Every year HR Executive publishes a list of the 50 highest paid HR executives. All of these people work for public companies and each of them earned more than $1.3 million, often including sizable bonuses.
Click here to view the list.
Here’s the point: HR professionals can be paid well, if they’re good at their job and take on a lot of responsibility. The chances are that these folks all put in long and stressful workweek — but the results were well worth it!
In response to a large number of questions received regarding eligibility for the COBRA premium reduction under current law, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has updated the COBRA page (www.dol.gov/COBRA) to add new FAQs here. We encourage readers to visit this page for updates.
In a California case, AM vs. Albertson’s Supermarket, an employee of Albertson’s underwent a difficult operation to help cure cancer of the tonsils and larynx. The treatment affected her salivary glands, which required her to drink water constantly and, as a result, go to the bathroom frequently. Albertson’s, aware of its obligations under California and federal disability law, did everything possible to accommodate the plaintiff.
Unfortunately, the plaintiff worked under a new manager unaware of her limitations, which led to a situation in which the plaintiff was stuck at the register and despite requests to be relieved so that she could go to the bathroom, obtained no relief. Unable to hold it anymore, the plaintiff urinated in her pants and went home distressed.
As it turns out, she had suffered since youth from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), which caused her to cycle into depression and lose a great deal of time from work. At trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff $200,000 — $12,000 for lost wages, $40,000 in future medical expenses, and $148,000 for past emotional stress.
Albertson’s argued that under the circumstances, the plaintiff had a continuing duty to communicate with the new manager regarding her need for an accommodation or simply to leave the register and use the bathroom. In upholding the plaintiff’s verdict, the court reminded employers of two important obligations: 1) You take employees “as you find them.” For example, if you have an employee with PTSD, and an incident causes them to become depressed, when a normal person would not, the plaintiff is entitled to damages; and 2) If an employee is being accommodated and you have new management, you must make them aware of this accommodation Read the entire case here.
One of my favorite books is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel El Ruiz. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements are:
I can’t think of a better formula for success for a leader, manager, or employee. Let’s review each in turn:
There you have it — a clear formula for incredible success. Be impeccable with your word, take nothing personally, assume nothing, and always try your best. Will you mess this up? Every day. The point is to do what you can to learn the lesson and move on. That’s also what it means to do your best.
Have you given much thought to the decisions your family might have to make when contemplating life-sustaining medical treatment for you, in the event you are unable to make your own decision? Have you communicated how you feel about life-support systems for the terminally ill? Mostly everyone agrees it is not an easy subject to contemplate. However, it is important to recognize there are steps you can take now to help quantify your thoughts and wishes on the subject. By doing so, you will provide your loved ones with some concrete guidelines in case such decisions become necessary.
A Closer Look at a Living Will
At the present time, nearly every state has passed some form of law dealing with the requirements for living wills or health care proxies. A health care proxy allows you to designate someone to make decisions on your behalf. On the other hand, a living will usually allows you to specify the particular types of treatment you would like to have provided or withheld. Each state has its own set of requirements.
If you are unable to direct your own care, a living will is a medical directive written in advance that sets forth your preference for treatment. The document can be set up to include when the directive should begin, and who has the decision-making responsibility to withdraw or withhold treatment. In addition to respecting your wishes, the living will can help provide clarity and alleviate feelings of guilt experienced by those faced with the responsibility of making important decisions for loved ones.
Even more far-reaching is a federal law that requires all Medicare and Medicaid providers to inform patients over age 18 of their medical directive rights. You might have even received information on this topic, since the law also requires increased emphasis on community outreach and education.
The federal law, known as the Patient Self-Determination Act, impacts virtually every health maintenance organization (HMO), hospital, and nursing home nationwide. It is important to recognize that the law doesn’t mandate that health care providers require their patients to have a living will. Instead, it necessitates health care providers to supply written information about a patient’s rights to make decisions about medical treatment, including the right to make an advanced determination about life-sustaining medical treatment, and to record whether the patient has done so.
At this time, it appears most of these organizations have realized this question can most appropriately be handled when a patient is admitted. Consequently, the next time you are admitted to a hospital, even for a very minor procedure, don’t be surprised if you are given information about these rights and are asked to fill out a form that asks whether you have a living will.
The living will is a legal document and each state has its own specific requirements. It is best to consult with a qualified legal professional when creating a living will. The professional assistance will ensure you understand what a living will can provide and what has to be done to assure its validity.
It’s important to have Disability coverage whether you get it from your employer, or purchase it privately. Disability insurance is your paycheck if you’re sick or disabled and can’t work for an extended period of time. That being said, the question then becomes where do you get the better deal; from your job, or on your own
The most significant difference between group and individual plans is eligibility. Because you’re an employee, you qualify for coverage at work usually on a guaranteed issue basis. However, it isn’t that easy when you apply for an individual policy. A private insurer will require you to meet stringent medical and financial criteria.
Coverage provided through a group plan offers no flexibility. If you become disabled, you are either paid a percentage of your salary, or a fixed amount each week or month. Benefits continue until you recover, or until you reach Social Security retirement age. Typically there are no cost-of-living adjustments to increase your benefits in step with inflation.
An individual policy lets you choose the monthly benefit amount (up to carrier issue limits), waiting period and maximum period of payments. You can also customize a policy to cover a specific occupation, and add cost-of-living increases.
There are some other policy features you should take into consideration when you are looking for the better deal:
A group plan limits coverage and definitions of disability, but it’s subsidized by the employer, so it will probably be less expensive. However, if your situation warrants quality and quantity of coverage, then buying your own Disability insurance is the better option.
We live in a time when our knowledge, recognition, and treatment of the diseases and disorders that abound are advanced and life expectancies are long. Unfortunately, there are still some diseases, injuries, and disorders that are so difficult to diagnose properly that a second opinion is not only suggested, but is often vital to ensuring the right treatment is given and the wrong treatment, together with its associated expenses, is avoided.
Disease Misdiagnoses
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease) is one example of a difficult to diagnose disease. According to the ALS Association, 15% of those diagnosed with ALS do not actually have the disease. This means they are paying for treatment of ALS when that is not the underlying cause of their symptoms. With a second opinion, possibly from a neurological specialist who treats ALS patients, these wrongly diagnosed individuals could be re-diagnosed with the proper illness — one that might even have a cure and then be given the proper treatment. Whenever you are given a diagnosis as serious as ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, cancer and the like, a second opinion should be a definite part of your treatment plan.
Of course, organic neurological disorders aren’t the only diseases that get misdiagnosed and require a second opinion. Lyme disease, mentioned in the 2004 Reader’s Digest article, “10 Diseases Doctors Miss,” is often misdiagnosed because of its generic, flu-like symptoms. When diagnosed and treated properly, Lyme disease can be cured easily with no long-term damage. A misdiagnosis that results in Lyme disease going untreated can result instead in permanent joint damage. Although every bout of the flu should not result in a second opinion, in the case of long, lingering illnesses that don’t seem to respond to treatment, a second opinion is a good idea.
Unnecessary Surgery
When it comes to unnecessary surgery, second opinions can save you money as well as recovery time. One example of this is knee surgery. The knee is a very complex joint and it takes years of experience for a surgeon to be completely comfortable doing anything less than a total knee replacement. This sometimes leads to surgeons suggesting a total knee replacement when the damage actually done to the knee requires only a partial replacement. Partial knee replacement is less invasive and expensive than a full knee replacement, and the recovery time is much shorter.
Sometimes, surgical procedures are diagnosed that have nothing to do with the actual health issue suffered by the patient. In 2008, the University of West Georgia published an essay on their Aneurysm and Arteriovenous Malformation Support page by a man who had suffered an asthma attack and went to the hospital. Instead of routinely treating the asthma, the physicians thought he was suffering from an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the wall of the aorta, and they performed emergency surgery only to find that there was no tear. Had he gone for a second opinion, the unnecessary heart surgery and opening of his chest cavity could have been avoided.
Conclusion
Although no one wants to prolong treatment of their diagnosis for fear of permanent damage to their health, a second opinion can be beneficial in this time of advanced medical treatment options. Taking the few days or weeks necessary to get a second opinion could result in a more accurate diagnosis and more effective treatment plan. At the very least, it can give you options to help you control your health care options.
About two out of three U.S. homes are underinsured, according to a 2008 survey by Marshall & Swift/Boeckh LLC (MSB), a leading provider of building replacement cost data. Based on this new data, the average Homeowners policy only insures the home to about 82% of the projected replacement cost of the home. Over the past decade, this point has been driven home as the U.S. has endured hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. Throughout the course of natural disasters, thousands of homeowners were left without enough coverage.
Although the study did not show results regionally, nationwide the average policy falls 18% short of the projected cost to rebuild the house. Put in other terms, the owner of a house insured for $200,000 would be short by $36,000 of the funds needed to rebuild, if the averages held true.
Why do thousands of Americans find themselves in this predicament? The most common reason for all of this is quite innocuous: Homeowners often forget to update their policies. For instance, suppose a homeowner decides to put an addition onto their home, which would drive up the value of the property beyond the stated policy limits. If the home improvement is never reported to the insurance company, no additional coverage is added to the policy. Additionally, rising construction costs and ever-changing building codes are raising the price tag to rebuild.
To avoid this problem, homeowners should re-assess policies as they renew each year. If a homeowner suspects a change in the value of their home, this suspicion should be communicated to their insurance agent. Although not every homeowner wants to insure to the full replacement cost of the home, this possibility should at least be examined and considered.
Is Your Home Properly Insured?
Here are some tips to help you evaluate your Homeowners insurance:
You just bought a new car, and now you’re searching for affordable Auto insurance. Once you supply an insurance company with some information, including the make and model of your car, your age, your address, etc., they give you a quote for your monthly premium. But how exactly do they calculate that number? Read on to learn how insurance companies determine your rate and how you can save money by shopping around.
Different companies, different rates. Many drivers mistakenly believe that insurance rates are set by the state. Although Auto insurance companies must follow certain laws when calculating rates, the rates themselves are not set by law. When you ask for a quote, the insurance company considers many different factors as they figure out your rate. However, because each insurance company uses their own unique calculation method, you could receive widely varying rates from different insurance providers.
Crunching the numbers. Depending on the laws in your state, insurance companies typically determine your rate based on some or all of the following factors:
Generally, your insurance agent will enter all of this information into a computerized system. The system automatically places you into a price group based on your personal information. The insurance company then subtracts any discounts for which you qualify from your group’s rate and you’re left with the resulting quote.
Where your money goes. If you think the quote is fair and decide to purchase a policy with the Auto insurance company, you’ll start paying a monthly insurance premium. But what exactly does your monthly premium cover? Here’s a typical insurance premium breakdown:
You better shop around. Every insurance company has differing sets of claim payments and expenses, and they set rates for each “price group” accordingly. That’s why you’ll likely receive varying quotes from each insurance company. This is why it’s so important to take the time to shop around and find the best rate. Plus, although insurance companies are prohibited by law from calculating rates based on race and religion, they are allowed to consider your age, gender, and marital status. However, each company places emphasis on different factors. For example, while one insurance company might place more weight on a driver’s gender, another company might think their driving record is more important.
This is yet another reason to request plenty of quotes before you settle on an insurance company. In addition to the rate, you should also consider which company offers the type of coverage you desire. Do your homework and find the best fit for your unique Auto insurance needs. Call our office today!
Even if you’ve been lucky enough to avoid car mechanic nightmares yourself, you’ve probably heard plenty of horror stories from your friends and co-workers — whether it’s the mechanic who charged your sister for a new carburetor when she just needed an oil change, or the jerk who convinced your boss to purchase a brand new set of tires when a good patch job would have done the trick. Despite these horror stories, there are plenty of good car mechanics out there. It just takes some research to find them.
Don’t wait until your next breakdown to hunt down a good auto shop. Find a top-notch mechanic now so you’ll know who to call the next time you need help. Here are a few tips to help you pinpoint a truly trustworthy car mechanic.
Ask for recommendations. Ask your family members, friends, and co-workers if they can recommend a great mechanic. After all, if your brother or best friend was happy with an auto repair shop, odds are you’ll be satisfied with them, too. Of course, you might be better off asking for recommendations from people who have some auto expertise. Although Aunt Betty might heartily recommend ABC Auto Shop, she might not realize they’ve been ripping her off all along because she simply doesn’t know much about cars.
Decide on a dealer vs. independent shop. You might be more comfortable working with a mechanic at your car dealership. That’s fine, but you should keep in mind that dealerships generally charge more for repair services. Remember that any well-trained mechanic can perform first-rate repairs, whether they work for a dealer or a small mom and pop shop. Many independent repair shops can offer a warranty on parts and repairs and use factory parts recommended by your carmaker. This can save you loads of money in the end. On the other hand, if you require repairs associated with a recall or have an extremely unusual problem that is specific to your type of vehicle, you might be better off going to your car dealership.
Look up online ratings and reviews. Search for repair shop ratings and reviews on sites like Women-Drivers.com or mechanicratingz.com to find out how other customers rank local car mechanics. However, keep in mind that just because a shop receives two good reviews doesn’t mean they always do a great job. By the same token, if a mechanic earns two bad reviews, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re terrible. Although online reviews can be helpful, you should take them with a grain of salt. Visit the shop before you make your final decision.
Do a trial run. If you want to try out a new mechanic, take your car in for regular service, such as an oil change or tune-up. This will give you an idea of how quickly and effectively the shop works, the level of customer service they offer, and how much they charge. When you visit the shop, take notice of how the business runs. See if the shop seems neat and organized and if the staff seems friendly and knowledgeable. Ask if they have certified technicians on-staff and the most cutting-edge equipment. You should also ask whether or not they have credentials, such as Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification, or AAA approval. Find out if they concentrate in body or mechanical work and if they specialize in certain vehicle makes and models. Also ask if they offer a warranty and customer satisfaction policy. Also, take note if they have clearly posted labor rates. If so, compare these rates to other shops in the area.
If the staff seems annoyed by your questions or if they don’t offer clear answers, you might want to steer clear. After all, if they have nothing to hide, they’ll be more than willing to answer your questions — especially if they want to earn your business.
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