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More employers are opting to fund accounts that their employees can draw on to purchase their own health insurance, either on an Affordable Care Act exchange or on the open individual market, according to a new report.

Some companies have been exploring these arrangements in lieu of providing their group health benefits, in order to save money and reduce the administrative burden. But these plans have their drawbacks and are not for all employers. So, it's important to understand how they work and their limitations.

Inflation, an aging workforce and people catching up on care they skipped during the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the main ingredients that will drive the cost of group health benefits over the coming years.

The key for employers grappling with these higher costs is how they can reduce their impact by switching up plan offerings and choosing plans that do a good job of managing specialty drug costs, which have been spiraling over the last decade. Here are some ideas.

Workers in a number of construction occupations are exposed to crystalline silica. Breathing too much of this dangerous dust can lead to serious lung damage, resulting in long-term illness or even death.

Workers in cement, concrete or stucco operations, abrasive blasting, jack hammering, rock and well drilling, brick and block cutting, and tunneling operations are often exposed to crystalline silica. Any dust-producing operations should follow industry safety standards as well as OSHA regulations to protect workers. This article looks at where you can start.

A new study has found that one-third of companies that are hit with ransomware and pay the hackers to unlock their systems, are often likely to be targeted a second time.

And after they pay, they are often faced with significant fallout, including system rebuilding costs, their data still being leaked and financial implications, according to the "2022 Cyber Readiness Report" by Hiscox. The eye-opening results of the study come as the number of businesses hit by cyber attacks continues growing.

Tractors are one of the most commonly used machines in the agricultural industry, and they are involved in a significant portion of injuries in the field. 

Due to their size and power, only trained and experienced operators should use tractors. Accidents like tractor rollovers, overturns, and runovers are the most frequent causes of agricultural fatalities. But there are steps employers can take to reduce the chances of tractor accidents on the farm.

A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that driver assistance technologies, such as automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems, have been shown to reduce accident rates among large trucks.

Increased use of these systems in these trucks should prevent countless deaths and injuries and save millions of dollars. Read here to find out how you can greatly reduce the risk of accidents among your driving employees by using vehicles equipped with these systems.

As Cal/OSHA barrels towards creating a new non-emergency COVID-19 standard, the board that writes these regulations has decided to drop a highly contentious provision: exclusion pay.

Under the current emergency standard, employers who exclude workers due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace are required to pay them exclusion pay for the time they are away from work. But that will end in 2023. Here's what in the new standard and what it means for you and your staff.

As more employees work remotely, employers are losing their ability to provide an ergonomic workspace for those who work at office desks all day.

Without a proper workstation and other precautions, your employees risk developing carpal tunnel syndrome or back problems, which can lead to workers' comp claims.

The IRS has released the 2023 maximum contribution amounts for health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts.

The maximum contribution levels are readjusted every year to account for inflation, along with maximum retirement plan contribution limits. You'll want to make note of the changes when discussing your employee benefits during annual open enrollment.

Most of us want to have a significant other in our lives and at some point, after a divorce or the loss of a spouse, many Americans of a certain age decide it's time to start dating again.

Many turn to online dating, where they create an account online or on an app, upload a few pictures and tell people about themselves.

While most people on these apps and websites are looking for love, there are also scammers hiding in plain sight, waiting to pounce with the aim of fleecing you.

Every year, OSHA cites thousands of companies for violating workplace safety regulations, but there are some standards that are cited much more than others.

To educate employers on workplace dangers, the industrial safety agency publishes a list of its top 10 most-cited violations. Even employers in industries not considered high hazard can still be cited for some of these transgressions.

A jobsite crawling with bulldozers, cranes, scrapers and tractors can sometimes feel like a danger zone.

However, with the proper heavy equipment safety guidelines in place, you can reduce risk and ensure your workers head home unscathed every day.