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Alpha e-News Update
August 2014
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The Alpha Group Agency
4200 Rockside Road, Suite 300
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-520-3300 |
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| Health Reform Regulations |
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IRS Increases Affordability Percentage Under Employer Mandate for 2015
For plan years beginning in 2015, the health coverage affordability percentage under the ACA's "pay or play" rules will increase slightly, from 9.5 percent to 9.56 percent. View Article
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Know Your Benefits
Preventive Care
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 out of 10 Americans die each year from chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. When preventive care is used and illnesses and diseases are caught early enough, individuals can avoid or better control their health problems. View Article
Download our KNOW YOUR BENEFITS handouts for employee distribution or include the link on your benefits webiste.
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 Workplace Wellness: Choosing the Right Wellness Program
In order to realize improved employee health and a good return on investment (ROI), you need to choose the right wellness program for your company. Success is dependent on both employee engagement and support from all levels of management. To choose the right program, you will need to determine your organization's needs and resources and then match that with the appropriate type of wellness program.
View Article
Carla Ivka, Alpha's Wellness Coordinator, is here to assist you every step of the way with your company's Wellness Program. From finding the right match, and meeting with & motivating your employees to results tracking & rewards, Carla offers the support you need to be successful. Contact Carla today to get started.
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Live Well, Work Well
Please download and print or email this month's LIVE WELL, WORK WELL Newsletter for your employees! This month's topics include:
- Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather
- National Immunization Month
- The Risks of Sitting
- Retirement Savings 101
- Melon Salsa
Download Live Well, Work Well - August Issue
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President Obama Signs Executive Order Protecting LGBT Workers
Employers that have contracts with the federal government should review their employee policies, procedures and training to ensure that they address the protections afforded to LGBT individuals under the order.
View Article
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Bridging the Gap Between Retirement and Medicare Eligibility
Almost seven out of 10 current retirees left the workforce before reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65. Most current workers expect to retire at 65 or later, but retirees' experiences suggest this may not be realistic. If so, bridging the health insurance coverage gap between retirement and Medicare eligibility could be a challenge. View Article
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Fresh Corn Salad
Fresh Corn Salad makes delicious use of summer's corn bounty.
5 ears pf corn, shucked
1/2 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)
3 Tablespoons cider vinegar
3 Tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the corn for 3 minutes until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse it in ice water to stop the cooking and to set the color. When the corn is cool, cut the kernels off the cob, cutting close to the cob.
Toss the kernels in a large bowl with the red onions,
vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Just before serving, toss in the fresh basil. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature.
Download Recipe
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Did You Know?
On June 20, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would expand Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave rights for same-sex spouses.
The proposal would use the "place of celebration" rule, meaning that FMLA eligibility would be determined by legality of same-sex marriage in the state where the marriage was performed. This replaces the "state of residence" rule which determined eligibility based on the state where the employee resided.
The rule would also redefine "spouse" under the FMLA to expressly reference the inclusion of same-sex marriages in addition to common law marriages, and include same-sex marriages entered into abroad.
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Effective Communication: The Employee Handbook
You can drastically reduce your liability by clearly laying out all employee expectations and  prohibited behavior in your employee handbook.
Employee handbooks explain the relationship and responsibilities of employee and employer and provide clear communication on a variety of employment topics. A well-written employee handbook establishes guides for the workplace and protects the employer from liability. Read more about the importance of an Employee Handbook.
Sean Nehlsen of AlphaHR and his team are available to help with your Employee Handbook! Whether you don't have one yet, or just need some updates, we can help!
AlphaHR is also available to our clients for questions, clarification and general HR help.
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Alpha Benefits, Inc. / Alpha Financial Services, Inc. / Alpha Property & Casualty, Inc. / AlphaHR, LLC.
Stability in an ever-changing environment.
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