Benefits in Brief

This month we are joined with another local Alera Group agency leader- Dave Fear Sr., partner and consultant in the firm of Shepler & Fear, a division of Dickerson Insurance Services in Roseville, CA! If you missed our Self-Funding Panel at our Benefits Conference in May- you don’t want to miss this episode.Dave is the ultimate expert on self-funding programs- he’ll share with us:

• The misconceptions of a self-funding program
• Smaller premiums is not the ONLY benefit
• How self-funding can help your long-term strategies and overall success

The price of gas is not the only one on the raise lately! The cost of specialty drugs have reached an all time high- but now is your chance to fight back with the help of PBM.Close the gap between employers and pharmacies by changing the cycle. Gain trust and feel empowered to question your doctor by verifying cost and look for alternatives.We are joined by Chasity Matthews of Truescripts this month discussing the pros and cons of specialty costs and what to look for when searching for a Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) provider. In 45 minutes, attendees will leave with more information on:

• The Transparency Rule and why it benefits you
• Available Rebates + Clawbacks
• Advice for those who are looking for a PBM or manages pharmacy benefits
• Why TrueScripts is different from other PBMs

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new pay transparency act that will require significant changes in how employers draft job postings and how they report pay data to the state. Given the scope of the changes, many employers should begin preparing now.

These are a few of the most significant provisions of the law, which could become a model for other states seeking to enhance pay transparency.

We are pleased to be joined again this month with Larry Kazanjian, Partner of Palmer Kazanjian Wohl Hodson, LLP who will dive deeper into the requirements and limitations of the enhanced Transparency Rule of the California Law.

Why this law was amended? and who is it for?
What are the Reporting requirements and cost for employers?
Job posting requirements and limitations

This month, Preet Kuar, CEO of Pacific Staffing and ExecSearch will join Jeff and Michael for an update. Preet will discuss new challenges HR professionals are currently facing in the office and in the search for new talent. We’ll talk strategy on hiring new employees and what employers can do to make themselves more attractive in the search for perfect talent.

Today’s workforce has changed enormously over the past few years with new generations joining the team, as well as new technology flooding our screens. How will these changes affect your business? We are joined this month with Preet Kuar, CEO of Pacific Staffing and ExecSearch located in Sacramento, CA who will share with us her take on the multi-generational workforce, changing HR roles, COVID job market aftermath, and the impact of employees’ leaving California.

Go over to our Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/UCVpoEipVovUvHPIlBbSVotQ to watch the interview

The United States Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) enables qualified beneficiaries who lose health benefits due to a qualifying event to continue group health benefits. While some group health plans may provide COBRA continuation coverage at a reduced rate or at no cost, most qualified beneficiaries pay the full COBRA premium. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides for a 100% COBRA premium subsidy for individuals who were involuntarily terminated or whose hours were reduced and who enroll in COBRA coverage from April 1, 2021 to September 30th of 2021.

In local news, on March 19, 2021, the Governor of California signed SB 95, bringing back the state’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave. Covered employees in the public or private sectors who work for employers with more than 25 employees are entitled to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 related sick leave, retroactively from January 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021.

While these new regulations may be confusing, we’re here with Treaver Hodson and Bob Bentley to help explain these changes and what they mean for you.

Join us and Bob Bentley to discuss how employers should prepare for the mass distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you missed our Webinar on the 25th, or want to dive deeper, register for our first Benefits in Brief Session of 2021. With the challenging upcoming months, employers are asking what they could do to keep their workplace safe after returning to work. Will employers required their staff to get the COVID-19 Vaccine? Tune in to learn more!

In this session, Rachel Druckenmiller, Founder of UNMUTED, will share tools and resources to help employees deal with stress.

Dealing with the pandemic, the fight for social justice, and the upcoming election– stress is at the all-time high. Businesses, employees, seniors, and children all had to adjust to stress and challenges forced upon them. Rachel will be speaking on these adjustments and provide the tools and resources to bring positivity to stress and mental wellbeing during this time.