Kelly Borth: Smart SEO — How to optimize your website for search engines
If being online is a part of your business strategy, you need more than a quality, user-friendly website. You need smart SEO. When a person conducts an online search using words related to your business, SEO increases the likelihood that your website is listed at the top of the results. It allows you to reach […]
Perspectives — Women Who Excel: Creating a culture of Health can help you pull ahead
PANELISTS: Laura Bennett, Sheila Dunn, Kristen Morris and Lindsay Sims Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to sponsor the Perspectives 2014 Women Who Excel Conference, and over the past several years, the pace of change has certainly increased, especially in health care. In my 30 years in the industry, I’ve never experienced so […]
How preparation can make the audit process less disruptive
Year-end audits can be headaches for companies, as management takes time from busy schedules to gather information required by auditors. But a little preparation can make for a much smoother audit process. “The first quarter is as busy for management as it is for us,” says Kami Refa, a partner at Moss Adams LLP. “But if the right control processes are in place throughout […]
How the latest health care reform changes will affect businesses
The Treasury Department made it a little easier for companies to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by delaying the employer mandate to provide health insurance for companies with 50 to 99 employees. Those businesses will have until January 2016 before facing potential penalties, while companies with 100 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees […]
How managed service providers monitor, manage computer networks
Managed services are increasing in popularity, as more companies outsource their computer network management. “A structured managed services program provides the benefit of reducing your IT costs and risks of hardware failure while standardizing IT management through streamlined efficiency, often all at lower costs than the company could manage by doing it in-house,” says Eric […]
How to determine the limits of liability for your organization
Figuring out how much liability coverage to buy isn’t easy, but it’s very important. General liability covers an entity for bodily injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury, and medical payments to a third party because of negligence of the insured. So, adequately selecting the appropriate limits provides defense costs and indemnification to that third […]
How to claim up to a $125,000 deduction when filing Ohio state income taxes
The Small Business Investor Tax Deduction, new this tax season, allows individuals to save thousands of dollars in taxes on business income — if their tax preparer knows it’s available. “Your CPA can help you with this deduction, but they may need to do some research since it’s new. The software used by many tax […]
How to be ready for health plan audits when the government comes calling
With the ongoing implementation of health care reform, many employer groups have missed the obligations set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). “The federal government has started systematic audits of group health plans, primarily for compliance with health care reform. They will also include compliance for ERISA. A key provision […]
How to deal with alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace
Abuse of alcohol and drugs in the workplace is a reality that employers cannot afford to overlook. According to a 2008 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 70 percent of the admitted drug and alcohol abusers in the country are employed, and a majority of those are full-time employees. […]
How to address legal issues when looking to do work in Europe
Companies looking to expand overseas may experience a different business culture and need to be aware of the legal issues they may face. “It’s important to prepare beforehand and ensure you’re complying with all of the different EU and German laws that come into play,” says German native Katja Garvey, an associate at Kegler, Brown, […]