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Sanford & Tatum Blog

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Legal Update: IRS Expands List of Preventive Care Benefits for HDHPs

- IRS Expands List of Preventive Care Benefits for HDHPs - Benefits for HDHPs - On Oct. 17, 2024, the IRS issued Notice 2024-75 (the Notice) to expand the list of preventive care benefits permitted to be provided by a...

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Live Well, Work Well: Prioritizing Your Emotional Well-being During the Holidays

Prioritizing Your Emotional Well-being During the Holidays - While the holiday season and end-of-year festivities can be fun, they can also be stressful and take a toll on your emotional well-being. Putting your...

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Mental Health Minute: December 2024

Is It the Holiday Blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder? - Holiday demands, gatherings, decorations, and other emotional and financial stressors can leave people anxious and exhausted. As such, some people experience...

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Coverage Insights: The Value of D&O Insurance for Private Companies

The Value of D&O Insurance for Private Companies - With today’s growing emphasis on corporate transparency and accountability, an organization’s directors and officers may face a range of liability exposures. For...

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Coverage Insights: The Value of Employment Practices Liability Insurance

The Value of Employment Practices Liability Insurance - In today’s increasingly litigious society, stakeholders are holding organizations more accountable for their poor decisions and wrongdoings, whether actual or...

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News Brief: Over 80% of Employers Will Add or Improve Benefits in the Next Year

Over 80% of Employers Will Add or Improve Benefits in the Next Year - A new report by health care benefits company Lively found that 81% of organizations plan to add or improve employee benefits in the next year to...

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Risk Insights: Distracted Driving and Cellphones

Distracted Driving and Cellphones - Distracted driving is a significant cause of motor vehicle crashes that result in costly property damage and threaten safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety...

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News Brief: U.S. Workers Are Satisfied With Their PTO, But Don’t Exhaust It

U.S. Workers Are Satisfied With Their PTO, But Don’t Exhaust It - A new Harris Poll survey found that most employed Americans are satisfied with their company’s paid time off (PTO) policy; however, 3 in 4 said they didn’...

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Legal Update: Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit Limits to Increase in 2025

Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit Limits to Increase in 2025 - The IRS has released Revenue Procedure 2024-40, which includes cost-of-living adjustments for employee qualified transportation fringe benefits for...

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Safety Matters

Safety Meeting Basics - According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one of the most effective ways to promote a safe working environment is to get involved in company safety meetings. Since...

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Legal Update: DOL Targets Employment-related Contract Provisions

DOL Targets Employment-related Contract Provisions - On Oct. 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of the Solicitor (SOL) released a special enforcement report indicating seven “fine-print” employment-...

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Work Comp Insights: 4 Trends That Could Impact Workers’ Compensation Insurance

4 Trends That Could Impact Workers’ Compensation Insurance - The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) recently published the 2024 Regulatory and Legislative Trends report, highlighting key state legislative...

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Work Comp Insights: Study Finds Extreme Temperatures Increase Workers’ Compensation Claims

Study Finds Extreme Temperatures Increase Workers’ Compensation Claims - The National Council of Compensation Insurance (NCCI) recently published a new study showing the relationship between injury frequency and weather...

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Legal Update: DOT Revises Drug and Alcohol Testing Procedures Regarding Oral Fluid Testing

DOT Revises Drug and Alcohol Testing Procedures Regarding Oral Fluid Testing - On Nov. 5, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule revising its drug and alcohol testing procedures to...

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HR Compliance Bulletin: 7 Employment Policies to Review in 2025

7 Employment Policies to Review in 2025 - Employee handbooks are important for establishing employee expectations, addressing workplace issues and defending against potential lawsuits. Failing to update the employment...

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News Brief: What’s in Store for Reinsurance Jan. 1? Market Players Have Varied Views

What’s in Store for Reinsurance Jan. 1? Market Players Have Varied Views - More than half of reinsurers, insurers, and brokers surveyed last month by Fitch Ratings expect reinsurance prices to increase on Jan. 1, 2025,...

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Legal Update: IRS Releases Health FSA Limit for 2025

IRS Releases Health FSA Limit for 2025 - On Oct. 22, 2024, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2024-40 (Rev. Proc. 24-40), which includes the inflation-adjusted limit for 2025 on employee salary reduction contributions...

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Commercial Property: Insights

Protecting Your Business Against Frozen Pipes and Sprinkler Systems - During the winter season, businesses face a unique set of property challenges, including the risk of frozen pipes and sprinkler systems. These issues...

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Risk Insights: Corporate Governance Best Practices

Corporate Governance Best Practices - Corporate governance determines the policies and procedures that direct and control a business and its decision-making process. Effective and efficient systems are vital to...

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Know your Insurance: Avoiding Common Personal Insurance Gaps

Avoiding Common Personal Insurance Gaps - Insurance plays a crucial role in your life’s financial security and stability. The various policies and coverages that make up your insurance portfolio can potentially ensure...

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Cyber Risks & Liabilities: The Importance of Data Backup and Recovery Plans for Businesses

The Importance of Data Backup and Recovery Plans for Businesses - In modern businesses, data is central to operations, customer management and decision-making. It is so integral to organizations that data loss from...

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Cyber Risks & Liabilities: MFA Bypass Attacks Explained

MFA Bypass Attacks Explained - Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an integral component of cybersecurity. By requiring additional steps to access data, information is more secure and harder to steal. However,...

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HR Compliance Bulletin: Legal Considerations for Employee Terminations

Legal Considerations for Employee Terminations - Employee terminations are often complicated, and if not conducted properly, employers can open themselves up to costly legal challenges and negatively affect their...

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Compliance Bulletin: ​Mental Health Parity: New Comparative Analyses Requirements

Mental Health Parity: New Comparative Analyses Requirements - On Sept. 9, 2024, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (Departments) released a final rule to strengthen the requirements of...

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Live Well, Work Well: Preparing for the 2024-25 Flu Season

Preparing for the 2024-25 Flu Season - Experts predict that the United States may have another early start to the influenza (flu) season this year. When colder weather arrives, flu rates typically increase, peaking...

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Legal Update: EEOC Releases 2024 Litigation Data, Showing a Decrease in Lawsuits

EEOC Releases 2024 Litigation Data, Showing a Decrease in Lawsuits - On Oct. 9, 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released litigation data for fiscal year (FY) 2024, which covers Oct. 1, 2023,...

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News Brief: OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for 2024

OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for 2024 - OSHA recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2024 fiscal year using preliminary data. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds, as...

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Live Well, Work Well : November 2024

Fall Into Mindfulness - The changing seasons can help you prioritize your physical, emotional and mental health by presenting the opportunity to start new routines or cut out unhealthy habits. Autumn is a great time to...

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Mental Health Minute: November 2024

Practicing Gratitude In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in stress and negativity. However, practicing gratitude can be a powerful tool to improve mental health. Gratitude involves recognizing and...

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Risk Insights: Best Practices for Safety Committees

Best Practices for Safety Committees - A safety committee is crucial for creating and maintaining a safe workplace culture. These committees bring together employees, management and safety professionals to proactively...

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Compliance Bulletin: Educational Assistance Programs Can Help Pay Student Loans Through 2025

Educational Assistance Programs Can Help Pay Student Loans Through 2025 - The IRS is reminding employers who offer educational assistance programs that they can also use them to help pay for their employees’ student...

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Health Care Bulletin: Deadline for Submitting Gag Clause Attestation Is Dec. 31, 2024

Deadline for Submitting Gag Clause Attestation Is Dec. 31, 2024 - Effective in 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) prohibits health plans and health insurance issuers from entering into contracts with...

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Risk Insights: Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in the Construction Industry

Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in the Construction Industry - The construction industry is continuously moving toward digitization, adopting advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of...

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Small Business Insights: Factors That Affect Small Businesses’ Insurance Costs

Factors That Affect Small Businesses’ Insurance Costs - Regardless of industry, small businesses encounter a variety of risks in their everyday operations. These exposures can lead to significant financial losses,...

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