Read more about the article How to Reduce the Risk of Theft, Vandalism at Your Business

How to Reduce the Risk of Theft, Vandalism at Your Business

Burglary, robbery and vandalism can be particularly devastating to small businesses in terms of money, customers and employee safety. You can see thousands of dollars of merchandise or equipment damaged or stolen, and your employees and customers can be in mortal danger if your facility is robbed.  These types of risks to your business are unpredictable, but there are crime prevention steps business owners can take to protect their assets and employees. Here's what you can do: Burglary prevention Establish and enforce clear policies about employee theft, substance abuse, crime reporting, opening and closing, and other security procedures. Provide training…

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Read more about the article Executive Orders Take Aim at Medicare Drug Costs, More

Executive Orders Take Aim at Medicare Drug Costs, More

President Trump in late September issued three executive orders that would affect Medicare outpatient drug prices, protect people with pre-existing conditions from health insurance pricing discrimination and end surprise billing.The main, and most substantive, order would fix prices that Medicare pays for outpatient and pharmacy-sold pharmaceuticals to the lowest prices offered in comparable developed countries.The Trump administration had announced in July that it would release an order on Medicare outpatient drug prices pending negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry. But after those talks failed to yield the results the administration had hoped for, the president decided to release the latest version…

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Read more about the article Injury and Illness Prevention Plans Save You Money, Period!

Injury and Illness Prevention Plans Save You Money, Period!

Employees are your most valuable assets, but many businesses overlook the importance of having a workplace safety program in place to protect them. Loss control is about employers caring for their workers' safety. Successful loss control programs are means of reducing injuries and the severity of a potential accident.If you want to reduce the costs and risks associated with workplace injuries and illnesses, you need to address safety and health right along with production. You should start by writing a plan and see that it is put into practice. Specifically, that means creating and implementing an Injury and Illness Prevention Program.The…

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Read more about the article The SECURE Act Eliminates the ‘Stretch IRA’ – Here’s What to Do

The SECURE Act Eliminates the ‘Stretch IRA’ – Here’s What to Do

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) eliminates the stretch IRA for most non-spouse beneficiaries, beginning with deaths in 2020.That means many taxpayers should look at revising their estate plans. Here's why. New IRA rulesPrior to the SECURE Act, which was a tax measure signed into law in December 2019, the law allowed heirs to "stretch" IRA distributions over their entire life expectancy. This means you could theoretically leave a large IRA to a grandchild, for example, and the distributions could be spread out over decades. This provided a significant tax deferral benefit for younger…

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Read more about the article Protect Your Boat with Insurance, Winterization

Protect Your Boat with Insurance, Winterization

Now that summer's over and the weather is cooling down, if you own a boatyou have likely pulled your vessel out of the water and parked her at home orsome other dry dock.While it's sad to think that you won't be back on your boat until next year,you also need to ensure that you keep her primed and protected by properlypreparing for fall and winter. We are offering up the following tips, but remember to also read yourowner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations for keeping your boatprotected during the colder months: The engine Follow the manufacturer's instructions when winterizing the engine, but…

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Read more about the article More Firms Urge Workers to Get Seasonal Flu Shots

More Firms Urge Workers to Get Seasonal Flu Shots

As the Centers for Disease Control and other health authorities have recommended that everyone get a flu shot this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are wondering if they can require seasonal flu vaccinations for their staff. The CDC and the medical community recommend it in order to minimize the chances of double-infection of both the seasonal flu and COVID-19. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission more than a decade ago issued guidance asserting that employers can require their workers to get influenza shots. But, employment law specialists recommend that the need for vaccinations be job-related (think nurses, doctors…

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Trick-or-Treating During the Pandemic

With Halloween approaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people with children who don't want to miss out on trick-or-treating likely have mixed feelings about it. Trick-or-treating will be more difficult, but it is possible if you have safety top of mind for both the kids who are trick or treating and the adults who are handing out candy to the little goblins and princesses. Before you do anything though, you will need to check with the rules and regulations in your city, county, neighborhood as well as state, as they may have imposed emergency restrictions. Here are some tips from…

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Read more about the article Telecommuting Workers Have Poor Ergonomics: Study

Telecommuting Workers Have Poor Ergonomics: Study

Most companies are serious about workplace safety and that goes even for office workers, whom they provide with proper chairs and ergonomically appropriate workstations. But with so many people suddenly having been thrust into working from home, workers have converted guest bedrooms, kitchen tables and living rooms into workspaces and ergonomics has mostly gone out the window in the process. Most telecommuters are working at makeshift spots in their homes, often on laptops in positions that are far from ergonomically correct. Additionally, few employers have actually gone to their workers' homes to check on their setups to make sure they…

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