With health insurance changes on the horizon, many people are wondering what their next healthcare plan will hold. Currently, there are several costly gaps in traditional healthcare plans which could end up costing you and your family thousands of dollars.

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, says, “It’s important to be aware of these costly gaps so that you can purchase additional healthcare coverage if necessary.”

Here are the gaps to keep your eye on:

1. Mental health. “The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) just reported that there are ‘too many gaps’ in mental healthcare coverage, and they say that the stigma of treating mental illness has led many people to not receive the coverage that they need. Only one in four people has insurance which covers mental health, and they were 2.5 times more likely to struggle with finding a mental healthcare provider that they could afford compared to finding a healthcare provider for their physical health.”
2. Substance abuse. “We know that substance abuse is a huge issue in our society, and most people need help to quit. However, finding therapists who accept a patient’s particular insurance is a huge issue, as is the fact that out-of-pocket costs are sky-high.”
3. Emergency room care. “The president of the American College of Emergency Physicians recently spoke out about the lack of coverage most insurance companies offer for E.R. stays. Additionally, too many people are turning to E.R. visits instead of their regular doctor as they do not have insurance. Emergency room doctors only make up 4 percent of physicians, yet they provide care for 28 percent of all acute care visits and 50 percent of Medicaid visits. Clearly,  these gaps need to be treated and quickly.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employment solutions expert explains the do’s and don’ts of a modern employee handbook

Most companies provide their staff with an employee handbook. There are many benefits to doing so, however, not all employee handbooks are created equal.

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment solutions expert says, “An employee handbook is a great way to communicate your company’s overall plans, practices and policies. From a legal standpoint, it offers a layer of protection to the employer as it proves that the employee was given pertinent information relating to their employment and job performance. It’s also a good way to communicate with employees and remove unnecessary confusion and false assumptions from the workplace.”

However, Wilson says that today’s employee handbooks should look a bit different from the handbooks of the past. “Employers need to review and edit their handbooks at least once a year,” says Wilson, “and with so many changes in employment law, it’s probably time for most employers to take a hard look at their current handbooks. It is likely that many items will need to be edited or even removed.”

Here, Wilson provides tips for creating an employee handbook in 2017:

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H.R. expert weighs in on the complicated etiquette of presents in the office

Exchanging holiday gifts in the workplace is often a tricky affair. The rules tend to be ambiguous, and expectations tend to vary widely from employee to employee. Luckily, there are several things that managers and H.R. personnel can do to make the holidays more joyful.

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and human resources expert says, “The biggest mistake I see is that managers think they shouldn’t weigh in on gift-giving. Yet employees want clear, concise guidelines. Some employees wonder: Should I give my boss a gift? And, if I don’t and everyone else does, what will they think of me? Others are strapped for cash yet feel obligated to give to everyone in the office, while some employees feel maligned because they are expected to give gifts when they don’t even celebrate the holidays.”

So, what is the answer? Wilson believes that a carefully crafted “gift-giving policy” is needed, and should be passed out to all new employees as well as circulated again at the holiday season. Possible tips to consider include:

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Employment expert weighs in with open enrollment approaching

Open enrollment season for Obamacare is about to begin, and there is much the nation needs to know in order to be prepared. There are many changes on the horizon, and most of them are not good.

Rob Wilson, employment expert and President of Employco USA says, “Premiums are set to rise by about 25 percent. On top of that, many Americans will only have one insurance company to pick from as many companies have been forced to shutter their doors. Lack of competition means that insurance companies have a stranglehold over their consumers.”

Wilson says that there are ways to avoid incurring high costs during open enrollment season. He advises employers to consider the following:

1. Work with an HR-solutions company such as Employco USA to aggregate employees and broker a new small group plan. Doing so will simplify your paperwork and also lower costs.
2. Trim offerings. Wilson says, “It’s hard to give up things like dental plans but ultimately, the most important thing is to make sure that your company stays afloat and your workers stay employed.”
3. If you have under 50 employees, Wilson suggests that you raise salaries and allow employees to purchase their own healthcare plan. “This is not only a cost-saving measure, but it is forward-thinking. We don’t know what healthcare plans in this country are going to look like in the coming future, but well-paid employees will be able to pay for their medical needs regardless of what occurs.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employment trends expert reveals mobile app that simplifies business management

The business world is in a state of flux right now. From an uncertain economy to laws that regulate overtime and minimum wage, employers are faced with new challenges every day.

Employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, Rob Wilson, says, “With our current political climate, it is impossible to say what the future will hold for this country. Employers don’t know whether Obamacare is here to stay or whether a new healthcare plan is on the horizon. As a result, it can be difficult to figure out upcoming costs and ensure employees’ needs are covered.”

Wilson says that these constantly changing requirements helped inspire him to create the Employco app for iPhone, Android and Google Play for desktop. “We realized that our clients had a need for a mobile app which would bring training tips and H.R. resources to their fingertips. Whether you need information on an I-9 form or want to learn the legal logistics of drug testing, our app can help simplify the legal ins and outs of running a company. Our clients are so busy that our goal is to make their jobs as easy as possible.”

Wilson adds, “And, with our exclusive mobile training app, clients can take training quizzes, watch videos on safety training, and brush up on their H.R. skills. It’s really a one stop shop for all your company’s needs. With over 40 training videos on everything from safety to sexual harassment, it’s a must-have app.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Have you heard the term “brelfie”? It’s a twist on the word selfie’ and it’s a new trend in which everyone from celebrities to non-famous folks take pictures of themselves while they are breastfeeding. (I guess that would make the painting of Nursing Madonna the original brelfie!)

Famous paintings aside, opinions are divided on whether or not it is appropriate to ‘flaunt’ your breastfeeding. Some find it beautiful, while others say it is over-sharing and indicative of our Facebook/Instagram culture. Whatever your take, it makes one thing clear: Breastfeeding is becoming ever more popular and normalized in our culture, and with good reason. The World Health Organization advises that women breastfeed for up to two years, while the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that babies be breastfed exclusively for 6 months.

However, the CDC reports that only 52% of infants are still being breastfed at 6 months and the percentage that are exclusively breastfed at six months is a mere 22.3%. Among working women, a 10-year-old report says only 10% were nursing their babies by the 6-month mark. Instead, they turn to formula, which many argue simply cannot provide the same level of nutrition that breastmilk can. (Additionally, breastfeeding is healthy for mom, too: It can help decrease the risk of postpartum depression, as well as burn calories for women trying to lose the ‘baby weight.’)

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By Brittany Wilkey – Employco Human Resources

With the average age of retirement slowly increasing – whether due to financial needs, personal reasons, or simply because the average lifespan is also increasing – it isn’t uncommon to see organizations employing four to five generations at the same time.  Managing and recruiting such an extensive range of age groups can be difficult, but understanding a little bit about the wants and needs of each group can help both employers and employees maintain a cohesive workplace.

The first step is to understand what defines each generation, and how those generations are formed.  Generations are grouped not only because of their age and birth year, but also based on the social and cultural events occurring during their lifetime that ends up shaping their values, concepts, and beliefs.

For instance, a person in their 50’s who has been working for several decades is unlikely to have the same perspective as someone in their early 20’s who is just entering the workforce.  Along those same lines, an individual who lived through the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, or the digital boom, will be influenced by those major cultural events, and those same cultural events will impact how they approach their jobs, co-workers, and the workplace in general.

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