Fair Labor Standards Act Overtime Rule Overturned
By Natalie Withers
This time last year, employers were making plans to implement the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Final Overtime rule . However, days before the effective date, a United States District Court judge in Texas granted an emergency motion for preliminary injunction, essentially maintaining the status quo until the court could determine the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) authority to almost double the salary threshold.
Read MoreCommunicate Benefits Effectively During Enrollment and Improve Employee Engagement
By Susan Heard, SPHR
Because of the nature of employee benefits management, open enrollment (OE) communication generally focuses on benefits changes and instructions for completing enrollment, that is, the tactical versus the strategic. Often development of OE communication follows what can be a protracted renewal process and must be accomplished in a compressed timeframe during the busiest time of the year for many employers. Breaking free from this cycle to move toward a strategic approach to benefits communications takes time and needs to be considered well before the intensity of OE is underway.
Read MoreFake It ‘Til You Make It – Seven Tips for Modeling Positive Change Adaptation Behaviors
By Kellie Conn, SPHR
We’re all familiar with the adage “fake it ’til you make it,” right? Sometimes we want to pull our hair out or hide behind a closed office door when change is happening – especially change that we don’t necessarily agree with. As a valued team member, modeling what easy adaptation to change looks like (even if we don’t particularly feel that way at the moment) can help us ease into a new perspective on the change. As a manager or leader, modeling positive behaviors for team members may help them cope more effectively with whatever the new “thing” is that’s potentially causing the disruption.
Read MoreBest Practices for a Compliant Open Enrollment
By Natalie Withers
As open enrollment season ramps up, it’s easy to get bogged down by renewal decisions, enrollment logistics and employee communications in our quest for a smooth enrollment. But don’t forget the steps you need to take to also have a compliant open enrollment. Failure to meet annual compliance requirements can negatively affect your bottom line and cause stress down the road. Follow these three tips to ensure you check all the compliance boxes for your 2018 open enrollment:
Read More4 Communication Tips for a Smoother Open Enrollment
By Heather Eshaghpour
Autumn is the busiest time of year for many of us in the benefits realm. It may be football season, but for most of us, it is also time to tackle open enrollment. Taking steps to make the open enrollment process easier and less stressful for employees can result in a smoother open enrollment season. Here are four tips from four of our Employee Benefits experts.
Read MoreEmployee Wellness Program Success Begins With Open Enrollment
By Kelly Holt, CHC
If you plan to offer an employee wellness program in 2018, we recommend spending the weeks prior to open enrollment preparing. Here’s a guide for some of the major items to consider as you plan your wellness program.
Read MoreCost Containment Strategy #1: 5 Steps to Building a Reference-Based Pricing Plan
By Ken Liberatore
Reference-based pricing is a cost-containment program that has been used in specific pockets of the country for many years, and it is finally gaining traction in Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas. Reference-based pricing uses a standard pricing schedule, such as Medicare, as the basis of reimbursement to a health care provider for a specific service or bundle of services. Within this system, the standard reimbursement level is applied to medical services with the goal of providing self-funded employers control over their claims cost.
Read MoreParadigm Group Named Third Time Top Workplace by The Tennessean
By Alyssa Curran
The Tennessean has recognized Paradigm Group as one of the top ten 2017 Top Workplaces in the small business category. For the third year in a row, Paradigm Group was honored alongside Tennessee-based employers at a well-attended reception on Thursday, June 22. Several members of the Paradigm Group team attended the reception, including principals Edward Rittenberg and Bob Dugan, and employer advisor Mason Shank.
Read MoreSenate Republicans Release Discussion Draft of ACA Repeal and Replace Proposal
By Natalie Withers
With a possible vote next week, Senate Republicans released a “discussion draft” of their proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Thursday, June 22, 2017. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is to release its analysis of the 142-page bill, titled the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, on Monday. You are probably wondering how this bill differs from the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that Republicans in the House passed in May.
Read MoreDestress with Video Highlights from Our 2017 Wellbeing Conference
By Kelly Holt, CHC
A video highlight reel from Paradigm Group’s third annual Workplace Wellbeing Conference. This year’s focus was stress management solutions for Middle Tennessee employers to utilize with their employees inside and outside the workplace.
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