News

On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to raise the debt ceiling by a bipartisan vote of 63-36 only three days before the United States risked defaulting on its debt for the first time. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill on May 31, 2023, by an…

1. Had you heard of an ESOP before joining OAA? If so, what was your impression of it and how has OAA’s ESOP changed your perspective on it? If you had never heard of an ESOP before, what is your impression of it now? I don’t believe I had ever heard of the term ESOP,…

What does being vested in the ESOP mean to you? (Are you fully vested?) When I became fully vested it was an exciting time to see my statement and realize that the bottom-line balance was all going towards my retirement! Now my statement balance really grows exponentially. How does being in an ESOP affect your…

On May 18, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new guidance aimed at helping employers that use automated systems, including those with artificial intelligence (AI), comply with federal fair employment laws.  The new guidance focuses on preventing discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), which applies to employers with…

1. What is something you appreciate about the ESOP that you weren’t aware of when first joining (such as a perk, a perspective, etc.)?    Frankly, I was very unfamiliar with what the ESOP was or how it worked.  I also did not realize what a unique opportunity it is to be part of an…

Many workers in the United States struggle with medical debt. According to a recent survey of American workers by consumer financial health organization Financial Health Network, 37% of employees have medical debt, and 32% struggled to pay their medical bills last year. As health care costs continue to increase in the United States, so does…

1. How does being in an ESOP affect how you interact with clients (both current and potential)?   My philosophy is to do what’s right for the client and everything else will come. My goal is to consistently exceed the client’s expectations. We’ve integrated that rating scale into our BCD Client Satisfaction Survey that we…

On May 4, 2023, the White House announced new actions to promote responsible innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States and protect people’s rights and safety. This announcement builds on the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to advance a comprehensive approach to AI-related opportunities and risks.  This announcement is part of the White House’s…

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…