If you are offering high-deductible health plans to your staff to reduce overall premium outlays, you know that this type of insurance has one major drawback: higher out-of-pocket expenses that some may struggle to afford if they experience a sudden illness or accident. Fortunately, you can offer a product that can help them cope with…
Congratulations to Our Distinguished Employee Award Recipient! Jaime Johnson Account Manager, Employee Benefits Department Roseville Office Each year, InterWest recognizes employees who are identified by their co-workers as having demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their clients, workmates as well as their community. This partnership between work and giving back makes them stand out for…
When OSHA shows up, it’s not the time to figure things out on the fly. Whether you’re in construction, manufacturing or any other field with safety exposure, knowing the ground rules can make all the difference between a successful visit or one where you leave yourself exposed to penalties and a drawn-out appeals process. If…
Health savings accounts have become a prime target for cyber criminals, who are using advanced tactics to steal funds from them, putting your employees’ medical expense savings at risk. The risk is even greater considering that employees can keep HSAs for life and many of them are building wealth in these accounts to save for…
As the one-year anniversary of California’s workplace violence prevention law approaches, employers will need to take steps to ensure their continued compliance. The law requires all California employers with 10 or more staff to have a workplace violence prevention plan and to provide training to employees on the plan by July 1, 2024. It also…
A new poll has found that most small and mid-sized enterprises consider offering health insurance benefits to their staff a fundamental business value, despite many firms making difficult financial tradeoffs to maintain that coverage. It’s been well-reported that SMEs are disproportionally burdened by rising health insurance costs and a labor market that demands robust benefits.…
As new malware and ransomware that specifically targets mobile devices grows exponentially, if you have not set rules for employees who use their own smart phones for company business, you should do so now. While implementing a bring your own device (BYOD) program can save your company money by not buying new phones for staff,…
The insurance industry has always demanded resilience, but today’s hard market is testing independent agencies like never before. Skyrocketing premiums, tighter underwriting and relentless sales pressures are creating a high-stress environment — and it’s taking a toll on agency staff, according to a new report. One of the biggest challenges independent insurance agencies face is…
Employers that are hit with a discrimination complaint must act fast to compare the allegations in the lawsuit to the earlier complaint the worker filed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If the employer can find that the allegations in the complaint filed with the EEOC do not match those in the subsequent lawsuit filed…
For years, high-deductible health plans have been the most common type of health insurance that employers offer. HDHPs surged in popularity between 2013 and 2021, peaking at 55.7% enrollment. But in a sharp reversal, enrollment in these plans has now fallen for two consecutive years, dipping to 49.7% in 2023, according to the latest data from…