Succession planning: An outline for kick-starting this critical process

In this uncertain economy, smart companies are taking steps to ensure their productivity and profitability. How’re they doing that? Succession planning.

What can a succession plan going to do for your company?

• Strengthen your talent pool. The process of identifying high (and low) performers and possible gaps in your employees’ skillsets gives companies an opportunity to make adjustments before they’re left in the lurch when a key team member departs.
• Make better use of the talent you’ve got. By definition, succession planning includes an employee development component.
  That means companies can allow workers to stretch their skills, increase their earning power and likely strengthen their commitment to sticking around.

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Tip Tuesday - Dr. William Davis - Wheat: The UNhealthy Whole Grain

The wheat of today is not the wheat of our mothers or grandmothers. Modern wheat is the product of genetic manipulations that have transformed its properties. Modern wheat is now a 2-foot tall, high-yield semi-dwarf strain, different in both appearance and multiple biochemical features from traditional wheat. Introduction of this new strain of wheat was associated with the appearance of a long list of health problems, along with weight gain and diabetes.

According to Dr. Davis, saying goodbye to all things wheat provides outsized and unexpected health benefits, from weight loss, to relief from acid reflux and bowel urgency, to reversal of diabetes, migraine headaches, and learning disabilities in children.

Dr. William Davis is author of the #1 New york Times bestselling book, Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health (Rodale, 2011), now debuting internationally in over ten foreign languages. Wheat belly has helped spark a nationwide reconsideration of the conventional advice to “eat more healthy whole grains.”

Formerly an interventional cardiologist, he now confines his practice to prevention and reversal of coronary disease in his practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Davis is a graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine, followed by training in internal medicine and cardiology at the Ohio State University Hospitals, and training in interventional cardiology at the Case–Western Reserve Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also founder of the online heart disease prevention educational program, Track your Plaque.

For more details on the Ocala Lecture Series Click Here!

IRS Gives Game Plan for COBRA Audits

COBRA is a law with a double bite:  both the DOL and the IRS routinely conduct COBRA audits and issue penalties. The IRS recently published a checklist of what it examines in these audits.

The IRS document is officially called "Audit Technique" and Tax Law to Examine COBRA Cases (Continuation of Employee Health Care Coverage).” This audit technique guide describes the IRS’ examination procedures, how it calculates the excise tax for noncompliance, the major requirements for COBRA and some key definitions like the terms group health plan, qualified beneficiary, and qualifying event.

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It's your time to help! Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (OEP) has begun — it's time to review a loved ones health care needs for 2013 coverage

Help a loved one get the Medicare coverage they need.
If you're helping someone on Medicare, now's the time to review their health coverage and find the Medicare plan that best meets their needs. The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) to enroll or change Medicare plans is from October 15th through December 7th.
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THE TALK: Wheat: The UNhealthy Whole Grain

CO-HOSTED BY:
October 31, 2012 Reception Begins at 5:30 p.m. The Talk Begins at 6:00 p.m. Seating is limited,  call 352-387-3050 or  RSVP to ocalaevents@ihmc.us  if you are planning to attend.

Dr. William Davis is author of the #1 New york Times bestselling book, Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health (Rodale, 2011), now debuting internationally in over ten foreign languages. Wheat belly has helped spark a nationwide reconsideration of the conventional advice to “eat more healthy whole grains.”

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Tip Tuesday! Eye Safety at Home Awareness Month

Did you know that 125,000 eye injuries each year involve common household products? 

Believe it or not, the average home is full of dangers that often go unnoticed. In fact, according to Prevent Blindness America, accidents involving common household products cause more than 125,000 eye injuries each year. Ninety percent of these eye injuries can be prevented through understanding, safety practices and the use of proper eye protection. 

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Your cholesterol: The results are in

By Tanise Edwards, M.D.

Your cholesterol test results — they're more than just numbers. They carry important messages, especially about the health of your heart.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance. And, it's normal to have some in your blood. But, if your levels aren't on target, the stage can be set for clogged arteries — and a heart attack or stroke.

Having your cholesterol checked is the only way to know where you stand. Ask your doctor how often you should have this important screening. And, read on for more information on what your results mean.

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Mighty bites: Foods that may help fight cancer

By Melanie Polk, M.M.Sc., R.D., F.A.D.A.

Next time you grab breakfast, sit down for lunch or dish up dinner, pause for a moment. Look carefully at your meal.

Are you missing a chance to help fight cancer?

Perhaps. Well, unless you see a variety of foods plucked from fields, gardens and trees. Plant foods — namely veggies, fruits, whole grains and beans — are stars when it comes to nutrition.

And, they may help protect against cancer. There's strong evidence that eating a varied diet — rich in plant foods — may lower the risk of some types of the disease.
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Dr. William Davis - Wheat: The UNhealthy Whole Grain

Dr. William Davis
THE TALK: Wheat: The UNhealthy Whole Grain

The wheat of today is not the wheat of our mothers or grandmothers. Modern wheat is the product of genetic manipulations that have transformed its properties. Modern wheat is now a 2-foot tall, high-yield semi-dwarf strain, different in both appearance and multiple biochemic

al features from traditional wheat. Introduction of this new strain of wheat was associated with the appearance of a long list of health problems, along with weight gain and diabetes.

According to Dr. Davis, saying goodbye to all things wheat provides outsized and unexpected health benefits, from weight loss, to relief from acid reflux and bowel urgency, to reversal of diabetes, migraine headaches, and learning disabilities in children.

Dr. William Davis is author of the #1 New york Times bestselling book, Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health (Rodale, 2011), now debuting internationally in over ten foreign languages. Wheat belly has helped spark a nationwide reconsideration of the conventional advice to “eat more healthy whole grains.”

Formerly an interventional cardiologist, he now confines his practice to prevention and reversal of coronary disease in his practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Davis is a graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine, followed by training in internal medicine and cardiology at the Ohio State University Hospitals, and training in interventional cardiology at the Case–Western Reserve Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also founder of the online heart disease prevention educational program, Track your Plaque.

                                                                                                                                                             

               

Tip Tuesday! 8 get-ready steps for a hospital stay

By Michael W. Rosen, M.D.

It's something most of us don't want to think about — a stay in the hospital.
But, if you know you'll be checking in for surgery or another reason, it pays to be prepared. Of course, you'll want to ask your doctor any questions you have about your treatment — and about what you might expect.

There are some practical matters to attend to, as well. A little planning on your part may make the entire process more comfortable and less stressful. And, it can help ensure that you get the best care possible.

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Where is the new I-9?

By Dan Wisniewski

The I-9 form is about to undergo some major changes. But the $64,000 question on every HR pros’ mind: When?

You know the I-9 is used to verify citizens’ eligibility to work in the U.S.

And you also know that the previous form expired on Aug. 31, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instructing HR pros to continue using the old form until a new one is approved.

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Which Supreme Court cases will affect HR this term?

By Dan Wisniewski

The U.S. Supreme Court began its 2012-2013 term earlier this week. Here are the cases HR pros need to know about. 

Here’s a summary of two important rulings to come and how they might affect Human Resources, courtesy of Lindsey Marcus and Jeff Nowak of Franczek Radelet:

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Understanding Account-based Plans

FSA. HDHP. HRA. HSA. CDHP.

These five acronyms require only eight letters of the English alphabet, but their mixture is far from simple. How do these terms fit together? Let’s look at them one at a time.

A Health FSA is a flexible spending arrangement that is sponsored by an employer. Employees and employers can contribute to it. Major restrictions include use-or-lose, uniform coverage and a prohibition on reimbursing individual premiums. The FSA typically reimburses out-of-pocket expenses not covered by a major medical plan.

Click here to read about the rest of these plans.

Tip Tuesday! 7 Simple Steps for Losing Weight Without Being Hungry

Losing weight can really present itself as a tough challenge. Busy lifestyles, and the simple lack of time prevent many people from working out. That’s one reason I’ve put together a guide on burst training and my list of the top fat burning foods, so you can get maximum results in a short amount of time. But if you’ve ever tried to consume a lower calorie diet, you’re probably pretty familiar with hunger pains and the craving for food and a full stomach. Let’s face it, hunger isn’t just an uncomfortable feeling, but it’s not fun at all!

Recent studies are showing us that allowing yourself to get to the point of feeling hungry can be unhealthy- and won’t help you lose weight in the long run. What’s more, the last thing you want to happen is to get dizzy, or pass out because of a lack of food. So, how can you lose weight without being hungry? I’ve put together 7 simple steps, that you can take action on today.

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Workers flounder with health care decision

Open enrollment deadlines are just around the corner, and a new survey suggests the choices aren’t getting any easier for many workers.

According to a report from Aetna, Americans rank choosing health care benefits as the second most difficult life decision, behind only saving for retirement. Aetna’s survey shows those who stress over health benefits decisions cite confusing and complicated information (88%), conflicted data (84%) and difficulty knowing which plan is right for them (83%).

“The … results showed that consumers understand the importance of health benefits. However, they don’t feel they have the resources they need to make an educated decision,” says Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna’s chairman and CEO “We need to make the process of choosing and using health benefits easier for consumers.”

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Case study: Communication, small perks kept our best people on board

Periodically, we like to share the success stories of companies dealing with HR issues. This case study comes courtesy of Paul Graziani, CEO of Analytical Graphics in Exton, PA.

We’re lucky enough to attract some of the most talented and well-educated people in our industry.

But that makes it crucial for us to hold on to them any way we can.

That’s especially true considering how much it costs to replace some of our staff – as much as three times the worker’s salary.

Clearly that put retention high up on our priority list.

But what were the best tactics we could use to make that a reality?

Click here to read these tactics.

Health care costs rose more than expected in 2011: Study

Here’s a question worth pondering: If the general economy continues to struggle, why was there such a big jump in healthcare costs in 2011?

Spending among those with employer-sponsored insurance grew more than expected in 2011, according to a new report from the Health Care Cost Institute.

HCCI’s Health Care Cost and Utilization Report: 2011 found that average dollars spent on healthcare services climbed 4.6% in 2011, reaching $4,547 per person. This was well above the 3.8% growth rate in 2010.

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Tip Tuesday! The Truth About Saturated Fat

by Mary Enig, PhD, and Sally Fallon

Fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a concentrated source of energy in the diet; they also provide the building blocks for cell membranes and a variety of hormones and hormone-like substances. Fats as part of a meal slow down absorption so that we can go longer without feeling hungry. In addition, they act as carriers for important fat- soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Dietary fats are needed for the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption and for a host of other processes.

Politically Correct Nutrition is based on the assumption that we should reduce our intake of fats, particularly saturated fats from animal sources. Fats from animal sources also contain cholesterol, presented as the twin villain of the civilized diet.

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