Education Blog | Consolidated

The Coronavirus Bill and Employee Leave

As you are no doubt aware, last week Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a multi-trillion-dollar relief package aimed to ease the financial burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act has far-reaching implications for employers. Here are the highlights: Most importantly, the Act requires that companies with…

Hackers Exploiting Coronavirus

As if you didn’t have enough on your mind, it turns out that hackers aren’t taking any time off during the current pandemic, and as a result COVID-19 isn’t the only virus you need to worry about. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, is advising Americans to…

10 Low-Cost Steps to Greater Employee Satisfaction

Any good business wants happy employees, and a solid benefits package is a big part of that equation. But offering a generous suite of benefits can be cost-prohibitive in this age of escalating health-care costs. What can businesses do to keep employees motivated without breaking the bank? Here are ten low- or no-cost ideas. Recognition:…

Silence Isn’t Golden – Electric Vehicles and Pedestrian Safety

Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity as battery technology improves and charging stations become more widely available. Besides the obvious benefits of reduced fuel consumption and emissions, electric vehicles operate in near silence, which is great if you’re driving. That silence, though, creates a new hazard for pedestrians. Without the usual engine noise as…

Surety Bonds: The Safety Net for Construction Projects

What protects a business from a construction project that doesn’t go as planned? As much as we hope and expect that things will go well and according to contract, occasionally a contractor is unreliable, or even goes bankrupt in mid-project, creating a nightmare scenario for the client. Surety bonds are the safety net that protects…

New Rate of Pay Rules

For many years, the issue of whether certain employee perks are – or are not – considered income under the Fair Standards Labor Act (FSLA) has been a source of some confusion for employers. Since the “regular rate” of compensation is the basis for calculating overtime, it’s important that employers are accurate. In an attempt…

Weather or Not – What’s Covered by Your Homeowners’ Policy?

The winter months usually bring more severe weather and much lower temperatures, and that often means an increase in weather-related damages to homes as well. What’s covered by a typical homeowners’ policy, and what isn’t? Frozen Pipes: Water expands when it freezes, and that’s bad news for copper pipes especially. Pipes exposed to low temperatures…

The Scene of the Crime: Does Your Business Need Crime Insurance?

“That couldn’t happen to us.” That mindset can cost businesses a lot of money and heartache because bad things do happen, including crimes against your business committed by your own employees. Every day, trusted employees pilfer or embezzle from their employers, and the costs are staggering: a 2017 study estimated an annual price tag of…

Cadillac Tax Repealed and Other ACA Changes

A new spending bill signed into law on December 20, 2019 puts an official end to the so-called “Cadillac Tax,” one of the more controversial provisions of the Affordable Care Act. That same bill brings other changes as well … read on to learn how they affect your business. The Cadillac Tax, a 40 percent…

Auto Coverage: Why Raise Your Limits?

You already know that automotive insurance is a must-have, required by law, with specific coverage limits that vary from state to state. The problem is that many drivers stop right there at those bare minimums, which can leave them in a bad place in the event of a serious accident. For example, Maryland drivers must…