Getting Your Teen Ready to Drive
Monday, June 21st, 2010 | Personal Insurance | No Comments
Getting ones driver’s license is one of the most exciting, memorable and can be, the most confusing and nerve wracking times ever. Keep your Teen’s experience positive by using resources available to you.
The Department of Motor Vehicles has a great “California Teens” web-site that is easy to navigate and provides a wealth of information at www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/.
You can take a sample test and find everything from videos for teens; tips on how to pass the driver’s test; to how to make your appointment on-line and much more.
Click on the link below to find out what you and your teen should know about driving in the great state of California. Good Luck and Be Safe !
10 Minutes of Exercise = 1 hour Effect
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 | Life & Health | No Comments
Ten minutes of brisk exercise triggers metabolic changes that last at least an hour. The unfair news for panting newbies: The more fit you are, the more benefits you just might be getting.
Read more…
Health Care Reform: Coverage for Adult Children
Monday, May 24th, 2010 | Human Resources, Life & Health | No Comments
Each year in June, many young people – because of their age, student status or other factors – become ineligible as dependents on their parents’ insurance policies. Health care reform legislation will extend dependent coverage to age 26 for plan years beginning September 23, 2010. Adult children under the age of 26 are eligible even if they no longer live with their parents, are not dependents on their parents’ tax return, or are no longer students. The policy applies equally to young adults who are both married and unmarried. It does not; however, apply to those who are eligible for other group health coverage.
While this is great news, it also means that many dependents would face a coverage gap during the months before this provision is fully implemented. To help these dependents, carriers will allow young men and women to remain on their parents’ policies even before this health care reform provision takes effect. Beginning June 1, benefits will continue to be provided to dependents who – because of their age, student status or other factors – would lose coverage during the gap period between June 1, 2010, and the September 23, 2010, effective date. This extension of coverage will not be retroactive; however, dependents that aged out before June 1, 2010, can be added back onto a parent’s policy during your group’s next open enrollment period on or after September 23 in accordance with the new law.
Employers with 100 or more employees have the option to not offer this extended coverage.
The Department of Labor posted the following information explaining the dependent coverage component of the Act – Read More
Are You Prepared for the Next Earthquake?
Friday, April 30th, 2010 | Personal Insurance | No Comments
In a recent Press Release issued by the California Department of Insurance, it states that 90% of homeowners and renters do not have Earthquake Insurance. The CDI urges all Californians to evalute their need for Earthquake Insurance.
With the recent earthquake activity both home and abroad, it makes sense to contact your local Personal Lines NorthWest Insurance Agent to find out how to protect your home and personal possessions.
In addition to evaluating your needs with your NorthWest Insurance Agent, click the link below to find out how to better protect you and your family before, during and after an earthquake.
Bad Habits Can Age You 12 Years
Thursday, April 29th, 2010 | Life & Health | No Comments
Four common bad habits combined – smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet – can age you by 12 years, sobering new research suggests.
The findings are from a study that tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years, and they highlight yet another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Let’s Talk About Long-Term Care
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 | Life & Health | No Comments
Emotions can run high when the topic of conversation turns to the care of an elderly loved one. In my life, the care of my grandmother is the center of our family discussion. The conversation generally relates to one of the following questions: How are we going to take care of her? Who will volunteer his or her time? When am I going to be asked to help? What am I supposed to do? Why am I always the back-up person? Read more…
Health Law Makes Calorie Counts Hard to Ignore
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | Life & Health | No Comments
March 23, 2010
That Caesar salad you’re about to eat? It’s 800 calories, and that’s without the croutons. The fettuccine alfredo? A whopping 1,220 calories. You may choose to ignore the numbers, but soon it’s going to be tough to deny you saw them.
A requirement tucked into the nation’s massive health care bill will make calorie counts impossible for thousands of restaurants to hide and difficult for consumers to ignore. More than 200,000 fast food and other chain restaurants will have to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards and even drive-throughs. Read more…
Ask the Green Guru
Monday, March 15th, 2010 | Hospitality Industry | No Comments
Members of AH&LA can get their most pressing green and sustainability questions researched and answered by our resident expert. Questions you might ask include:
How can I monitor my utilities?
How do I go about forming an environmental committee?
How can I improve my hotel’s fiscal and enviromental performances?
How do I implement a guest room recycling program?
Who is the Green Guru?
Meet Pat Maher, partner, The Maher Group, LLC, which evaluates an organization’s facilities, recommends eco-friendly products and procedures, conducts energy audits, reviews an organization’s carbon footprint, and develops opportunities for cost savings along with other benefits.
Previously, Pat was with Marriott International, Inc. for 23 years. He joined Marriott in 1986 as an electrical engineer in the Architecture and Construction department, and via a series of promotions became senior vice president of engineering in 1999. He was responsible for the development and implementation of engineering standard operating procedures, training programs, regulatory compliance, environmental programs and facilities renovation for over 3,100 hotels worldwide. Pat also led the Program Management Organization that focused on structured project management, work plan development, project communication and sustainability. Ready with your questions? Send them to: green@ahla.com
Is it considered payroll?
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Business Insurance | No Comments
Many clients ask us this question when it comes time to report their payroll for Workers’ Compensation. Here is a handy list of what is considered payroll and what is not:
Included as payroll:
Sick, vacation, holiday pay, bonuses, commissions, automobile allowances, shift differential pay, idle time or standby/on-call pay, meals and lodging in lieu of wages, employee’s voluntary contributions to pension/retirement plan made through regular payroll deductions.
NOT included as payroll:
Tips, auto expense reimbursement, overtime excess pay*, severance pay, health and welfare paid by employer, meals and lodging expenses, employer contributions to pension/retirement plan, and salary reductions to fund Section 125 cafeteria plan.
* Overtime excess – total overtime compensation paid over and above the regular rate of pay, including increased pay for weekends, holidays, or hours worked beyond the standard number for the day or week.
I-9 Basics
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Human Resources | No Comments
The I-9 form is required by the Department of Homeland Security for all new employees in order to verify eligibility for employment in the United States.
New hires choose which documents to provide from specific lists that are included in the I-9 form, which can be downloaded or printed from the DHS website (FORM). Once the documents are verified for accuracy there is no need to retain a copy of the docs but if you prefer, you can keep a copy. However, if copies are kept for one person, they must be kept for everyone.
The form itself has had quite a few recent updates. The most current form was revised in August 2009 and expires in August 2012. It is important to use the most current form; however, the revision dated February 2009 is also accepted.
I-9’s must be retained for three years after the hire date, or one year after employment ends, whichever is later.
I-9 requirements are multi-faceted and there are many complexities. For specific issues check with an employment law attorney or subscribe to our consulting service – BizAssure.