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On May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a global health emergency after three years.  WHO officials explained that although COVID-19 continues to spread and evolve, its threat at a global level is now at a much lower level of concern. They stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic…

1. How do you think being in an ESOP can affect work culture? I think it affects work culture by giving me the sense that my input really does matter and that increases my performance by wanting to do well to provide not only for our clients but my coworker’s as well. The commitment I…

What does being in an ESOP mean to you? For me, the ESOP has always been a gamechanger. It is the reason I left a successful career in the banking industry. If we continue to keep pace with our last few years of growth, my espouse will be at least half of my overall retirement!…

Today in the United States, workers are not guaranteed paid leave by federal law, and many aren’t entitled to unpaid time. To address this issue, President Joe Biden released a budget plan earlier this year, allocating $325 billion to a permanent paid family and medical leave program. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is…

1. What does being part of an ESOP mean to you? "Being part of an ESOP is very important to me. It is a financial security knowing that I will eventually be able to benefit from the success of our company and what we all do every day. I will be able to retire, travel,…

1. What do you appreciate about the ESOP most? "The collaborative work environment it creates.  All employee-owners have something to gain when the company is successful.  I have experienced a lot of team effort over the years.  My co-worker’s willingness to help and offer solutions is priceless.  It really does draw a group of creative,…

Extended detection and response (XDR) is a cybersecurity solution that offers businesses end-to-end visibility, detection, investigation and response across multiple security layers. XDR is an evolution of endpoint detection and response (EDR)—a cybersecurity offering that continuously monitors threat information and endpoint data to detect and respond to ransomware and other types of malware. However, EDR…

Today’s remote and hybrid workplaces rely on virtual communication and collaboration. While these arrangements remove much day-to-day interaction, fortunately, technology can enhance relationships and enable meaningful conversations. As employers navigate and compete in the “Great Reshuffle,” intelligent and flexible technology can help rehumanize work. For example, a software could measure and improve workplace culture, help…

On March 9, 2023, the IRS released updated penalty amounts for 2024 related to the employer shared responsibility (pay or play) rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For calendar year 2024, the adjusted $2,000 penalty amount is $2,970 and the adjusted $3,000 penalty amount is $4,460. Pay or Play Penalty Calculations Under the pay…

Through proper response planning, businesses can mitigate potential damages that may arise from cyber incidents. Yet, it’s important to note that cyber incident response planning requires coordination across a company. An effective response plan should outline: Cyber incident response plans should address a variety of possible scenarios and be communicated to all applicable parties. These…