Current and Past Articles

Effective communication is about getting your point across and creating a flow of information that keeps everyone connected, engaged, and working toward the same goals. When communication falters, silos form—and before you know it, you’ve got teams working in isolation, missing the bigger picture. No one wants to feel like they’re stranded on an island at work, but that’s what happens when teams don’t communicate well. Diamonds are forever, but silos don’t have to be. Let’s dive into six essential steps to break down silos and maximize workplace communication.

  The 2024 calendar year has flown by, and the July 31st deadline for groups with January-December plan years to submit their 2023 5500 filings is now upon us. Overview of 5500 filings  In general, 5500 filings, which contain details about the finances and operation of group health and retirement plans, are an annual requirement for such plans that had at least 100 participants as of the first day of the plan year. Only active employees enrolled in the plan contribute to the participant count (i.e., spouses, dependents, etc. should be excluded). For groups with wrap plan documents, a filing will be required for all benefits included in the wrap if the participant count for at least one of those benefits satisfies the filing threshold. Groups without wrap plan documents will need to determine on a benefit-by-benefit basis whether they should prepare a filing for that particular benefit. The filings are due to the IRS and the Department of Labor (DoL) by the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. So, while the 5500s for January 2023-December 2023 plans should be submitted by July 31, 2024, the filings for February 2023-January 2024 plans are due by August 31, 2024, March 2023-February 2024 plans need to file by September 30, 2024, etc. 

We often hear about the five stages of grief and expect people to grieve when they lose someone important, such as a close loved one. However, grief is not the same for everyone; it looks different depending on the person.  Grief, quite simply, is a person’s response to loss. Some people may have moments where they cry uncontrollably, while others might not cry at all. They may want to be alone, or they may prefer to keep busy. We should respect how someone grieves and who or what they are grieving for, as this fosters an inclusive and supportive environment that prevents disenfranchised grief.

    At the end of June, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower court ruling that a portion of the ACA’s preventive care mandate is unconstitutional. However, the court said the ruling should apply only to the plaintiffs who brought the case. The plaintiffs objected on religious grounds to providing coverage of services such as pre-exposure prophylaxis medications for HIV. Calling the decision a “mixed bag,” the court indicated that a universal injunction impacting the preventive care mandate was not warranted.  The case, Braidwood v Becerra, centered around first-dollar coverage of services that have been approved since 2010 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

If you’re an established business owner or career professional, you may think employee student debt doesn’t affect you. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. Because when something affects your employees, it affects you, too. As parents, mentors, business owners, and hiring managers, we’ve told young people that they need a college degree to get ahead. And this may be true. College graduates will earn about 1 million over the course of their lives, as compared to $580,000 for those with only a high school degree.  But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post at any time by clicking here.    Creating a workplace that prioritizes accessibility and inclusion is more important than ever. Integrating these principles into your company culture supports a positive and productive environment, going beyond compliance to create a space where all employees can thrive regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. While addressing specific needs is important, a holistic approach ensures employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their best work. What’s this all about? Accessibility and inclusion are concepts that go hand in hand. Accessibility ensures everyone can use physical spaces, digital platforms, and communication methods, regardless of their abilities. Inclusion involves creating an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and able to contribute fully. Together, these elements help build a workplace where diversity thrives, and all employees can succeed.