaller decrease than the 2.9% reported in 2013. “Our industry runs in cycles.Watch for upward pressure on claim frequency from new workers in unfamiliar jobs.” The workers’ compensation sector should prepare for “difficult times” as “workplaces and the workforce evolve.” “We are going to see employee relationships with no defined workplace or work schedule. This will lead us to develop new definitions of injuries and complicate investigations into course and scope of employment. Determining whether a person is an employee or an independent […]
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December 23, 2015
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Injury Management Tips-Lower Work Comp Costs

Claims Management • Contact your injured workers early and often. This will let them know that you care about them, which can help keep morale up and encourage their return to full, regular duty. • Consider unconventional or outside-the-box treatment if it will help an employee recover and return faster. • If your state allows you to direct or encourage employees to use certain doctors, use doctors who understand your business whenever possible. This will help ensure the best treatment for your employees and hopefully aid in return to work scenarios, keeping claims costs down. • Integrate strategic wellness programs into your company to help reduce injuries. Understand how chronic conditions, like obesity and diabetes, can affect or cause other injuries. Managing such diseases properly can reduce workers’ compensation claims costs. • Explain workers’ compensation benefits, programs and expectations during new employee orientation to keep future claims costs down. Make sure employees understand that they will not be punished in […]
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December 16, 2015
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Understanding Cyber Security

As most of you know, cyber security has become the topic of the day when it comes to managing the risk of running your telecommunications business. By understanding the most common reasons cyber claims are denied, policyholders will be better prepared to help get their claims successfully resolved. 1. Late or Improper Notification The most common reason carriers deny cyber claims is late notice. Unless the policy has specific language that allows claims for a period of time after the policy ends (usually limited to just a few months at most), then notification during the policy period is key to getting these claims approved. In addition, notice of any occurrence that could lead to a claim also must be made to the carrier (or your UNITEL agent) in a timely and appropriate manner. All policyholders of cyber coverage should be acutely aware of the need for timely notification of any potential claims activity. That will allow them to establish workable protocols […]
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December 9, 2015
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Nebraska Employment Law Update-Workplace Privacy Act (L.B. 821)

On April 19, 2016, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed the Workplace Privacy Act (L.B. 821). The act prohibits an employer from: Requiring or requesting that an employee or applicant provide or disclose any user name or password or any other related account information in order to gain access to the employee’s or applicant’s personal Internet account by way of an electronic communication device Requiring or requesting that an employee or applicant log into a personal Internet account by way of an electronic communication device in the presence of the employer in a manner that enables the employer to observe the contents of the employee’s or applicant’s personal Internet account or provides the employer access to the employee’s or applicant’s personal Internet account Requiring an employee or applicant to add anyone, including the employer, to the list of contacts associated with the employee’s or applicant’s personal Internet account or require or otherwise coerce an employee or applicant to change the settings […]
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November 25, 2015
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Keys To An Effective Return To Work Program

Return to Work Strategies • Job offers should always be made in writing and should thoroughly describe the offered position to ensure the hire is fit for all duties. • When the job is offered, send a formal job offer package along with the offer letter. Make sure it includes all the benefits the potential employee is eligible for, including return to work policies and procedures, so there is no confusion later. • When developing a temporary assignment for someone returning to work, find useful tasks that are not covered by other areas of the company – the goal is not to take work away from another employee. • Create a written job description and job analysis for all transitional duty jobs. These jobs should match physical capabilities with the work that needs to be done so that they are both useful and appropriate. • Hold employees working temporary assignments or transitional duty jobs to the same work rules as other […]
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November 18, 2015
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HR Solutions – Employee Pay and Salary Benchmarking Tools

  Question: One of my best employees is asking for a raise because he found salary data on the Internet that he believes shows he is underpaid. How should I handle the conversation? I don’t want to lose him, but I am skeptical that he is underpaid. Answer: Handling this type of discussion on such a sensitive subject can be difficult, but it also provides an excellent opportunity for a conversation with the employee about his professional needs while you get direct feedback about his view of his job and the company. Consider this approach: Involve the employee’s manager in the discussion and have him or her lead the conversation with the employee. Treat their concerns with respect and schedule time with him to discuss his issues. They may have been searching the Internet for jobs as well as salary information. Let them know that he is valuable to the company and you want to hear his concerns and review […]
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November 11, 2015
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Preparation Strategies

Proposed Changes to FLSA White Collar Exemption Rules By conducting an internal audit (as described in the previous section), employers can identify any misclassifications and determine who will be eligible for overtime if the proposed rule is implemented. Make sure to review job descriptions for accuracy, especially for employees whose roles may have changed over the years. You can then use the information gathered from an internal audit to develop the best course of action for your business. Since the new rule will affect so many facets of your business, thoroughly understanding what employees will be impacted and how much these changes could cost your business is key. The following are a list of strategies your business should consider when determining how to best prepare for the new overtime rule. 1. Adjust Wages: As previously mentioned, one way for employers to get around the new overtime requirements is to give employees who are close to the salary threshold a raise. The […]
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November 4, 2015
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Preventing a DOL Overtime Audit

Proposed Changes to FLSA White Collar Exemption Rules It is estimated that more than 50 percent of all employers groups have misclassified their employees under the FLSA, although many do not realize it. Payroll errors can trigger a DOL audit, which not only opens your business up to significant fines but can also harm your company’s reputation and can be an administrative burden. During a DOL audit, the DOL will visit your company to conduct interviews, examine time clocks and ensure that all employment notifications are available to your employees. The auditor will also review up to three years of wage and hour records to determine if there are any violations in your payroll practices.   Audit Prevention Strategies To minimize compliance risks, consider the following recommendations: Review your employees’ job descriptions to make sure they are accurate and reflect the jobs that employees are actually doing. Review your employee’s job duties to evaluate whether they fall within the “white collar” exemptions. Determine whether […]
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October 28, 2015
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Prospective Employee Background Checks

Question: May an employer perform a background check on prospective employees? If so, when? Answer: Background checks are permitted; however, in general, they should not be completed before an employer has made the employee an offer of employment. Background checks provide employers with the means to verify the accuracy of information provided by a job applicant as well as gain other information about an individual that is relevant to employment. For example, a background check may verify previous employment, salary, education, and any of the following, as applicable: Military service records Driving records Credit records Social Security number Character references State licensing records Criminal records Employers may utilize a third party to collect background check information or personally gather information through computerized and posted public records, commercial databases, and Internet search engines. However, employers must ensure that any employed third party or Internet-provided information maintains strict compliance with federal and state laws. Working with a third party is highly encouraged […]
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October 21, 2015
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Cyber Security For Your Business

Question: What are some steps we can take to protect our business, employees, and customers from the threat of hackers and data breaches? Answer: Cyber security is a serious and integral part of any computerized workplace and requires your attention to prevent breaches. To best protect your business, employees, and customers, take the following steps to ensure cyber security at all levels of your business: 1. Start with ensuring that your IT professionals responsible for building and securing your information networks have the capabilities and resources for assessing and managing your IT risk and security needs. This should include, at a minimum, identifying and protecting the proprietary data that could be potentially at risk with a secure, hidden, encrypted Wi-Fi network, password protections and firewalls to prevent hackers from accessing sensitive data. 2. Create concise workplace policies that detail cyber security, how to handle breaches, and penalties for violations. Train all employees on what they can do to prevent these […]
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October 14, 2015
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Seven Ways To Create A Welcoming Workplace For Aging Workers

While many employers have an aging workforce, few are taking steps to prepare for the challenges and risks that come with the changing demographic, according to a Society for Human Resources and Management (SHRM) survey. OSHA’s current ergonomic inspection plan combines: 2015 Healthcare Initiative (expands on the 2011 Nursing Home National Emphasis Program) Inspection of workplaces in industries with significant number of injuries related to ergonomic hazards Responding to employee complaints Industries with specific OSHA guidelines include: Shipyards Poultry processing Retail grocery stores Nursing homes Meatpacking plants What employers should do The physiological and biological changes that occur with aging can lead to reduced balance and reaction time, visual deficits, less strength, endurance and flexibility, loss of hearing, susceptibility to sprain or strain injuries and soft tissue injuries, and so on. Yet, while it’s important to understand the changes that occur with aging, all older workers are not the same and their limitations should not be pre-judged. To reap the […]
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October 7, 2015
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Cyber Security Awareness

October is officially Cyber Security Awareness month, but a reminder for consumers to review their bank statements and credit card bills to confirm that all the transactions listed are legitimate is good to remember every month. Individuals should also be vigilant when using their smartphones, tablets and other devices that store personal information digitally. Launched by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security in October 2004, Cyber Security Awareness month has grown to include the participation of industry experts, their customers and employees; and the general public. Experts in CNA’s Cyber Preparedness Center have shared 15 tips for companies and individuals to minimize their exposure to cyber-attacks. General Security Make sure passwords are at least eight characters long and contain both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as special characters. Consider using a phrase to help create your password. For example, “Jack and Jill went up the hill,” becomes “J_Jwuth.” Never use the “Remember Password” software […]
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