Business Management
New I-9 Form In Effect September 18th
In July of 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an updated version of Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). Under federal law, every employer that recruits, refers for a fee or hires an individual for employment in the United States must complete a Form I-9. While there has been a grace period…
Read MoreControlling Workers’ Compensation Costs
Fourth in a series of installments on workers’ compensation coverage In previous posts on workers’ compensation, we’ve covered experience modification factors, what makes a claim compensable and signs of fraud. Now, let’s get to the bottom line – literally – and talk about controlling your workers’ compensation costs. The first thing to understand about cost…
Read MoreMinimum Wage Increases in MD and DC
As noted here at the start of this year, some 19 states plus the District of Columbia enacted new minimum wage laws in 2018. These laws supersede the current federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour, and the vast majority of the increases took effect on or about January 1. The exceptions were Maryland,…
Read MoreFlood Insurance
The sudden and tragic flooding in Ellicott City over Memorial Day weekend was a sobering reminder that sometimes lightning does strike twice in the same place, so to speak … we saw similar flooding there in 2016, and this time around the damage was even more severe. The forecast that day called for a chance…
Read MoreHealth Plan Audits: What You Need
Much as the Internal Revenue Service has the authority to audit tax returns, the Department of Labor (DOL) has a broad mandate to investigate and audit an employee benefits plan’s compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Audits are performed by the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and will often focus on…
Read MoreHR Hotline: Real People, Real Answers
In a recent post we discussed MyWave Connect, our online portal for convenient access to resources on safety, compliance and much more (read about MyWave Connect here). While MyWave Connect is a vast and searchable resource, sometimes you need a little personal guidance, especially when it comes to matters of Human Resources. Chances are that…
Read MoreFringe Benefits – Tax Changes for 2018
Employers who offer fringe benefits like transportation reimbursement and meals to their employees are familiar with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 15-B – Employer’s Guide to Fringe Benefits, which offers guidance on the tax treatment of such employee benefits. The IRS recently released an updated version of Publication 15-B for 2018, incorporating tax law changes…
Read MoreMaking Your Day Easier
At Consolidated Insurance, our belief has always been that we best serve our clients as not just a broker, but as a partner in helping their businesses better manage their risk. To that end, we’re proud to re-introduce MyWave Connect, a time-saving online resource that puts clients in control of customized compliance information and much…
Read MoreNew Employer Tax Credit for Paid Family & Medical Leave
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in December of last year creates a new business tax credit for employers that provide paid family and medical leave to employees. Here’s what you need to know: The tax credit is temporary and applies to tax years 2018 and 2019 The credit is equal to…
Read MoreWhat You Need, When You Need It
It’s happened to every business … you’re working after hours, and you really need a certificate of insurance to wrap up the paperwork and bring in a new client. But your insurance broker is closed. Or an employee needs a new Auto ID card on a weekend, and all you can do is add it…
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