The explosion in demand for new, costly and highly effective weight-loss and diabetes drugs is poised to play an outsized role in increasing the cost of health care, and in turn, health insurance in America. These groundbreaking drugs — the most popular sold under the brand names Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy — are partly to…
Every year starts with a number of new laws and regulations that will affect businesses in California. This year is no different. This is part II of a two-part series. 6. No more non-competes Under two new laws, non-compete agreements with employees are expressly illegal starting in 2024 and if an employer requires one…
A law that requires California employers to report cases of COVID-19 in their workplace to their workers’ compensation carrier sunsets on Jan. 1, 2024, removing a requirement that many business owners say has become more difficult to comply with in the post-pandemic era. AB 1751 requires “rebuttable presumption” for workers’ comp purposes for COVID-19, meaning that…
The National Labor Relations Board has issued a final rule that expands the definition of what’s considered a joint-employer relationship and increases employers’ potential liability. Under the rule, two or more entities may be considered joint employers if they share one or more employees and they both can determine the workers’ essential terms and conditions…
As 2024 draws near, so does a slew of new laws and regulations that will affect California businesses. Every year, laws passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor take effect, and 2023 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another round of new legislation that employers…
The IRS recently announced that the annual contribution limit for flexible spending accounts will rise to $3,200 in 2024, up $150 from this year. Also, employees will be able to carry over up to $640 next year into 2025 if they have funds left over in their account, if their employer allows it (it’s optional).…
Holiday parties have made a comeback despite, or maybe because of, more people working remotely. Many managers want to bring their teams together under one roof as it’s become apparent that connecting face-to-face is vital to a vibrant and cohesive work atmosphere. But if you are planning on throwing a company holiday party, there are…
American employers are trying to meet their workers’ mental health needs as they struggle with burnout and stress from their jobs and finances, according to a new report. The annual “Aflac WorkForces Report” found that more than 50% of American workers experience burnout in their workplace. Additionally, 57% experience work-related stress, with heavy workloads the…
Microsoft Corp. has issued a warning that cyber criminals are exploiting its Teams video-conferencing platform to launch phishing attacks that can debilitate companies that are victims of these actions. Hackers often abuse the Microsoft Teams platform to launch cyber attacks and the latest threat the company is tracking is called Storm-0324, which it has deemed…
A new report has found that the top driver of health care costs in the U.S. is chronic conditions, emphasizing the role that employers can assume in helping their employees better maintain these ailments. Chronic diseases are a major strain on the health care system, and they are costly to treat. Worse, many people with…