How effective fleet management can reduce costs
Fleet tracking and management, if correctly implemented, can provide a business with a number of procedural, safety and cost efficiencies, says Noah Goodwin, CPCU, a commercial risk manager at RiskSOURCE® Clark-Theders. “Fleet management can improve driving safety habits, which can reduce auto and workers’ compensation claims, and subsequently lower insurance costs. Morale can also be […]
How branding yourself is important for your career and company
Are you “results-oriented?” Do you have a “proven track record?” Would you consider yourself a “problem solver?” According to LinkedIn, these are some of the most overused buzzwords on profiles across the popular professional social network. A problem in today’s saturated marketplace is finding your unique place as a professional. Whether you are a self-employed […]
How 401(k) plan sponsors must fulfill their fiduciary duties to avoid liability
If your employees have a company retirement plan, then you have a fiduciary responsibility to them. The days of ignoring this responsibility are over. Some of the settlements linked to charges of negligence or mismanagement can be painful for businesses big and small. In 2010, a California Fortune 500 engineering firm settled $18.5 million with […]
How the ACA’s insurance marketplace will affect employers
With the health insurance marketplace opening next month, the market is expected to be flooded with consumers trying to find a plan that works best for them and their budgets. “The fact is people who have not previously had access to health insurance may be in shopping mode come Oct. 1 when the health insurance […]
How corporate retirement plans must be managed
The world of retirement plans has transformed during the past five years, but the majority of companies sponsoring employee retirement plans have yet to catch up with the changing times. “It is no longer acceptable to take a wait-and-see approach with your plan unless you are willing to accept the risk and the consequences of […]
How to utilize federal, state and global R&D credits
Business research incentives come in so many forms across various jurisdictions that they apply to more companies than you think. Although the bulk are used in manufacturing, consumer products, biotech or pharmaceuticals, they are available to anyone developing or creating something, whether a product, process, technique, software, new technology or a new application of an […]
How new lease accounting rules will impact businesses, lending industry
New lease accounting rules will require all leases to be on corporate balance sheets, even though the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has yet to circulate the final FASB Exposure Draft, which details the changes. “Until the dust settles, it’s very difficult to make any kind of strategic decision,” says R. Timothy Evans, president of […]
How to balance functionality and aesthetics in your office design
Interior design is a very structured process involving both coordination and creativity. It includes a vast scope of services that must ultimately balance the client’s wants and needs. “Not all designs are driven by aesthetics; functionality of the space usually takes precedence because employees have to work in the office every day,” says Michelle Yurkovac, […]
How the delay to the ACA’s 'pay or play' will impact your business
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate is delayed until Jan. 1, 2015. The employer-shared responsibilities of the ACA, also referred to as “pay or play” rules, impose penalties on large employers that do not offer affordable, minimum value coverage to their full-time employees and their dependents. For purposes of these rules, a large employer […]
Showing employees the true value of their benefits package
Many employees are surprised when they learn how much employers are spending on them in addition to their salaries. Studies show that benefits can add 30 to 35 percent on top of the salary being paid. “A total compensation statement is a good way to illustrate this and make employees aware. Most employees will end […]