Company records: What to keep, what to dump

A records retention schedule ensures that an organization keeps the records it needs for operational, legal, fiscal or historical reasons, and then destroys them when they're no longer useful. You may base your records retention schedule on your own experience and research of legal mandates or on what other companies are doing.

Whatever your method, use your retention schedule as a guide, not as an executioner. Retain records longer if litigation, a government investigation or an audit seems likely. In the event that a legal action does transpire, immediately cease all disposal activities.

You have to know what you have and how long to keep it—legally and for your own business purposes—before you can establish an efficient records management system. That's why it's important to inventory your records and draw up a company retention schedule. 

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Small business still doesn’t understand health reform

By Dan Wisniewski

By this point, every company knows what they have to do to comply with healthcare reform, right? A new study says that might not be the case.

More than 55% of employers with 50 or fewer employees believe they’ll have to provide health insurance for their employees come next year or pay a fine.

If that sounds off to you, that’s because it is — the fine for not providing health care to staff members only applies to companies with 50 or more employees working at least 30 hours a week (or an equivalent number of part-time staff).

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How healthcare reform is changing HR analytics

By Guest Author 

HR has been and will continue to wear a lot of hats when it comes to healthcare reform. One tool HR pros may be overlooking, according to systems developer Marco L. Padovani: analytics.

Starting in 2014, healthcare reform requires employers with over 200 full-time employees to enroll all of their staffers (new and existing) in a healthcare plan.

Additionally, employers with over 50 full-time equivalent employees will be subjected to an assessable payment if they don’t provide minimum essential coverage — or if that coverage is not affordable.

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Tip Tuesday! Five Tips to Survive during March Madness

The approach of spring brings at least one challenge for HR professionals:  how to manage the distractions of college basketball’s “March Madness.”

The annual NCAA basketball tournament starts on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, and will continue until the final buzzer sounds on Monday, April 8, 2013. During that three-week stretch, you will likely see all manner of brackets, conversations and even streaming video of live games in progress during the workday. This can make for a productivity drain. Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a national outplacement firm, estimated last year that the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament alone cost employers $175 million.

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You and the clock: Can you ever be friends?

By Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.

If you're busy, you know this all too well: Stress and time are intertwined.

You get short on time — and before long, you're swimming in stress.
What's more, as the pressure you feel goes up, your productivity often goes down. And, you know where that leads: to more stress.


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Why meetings stink – and how to make ‘em better

By Dan Wisniewski 

Meetings can be productive, enlightening and even fun. Not buying it? Here’s what new studies say make meetings terrible — and how to make them better.

45% of meetings are useless

First, the bad news: If your managers are looking for a good way to frustrate your top performers, make sure they hold plenty of aimless meetings.

Nothing gets accomplished in 44.8% of meetings, according to a ManageElite study of 948 upper-level execs, directors, middle managers and frontline supervisors.

So what are the things that prevent meetings from being productive?

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New I-9 Takes Effect Immediately

On Friday, March 8, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new rules related to the long-awaited, revised I-9 form.

Employers can start to use the new form right away. Prior versions of the I-9 can still be used until May 7, 2013. When you examine the new form, you will notice some key changes which include:

·      New data fields, including the employee’s foreign passport information (if applicable), telephone and e-mail addresses

·      A revised layout, expanding the I-9 from one to two pages (not including the instructions and the List of Acceptable Documents); employees complete page 1 and employers complete page 2

·      Expansion of the instructions

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Tip Tuesday! Which is More Deadly: Aspartame or Sugar?

BY DR. AXE

Did you know that people who drink diet sodas to lose weight, actually tend to gain weight!? Aspartame is one of those food industry inventions we should have known was too good to be true. A sweet taste, with no calories, that will allow us to consume sweets without the added guilt or damage to our waist lines…who doesn’t wish that was actually possible? But, aspartame is actually linked to over 92 adverse health effects.

Sugar creates its own health problems and aspartame is not a better or healthier alternative, regardless of the calorie savings. Think of this quote, “Would you rather be hit in the head with a wooden bat or a metal bat?”

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Sinus infections: Hold the meds, please

By Karis Gabrielson, R.N.

Q. I think I have a sinus infection. Does that mean I need antibiotics?

No, not necessarily. Antibiotics will help only if your infection is caused by bacteria. And, even if that's the case, you may still get better on your own — without prescription medicine.

That said, if you're feeling miserable or if your sinus trouble persists, it may be time to see your doctor. Even if you don't need antibiotics, he or she can determine what's causing the problem — and suggest the best treatment for you. It's also best to see a doctor if you are at risk for complications, for instance, if you have a weakened immune system.

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Managing Unplanned Absences

HR/Employer Services | Time and Attendance

A 2010 study conducted by Mercer states that “incidental unplanned” absences result in a 19 percent net loss of productivity. That is on top of the increased costs, such as possible overtime, and the negative morale of the workers asked to pull double duty.

There are many reasons why an employee may call in to work for unplanned time off. Absenteeism can range from illnesses, family issues (e.g., daycare or taking care of a family member), personal issues or just feeling entitled to the time off. According to a CCH 2007 Unscheduled Absence Survey, 13 percent of people who called in to work cited being stressed out as main the reason for being absent. Slightly more than one in four absences falls into the “mental health day” category.

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Goodbye, diets. Hello, portion control!

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

Many weight-loss eating plans focus on what foods to eat. But, the key to slimming down isn't always what we eat — sometimes it's how much.

Over the years, portion sizes in America have grown — along with our waistlines. These pumped-up portions deliver a lot of extra calories. For example, the average bagel today is 6 inches wide and about 350 calories. That's 210 more calories than the typical 3-inch bagel of 20 years ago. And, some may be even bigger and higher in calories.

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Tip Tuesday! Adults and sports injuries: 7 ways to stay in the game

By William Weese, M.D.

Are you a steadfast runner? A springtime second baseman? A pickup power forward?

Then, you have an inside track to good health. It's hard to overstate the benefits of regular exercise. So, whatever your activity of choice, keep it up.

Of course, with any athletic pursuit, there's a risk of injury. Some mishaps you may not be able to avoid. But, many common injuries are also preventable.

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Plan documentation: when to give it and when to not

By Keith R. McMurdy

I frequently am asked by plan sponsors and plan administrators about how to respond to a request for plan documentation. Under Section 104(b)(4) of ERISA, a plan administrator is obligated to provide certain information when requested by a participant or beneficiary. This documentation includes the summary plan description, the latest annual report (if the plan files one) and any bargaining agreement, contract or trust document under which the plan is established.  Sounds fairly simple, right?

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