Congratulations to Our Distinguished Employee Award Recipient! Sharon Smith Account Manager, Surety Department Sacramento 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 their…
The IRS has announced slightly higher health savings account contribution limits for 2026, with the amount increasing 2.3% for individual HSA plans. The IRS updates this amount annually, along with minimum deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for high-deductible health plans. HSAs, which help employees save for medical expenses, are only available to those enrolled in qualified…
President Trump’s far-reaching tariffs are starting to bleed into building costs as many of the main materials used in construction are now subject to import taxes. And as construction costs increase due to tariffs, so does the cost of repairing or replacing materials if damage occurs during construction. Rising repair and replacement costs make claims…
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,…