Category: Newsletter

Mar
09
2020

Searching Social Media During Hiring Process

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

If you are hiring, you should not overlook the importance of vetting prospective employees through social media and networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn during the hiring process. A recent survey by CareerBuilder found that 70% of hiring managers said they had used Facebook or other social networking sites to research job candidates in 2018, up from 60% the year prior. Also, 11% of hiring managers said they planned to start using social networking sites for screening. With so many people posting their lives online, employers can learn a lot about candidates. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to…
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Mar
09
2020

AB 5 Suffers Early Legal Setbacks

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

California’s controversial independent contractor law suffered its first two legal setbacks in January after trucking firms and independent truckers were able beat back at the new law in court arguing that the ABC Test should not apply to them. Recent AB 5 Rulings On Jan. 8, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled that AB 5 does not apply to independent truckers because they are covered by federal law. And on Jan. 13, a federal judge extended a restraining order for the law to cover truckers as of Jan. 1 this year in a case brought by the California…
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Mar
09
2020

Telemedicine Taking Off, Reducing Health Costs

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

One of the fastest-growing parts of the health care system, and which touches significantly on group health plans, is telemedicine. From 2016 to 2017, insurance claims for services rendered via telehealth ― as a percentage of all medical claim lines ― grew 53% nationally, faster than any other avenue of care, according to “FH Health Indicators,” a white paper published by the nonprofit FAIR Health. What is telemedicine Telemedicine, also called Telehealth, uses technology to provide remote care via video conferencing and other means, and is proving to be more and more effective, especially for time-pressed individuals or people who…
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Mar
09
2020

More Businesses Get Bills for ‘Misclassified’ Workers Under AB 5

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

One outgrowth of new California law AB 5 that applies more stringent criteria for what constitutes an independent contractor is that many employers are likely to see more audits and calls for additional premium from their workers’ comp insurers. In fact, it’s already happening in some industries, according to the insurance industry trade press. More and more employers are being hit with sizeable surprise bills for additional premium by their insurers for allegedly misclassifying employees as independent contractors, according to one article in the Workers’ Comp Executive trade publication. And this problem is only like to get worse in 2020…
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Feb
10
2020

Congress Eliminates the ‘Cadillac’ and Other ACA Taxes

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

Congress has passed legislation repealing the so-called “Cadillac tax” on generous group health plans, as well as two other taxes, finally putting to bed an issue that has plagued the Affordable Care Act since its inception. Although it had not yet been implemented, employers didn’t like the Cadillac and labor unions came out against it as well. It was so unpopular that Congress voted twice to delay implementation, which was originally set to start in 2018. The latest start date had been pushed until 2022. The Cadillac tax, an enacted but not yet implemented part of the ACA, is a…
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Feb
10
2020

Employer Guide for Dealing with the Coronavirus

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

As the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus gains momentum and potentially begins to spread in North America, employers will have to start considering what steps they can take to protect their workers while fulfilling their legal obligations. Employers are in a difficult position because it is likely that the workplace would be a significant source of transmission among people. And if you have employees in occupations that may be of higher risk of contracting the virus, you could be required to take certain measures to comply with OSHA’s General Duty Clause. On top of that, if you have workers…
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Feb
06
2020

Trends Shaping Health Insurance and Health Care in 2020

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

As a new decade begins, the health insurance industry is on the cusp of making a leap towards improved, higher-tech management of health plan participants. A recent paper by Capgemini, an insurance technology and consulting firm, predicts the following health insurance trends will be taking shape in the industry and how they may affect businesses that are paying for their employees’ coverage. Health Insurance Trends 1. Realigned relationships Insurers are trying to shift risk between themselves and pharmaceutical companies in an effort to reduce drug outlays. The report says insurers are also working more closely with health care providers for early intervention…
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Jan
08
2020

Car Crashes a Leading Cause of High-Severity Claims, Safe Driving Rules Can Help

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

Traffic accidents continue to be one of the leading causes of high-severity workers’ comp claims, according to research. The National Council on Compensation Insurance found in a study that the cost of workers’ comp claims for accidents involving motor vehicles was 250% more than the average for all workplace accidents. The study also found large differences between the cost of claims involving large trucks and passenger cars, as well as a reduction in the number of accidents during economic recessions. Besides a threat to other drivers on the road, any injuries your employees suffer while on driving for you on…
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Jan
08
2020

Don’t Fall Victim to the Business E-mail Compromise Scam

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

West African organized-crime rings have been targeting U.S. businesses with “business e-mail compromise” scams that are costing firms millions of dollars every year. Losses to businesses that are targeted by these scams hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2018, with $685 million in losses reported by 4,081 victims. That’s more than the amount lost for all of 2017 in such scams: $675 million. The gangs send fake messages to businesses’ finance departments purporting to be a vendor for the company with an invoice requiring payment. These criminals do research before targeting companies, meaning they go to company…
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Jan
08
2020

More Employers Expand Mental Health Benefits

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

American workers are more stressed than ever, and an increasing number of people are also struggling with mental health issues. Sadly, the number of people dying from drugs, alcohol and suicide hit record levels in 2019. When someone is battling addiction or has mental health issues, it affects all aspects of their life, including work. Stress can have a significant adverse impact on business. It costs employers an average of $300 billion a year in stress-related health care and missed work, according to a Harris Poll conducted for Purchasing Power. That’s why more employers are stepping up to provide their…
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