What is business income and why is it so important? Business Income insurance is a crucial aspect of protecting your business’s financial needs in the event of an unexpected disaster that disrupts your operations. It provides coverage for lost profit and necessary and continued expenses (payroll, rent, utilities, taxes, etc.) while businesses recover from disasters such as fires, floods, and tornadoes. Why the limit matters The limit refers to the maximum amount an insurance policy will pay out for a covered loss. It is essential to determine the appropriate limit for your business, as it dire ..read more

On Friday, August 4, 2023, the Illinois H.B. 2862 (the “Bill”) was approved by Governor J.B. Pritzker. This Bill substantially amends the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act (the “Act”) to impose expansive new duties on Illinois staffing agencies (the “Agency”), as well as those employers that rely on temporary workers (the “Client”). The Bill includes Emergency Rules which became effective on August 7th, as well as Proposed Permanent Rules that will be subject to a minimum 45-day public comment period before going into effect. The Bill does not apply to professional or clerical work ..read more

What is business income and why is it so important? Business Income insurance is a crucial aspect of protecting your business’s financial needs in the event of an unexpected disaster that disrupts your operations. It provides coverage for lost profit and necessary and continued expenses (payroll, rent, utilities, taxes, etc.) while businesses recover from disasters such as fires, floods, and tornadoes. Why the limit matters The limit refers to the maximum amount an insurance policy will pay out for a covered loss. It is essential to determine the appropriate limit for your business, as it dire ..read more

On July 17th, OSHA released a publication announcing changes to the recordkeeping standard which impacts the electronic reporting through OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application (ITA).  These new changes increase the number of employers who are now responsible for reporting their injury and illness data annually as well as the amount of data that is required to be submitted for certain organizations.  OSHA estimates this will create additional reporting requirements for an estimated 50,000 organizations when they submit their electronic records in 2024. Who must submit their data electron ..read more

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s previously titled “Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance” became NFPA 70B – Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance and went into effect on January 16, 2023. This standard covers the preventative maintenance of electrical systems, as well as communication systems and other electronic equipment. It is designed to help increase safety around this equipment, as poorly maintained electrical equipment can pose a higher likelihood of fire, shock, and arc flash risk. NFPA 70B was previously a list of recommendations that orga ..read more

It’s becoming increasingly more common for employers to use artificial intelligence (“AI”) in the hiring process. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination by employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Under Title VII, employers cannot use neutral tests or selection procedures that disproportionately exclude persons covered under Title VII, if the tests or selection procedures are not “job related for the position in question and consistent with business necessity.” 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-2(a). Employers often times rely on different types of so ..read more

As we turn the corner and head towards the end of summer, the annual task of planning a hectic 4th quarter schedule, full of end-of-year duties, W-2s, and yes, once again – ACA 1095-C reporting. This year, more than ever, extra attention should be paid to this task to ensure that any 1095-C issued is complete and correct. The IRS quietly dropped a key good-faith effort penalty relief rule two years ago, and employers are just now starting to understand some of the implications. As a refresher, employers who are subject to the ACA’s employer mandate must implement one of two methods to identify ..read more

A key factor in a team’s success is maintaining employee engagement. It is proven that employees perform better when they are engaged with their work. It is the responsibility of leadership to create an environment that fosters development and inclusivity for their employees. Here are some strategies to help keep employees engaged: Build a strong connection with your team. During meetings, go beyond discussing the day-to-day workload. Take the time to understand what makes them happy outside of work and take an interest. Ask them about their preferred ways of appreciation and tailor your appro ..read more

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training helps individuals feel better equipped to manage mental health crisis situations while building mental health literacy.  It also gives your employees the skills to provide initial support to someone who may be navigating a mental health challenge. Studies have found that those who are MHFA trained have greater confidence in providing help to others and an increased likelihood of advising people to seek professional help. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training helps remove the hesitation in starting a conversation about mental health problems by pro ..read more

In the fast-paced and demanding world of health care, mental health often takes a back seat to the urgent needs of patients. Yet, the well-being of healthcare professionals, including internal staff and clinical nurses, is essential for providing quality patient care. Temporary staffing agencies are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health support within their industry. In this blog post, we'll explore how temporary staffing agencies can play a vital role in helping their internal teams and clinical nurses monitor and improve their mental health. The mental health challenge in ..read more