Resources

Long-term health care facilities aim for the Five-Star Quality Rating created by the federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Five stars indicate a facility has “much above average quality”; one star, far below. Is your organization capable of achieving the Five-Star goal, but falling slightly short? Or perhaps you and your staff have earned the rating, but find it difficult to maintain that level?

Although there have been numerous delays with the Affordable Care Act, it is important that business owners continue to plan for its changes – especially within the hospitality industry. This industry can be impacted significantly by the ACA, as much of the workforce is considered part- time, seasonal or temporary.

Are you a restaurant owner taking advantage of the holidays with a creative, marketing strategy? Halloween is the kick-off for such a time, bringing out the most creative promotions within the industry. For example, Sonic Drive-In locations promise “A Scary Good Deal”: 50-cent corn dogs for the entire day of Oct. 31. Currently, their boards […]

In the scope of basic math, the difference between 30 and 40 isn’t much. The continuing battle over the Affordable Care Act (ACA), however, is anything but basic. Currently at stake in the U.S. House of Representatives is the definition of a full-time employee. Whereas most federal labor laws equate a 40-hour workweek to full-time employment, the ACA definition lowers that to 30.

For employers who received a Tentative Nonconfirmation for employees between Sept. 17 and Sept. 30, and were unable to resolve it due to the shutdown, the employees will have 12 federal business days added to the date printed on the “Referral Letter” or “Referral Date Confirmation” to resolve such cases. Employees have until that date to contact the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security to resolve their cases.

In the past, internships have been equated to apprenticeships: the student learns from the master in a real-world industry environment. In this traditional view, the interns are beholden to the company for the work experience, knowledge and contacts they’ve received.

Congress was unable to come to a resolution causing the federal government to shut down as of Oct. 1. These actions not only impact federal employees and agencies, but its effects will ripple down to employers until an appropriations bill is passed. Below is a rundown of a variety of employment-related issues created due to the shutdown.

As if the Affordable Care Act couldn’t get any more confusing, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released an FAQ with inconsistent messaging pertaining to the Oct. 1 Notice of Marketplace requirement for employers. Dated Sept. 11, the FAQ implies that if employers do not wish to distribute the notices, they will not be penalized. One would think the same language would be updated accordingly in the DOL’s technical release, right? Wrong!

The success of your company depends on a variety of factors working in concert – a great service or product, efficient tools and protocols, strategic marketing. But perhaps most of all, the success of a company rides on the people who inhabit it. Your employees bring your business to life and when they’re at their best, you thrive. Employees who are prospering want their companies to prosper and they’ll work to make beautiful music on your behalf. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true; when employees feel underappreciated or overworked, your reputation, turnover rates, talent acquisition costs and market value can suffer.

As Oct. 1 quickly approaches, you may be feeling haunted by health care reform and the upcoming exchange notification requirements facing ALL employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Even if you already offer adequate and affordable health coverage to your employees, you too are required to issue exchange notifications to educate your workforce on the new health care marketplace.

Attracting skilled talent is key in order for any organization to succeed, yet across all industries exists a massive talent shortage. A majority of nonprofit organizations have limited budgets and do not have the finances for recruiting ads and agencies. Enter social media. Implementing social media into the recruiting strategy is a great fit, but being strategic and avoiding legal pitfalls is vital.

The Affordable Care Act has left business owners scratching their heads on how they can manage a successful business while offering affordable coverage or paying substantial fines for non-compliance. Some industries are more vulnerable to health care reform than others, especially the retail and food services sector. The tumultuous task of monitoring employee’s hours, determining a standard measurement period, while also continuing to run a successful business remains a serious concern for those in industries that once relished its unique professional flexibility.