Monthly Newsletter June 2019
Dear Valued Clients and Associates, With so many hot topics to choose from, I’ve decided to use June to introduce a way for you to potentially put money back into your business with little efforts. “How is this possible?” you ask… Work Opportunity Tax Credits! To learn more, read the article below “How much did you overpay your taxes last year”. To all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Brothers and Friends who nurture and love the children in their lives, I hope you have a wonderful FATHER’S DAY! Is your broker only around at renewal? Would you rather have service year-round? Give me a call or email me now to schedule a time to discuss your employee benefit goals and how we will work hard to ensure you and your employees are satisfied all year long. Here is your June 2019 Newsletter with a combination of HR and Health related...
read moreMonthly Newsletter May 2019
Dear Valued Clients and Associates, Happy May! To all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, Sisters and Friends who nurture and love the children in their lives, whether they gave birth to them or not, I hope you had a wonderful MOTHER’S DAY! Please give me a call or contact me now to schedule a time to discuss your employee benefit goals and how we will work hard to ensure you and your employees are satisfied. Here is your May 2019 Newsletter with a combination of HR and Health related news. I hope you enjoy! If you would like to make suggestions on how I can improve this newsletter, please email me! Parts of AHP Final Rule Are Struck Down by Federal Court On March 28, 2019, a federal judge ruled that parts of the Trump administration’s 2018 final rule on association health plans (AHPs) were invalid. The court...
read moreDress Code Policies—Time for Change?
Dress Code Policies – Time for Change? By Maggie Johnson In theory, a dress code policy for the workplace could simply consist of two words—Dress Appropriately! However, it seems that employers feel compelled to write policies containing long lists of what and what not to wear in the workplace. Since a vast number of companies have adopted business-casual guidelines for the workplace, isn’t it time to lighten up on rigid dress code policies? In March this year, as reported by the Washington Post (March 21, 2019), even Goldman Sachs, known for its immaculately business-clothed company representatives, officially changed its dress code policy to a “firm-wide flexible dress code.” Tattoos, Facial Jewelry and Wild Hair Some dress code policies state that tattoos must be covered, facial jewelry, such as nose, eyebrow and tongue piercings, are not permitted at work, and hair styles must be conservative. That...
read moreMonthly Newsletter April 2019
Dear Valued Clients and Associates, I am very excited that the warm weather is starting to make its way into the area! My fig tree already has around 20 figs, daffodils and tulips are popping up everywhere and my chickens are so happy with all the worms and insects the rain is bringing to the surface for them. What’s more exciting than the arrival of spring? The clients we have been able to help, already this year, by creating benefit offerings that align with their goals and save them money off their bottom line! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given so far in 2019 and to you for your support. If we haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet, let’s get a time on the calendar… Who knows, maybe we will be able to help your organization too! Give me a call or contact...
read moreLeave Laws and Affected Employers Are Expanding in New Jersey
Leave Laws and Affected Employers Are Expanding in New Jersey By Maggie Johnson New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy continues to place his mark on state employment law, making life somewhat easier for working families. It wasn’t long ago that New Jersey employers had to become familiar and comply with the New Jersey Earned Sick and Safe Days Act. Here comes the next phase! On February 19, 2019, amendments to the New Jersey Family Leave and SAFE Acts were signed into law and shall become effective on June 30, 2019. In addition, changes were made to New Jersey’s Family Leave Insurance legislation, which are effective on July 1, 2020. However, be aware that there are also new requirements under the provisions of the aforementioned amended laws that employers must comply with now. These amendments will significantly expand the benefits afforded to New Jersey workers, and provide them with...
read moreMonthly Newsletter March 2019
Dear Valued Clients and Associates, March is all about the luck of the Irish, but you don’t have to be Irish to be lucky with PF Compass. What makes our clients so lucky? Dedicated in-house client service rep In-house claims adjudication for you and your employees – for your employees to have someone to call when they have claims or benefit coverage questions so you don’t have to walk the tight rope of HIPAA compliance Free COBRA and HRA administration Free Bene Administration technology (integration available with some payroll platforms such as Paylocity and ADP) Carrier Agnostic – We work with all Carriers to find the benefits package right for your organization 3 Hours HR Consultation Free for new clients and HR tools to maintain compliance Benefit Education Meetings at your location during Open Enrollment – we will educate your employees on how to best utilize their benefits to...
read moreThoughts on RIFs and Lay Offs
Thoughts on RIFs and Lay Offs By Maggie Johnson It’s said that employees are an organization’s most valuable asset. A stable workforce creates a workplace with no paranoia of job loss, high employee morale, increased knowledge and job skills, and higher productivity. Often, a company that has been recognized as a Best Place to Work has a stable workforce. A stable workforce shows the leadership’s effective strategic planning. I met a CEO of a well- known New York-based, international financial services firm who told me that in more than 30 years of business, his company has never laid off an employee. He explained that this has been due to in-depth and far-sighted business and workforce planning, with consideration for possible changes and dips in market conditions. As such, his workforce doesn’t fluctuate. New positions are added when planned, consistent business growth levels are reached. At a conference,...
read moreMonthly Newsletter February 2019
Dear Valued Clients and Associates, Did you set a New Year’s Resolution? How’s it going? Maybe your resolution was to double and triple check how compliant your organization is? This month I want to talk a little bit about compliance regarding POP/Section 125. If you are not familiar with what this is, POP stands for Premium Only Plan which is a way for employees to pay for their benefits with pretax dollars. Here are some things to consider: Are you an LLC, S Corp or Partnership and contributing to your POP plan? If you are, there is reason for concern. Is your POP discriminatory?? Do you have a written POP doc? When was the last time it was updated? Do your employees reenroll prior to the beginning of each year? Does your document allow rollover? Is it part of your onboarding process for new employees? All these issues could...
read moreMonthly Newsletter January 2019
Dear Valued Clients and Associates, Happy New Year!! I sincerely hope your holidays were amazing and your new year has started off brilliantly! As I celebrate my one-year anniversary with PF Compass I am thrilled to say it has been a fantastic year of learning, meeting wonderful people, creating great partnerships and helping some fantastic businesses across the region with their group benefits needs. We are currently helping our clients get ahead of 2/1, 3/1, 4/1 and 5/1 renewals that sometimes get pushed to the last minute due to end of the year business and open enrollment responsibilities. Our complimentary benefits evaluation can provide your group with significant opportunities to save money and stay compliant. Please email me by using the contact button or call to schedule a time to meet. Scrambling to figure out how to handle your end of year 1094/1095 filings? Let me know, we may...
read moreIs It Time To Check Out Check-Ins?
Is It Time To Check Out Check-Ins? By Maggie Johnson As we have just entered a new year, you may be planning or already planned performance goals with your employees. These employee performance goals more than likely tie to the 2019 goals for your organization. Thus, employees’ performance is integral to a company’s success. It would seem reasonable then that steady progress toward completion of those established employee goals, and general employee performance and productivity, would be at the forefront. Yet, more than 70% of employers still conduct only annual performance evaluations for their staff. There is, however, a strong trend to move to more meaningful discussions or “check-ins” with employees. It began in 2012, at Cargill, a worldwide food producer and distributor, with the launch of its Everyday Performance Management system, followed by Google, Adobe and Accenture with similar practices that redefined performance management. Check-ins can...
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