16 Apr

Posted at 20:30h in Risk Management White Papers by . .
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Safety Matters Header image According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from elevation account for the majority of fatalities within the construction industry—with over 300 fatal falls occurring each year.

That’s why having adequate fall protection is crucial when working from height. OSHA standards require some form of fall protection (e.g., guardrails, safety nets or fall arrest systems) to be in place at construction sites with vertical drops of 6 feet or more—except for certain tasks, such as scaffolding, in which vertical drops must exceed 10 feet before protection is needed. The type of fall protection necessary depends on several site features and the nature of work being performed.

16 Apr

Posted at 20:13h in Risk Management White Papers by . .
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Risk Insights header image The type of sprinkler system that best suits your commercial property should be determined by your operations, building characteristics and fire protection needs.

Wet pipe sprinkler systems, which store water in their pipes for distribution during a fire, are the most commonly utilized systems. Alternatively, some buildings (typically those located in areas where the pipes cannot remain at temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit) use dry pipe sprinkler systems, which hold pressurized air or nitrogen in their pipes that—once released—open a valve and distribute water from the risers.

16 Apr

Posted at 20:08h in Risk Management White Papers by . .
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Risk Insights header image The nature and severity of fire hazards within a commercial property can help determine what kind of sprinkler system is most suitable for the space.

Most properties utilize either wet pipe sprinkler systems, which store water directly in their pipes for distribution during a fire, or dry pipe sprinkler systems, which hold pressurized air or nitrogen in their pipes that—once released—open a valve and allow water from the risers to be distributed.

16 Apr

Posted at 19:58h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .
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HR Compliance Bulletin header image On April 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) premium assistance for health insurance continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) and similar state mini-COBRA programs.

The DOL’s FAQs are reprinted in this Compliance Bulletin.

16 Apr

Posted at 19:32h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .
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Legal Update Header On April 9, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a fact sheet containing FAQs addressing changes for taxpayers who received advance payments of the 2020 premium tax credit (PTC) due to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Understanding how recent legislative changes for the PTC affect individuals, families and their 2020 tax return is important. The IRS developed this fact sheet to explain what taxpayers need to know about claiming a net premium tax credit (net PTC) and what to do if they have excess advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) for tax year 2020.

16 Apr

Posted at 18:58h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .
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Know Your Benefits Header image During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have purchased masks or personal protective equipment (PPE) for the purpose of preventing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Now, according to a recent announcement from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), those PPE purchases may be deductible from your income for tax purposes and eligible to be paid or reimbursed under certain savings accounts. The recent IRS guidance provided that amounts paid by individuals for PPE—including masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes used for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19—are deductible medical expenses. Therefore, the amount you paid for the PPE that is not compensated for by insurance may be deductible as long as your total medical expenses are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

16 Apr

Posted at 18:48h in Risk Management White Papers by . .
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At the end of March 2021, President Joe Biden introduced a new infrastructure proposal—titled the American Jobs Plan—which is focused on re-establishing the country’s economy.

This proposal is the second component of the Biden Administration’s larger, three-part infrastructure package, known as the Build Back Better Plan. The American Jobs Plan is preceded by the American Rescue Plan and will eventually be followed by the American Families Plan. While the American Rescue Plan is currently providing direct relief to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Jobs Plan is intended to help revitalize the national economy for years to come.

16 Apr

Posted at 17:50h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .
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HR Insights Blog Header The COVID-19 pandemic has been testing the limits of every organization. It’s tested resilience, it’s tested adaptability and, critically, it’s tested the trust between managers and their employees.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, entire workforces were sent to work from home, regardless of whether they had any experience with the arrangement. This sudden autonomy illuminated trust issues, perceived or otherwise, between individual employees and their managers. After all, monitoring performance while expressing trust is a balancing act made all the more difficult when workers are isolated and cannot be visually monitored.

16 Apr

Posted at 17:30h in COVID-19, Risk Management by . .
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News Brief header In a joint statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have called for an immediate halt on the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Wednesday, April 14, to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. Until that process is complete, the agencies are recommending a pause in the use of the J&J vaccine out of an abundance of caution.

16 Apr

Posted at 17:14h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .
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After receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, you’ll be given a vaccine card. If you receive a two-dose vaccine, you should receive your card after your first dose, which will be updated upon your second dose.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this card tells you which vaccine you received, how many doses, the date(s) you received it and where you received it. When you receive this card, you may be wondering what its purpose is, what you’ll need it for and what you should do with it. Here’s what you need to know.