Hailstorms can be swift and destructive, damaging buildings, outdoor equipment and vehicles in a matter of minutes. For commercial property owners, such damage can result in destroyed property, costly repairs, business disruptions and lost revenue. This article discusses the risks hail poses to commercial properties and preventive measures to protect buildings from hail damage.

You’ve probably noticed that your health care costs have risen steadily over the past few years. Of course, this trend can significantly impact your budget. Although it’s difficult to control all the factors contributing to these rising costs, stretching your health care dollars is easier than you think.

On Aug. 26, 2022, a federal appeals court blocked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from enforcing certain Section 1557 nondiscrimination rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against some faith-based providers. The court upheld a permanent injunction prohibiting HHS from requiring the providers to perform or provide insurance coverage for gender transition procedures or abortions.

Taking time to be mindful of your eating process and not focusing on restricting calories could enhance your awareness of the experience, improve your relationship with food and help you lose weight. Mindful eating can be an essential practice in today’s multitasking world.

While spending time in the sun offers health benefits and may be part of your daily routine, you have to be careful to protect yourself from its ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays not only cause sunburn, but they can also damage your eyes and hurt your vision. This article provides more information about how the sun can hurt your eyes, when you should be wearing sunglasses and what you should look for when buying a pair.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its July Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The month’s reported number of job openings rose to 11.2 million in July, compared with 11 million in June. Openings in July were well above the estimate and still outnumbered unemployed workers by about 5.5 million.

Drugmakers are introducing new medicines at record-high prices this year, according to new analysis from Reuters. The median annual price of 13 new drugs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved to treat chronic conditions this year is $257,000. In addition, eight of those newly launched drugs are priced at more than $200,000.

Three separate downpours across three states from July 25th to August 1st destroyed homes and businesses, killed crops and left at least 39 people dead. Each of these downpours was a one-in-a-thousand historic rainfall event, prompting climate experts to warn that the frequency and intensity of these storms are increasing.

On Aug. 5, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published an advance notice of proposed rule-making (ANPRM) on workplace drug and alcohol testing requirements. Specifically, the DOT is requesting public comments on how its regulations for conducting such testing within the transportation industry could be amended to allow electronic signatures on required documents, permit the use of electronic forms and authorize digital data storage.

On Aug. 19, 2022, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) jointly released a final rule implementing the ban on surprise medical billing under the No Surprises Act (NSA), which was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).

According to a recent analysis from S&P Global Ratings (S&P), the cyber insurance sector needs “clear and precise policy wording” to build a sustainable market and encourage contract certainty for buyers and insurers. The cyber coverage segment has grown faster than any other subsector of the insurance market, reaching $9.2 billion in global premiums in 2021.

Due to the increased usage of telehealth following the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly issued guidance on how various federal laws require telehealth to be accessible to people with disabilities and limited English proficiency.

Any host employer (HE) that utilizes temporary workers (TWs) through a staffing company (SC) may be opening themselves up to safety and health challenges. When done haphazardly, these nonstandard short- and long-term work arrangements can threaten the safety and health of the workforce and the company. According to OSHA, the HE and the SC are joint employers of TWs, meaning they are both responsible for providing and maintaining a safe work environment for these workers.

Whether a stroll through the park or a day spent hiking, general exposure to green spaces is linked to numerous physical and mental benefits—including improved attention, lower stress and better mood. As such, spending time in nature can help remote employees be more focused, inspired and creative. You don’t have to go on a two-hour hike or even break a sweat. You can benefit just from being outside among trees and other green spaces for roughly five minutes a day.

A common misstep in attracting or recruiting talent is setting narrow restrictions on who to interview or where talent is sourced. Often, highly talented job candidates are overlooked due to inexperience. Employers have an opportunity to expand their recruiting reach by pursuing entry-level candidates at universities, colleges and trade schools, but it comes down to hiring for skills or the right fit—rather than experience—and offering training and career development on the job.

On Aug. 12, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act. President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law shortly. While this bill is primarily aimed at fighting inflation and reducing carbon emissions, it also contains a number of reforms that will impact health coverage.

Temporary workers (TWs) employed by a host employer (HE) through a staffing company (SC) can create unique occupational safety and health concerns. Since the work arrangements for TWs tend to be nonstandard short- and long-term agreements, it is the responsibility of both the HE and SC to ensure the TW is properly trained on all aspects of their work and task assignments.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) health care subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2022. According to a recent analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the expiration of ARPA subsidies may result in large health care premium increases for many individuals who purchase their own health coverage on the Affordable Care Act health insurance Marketplaces. The analysis found that without ARPA subsidies, premiums for enrollees would be 53% higher in most states.

On July 26, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas struck down part of an interim final rule related to the federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) process under the No Surprises Act (NSA), which was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).

If you live with a chronic health condition, you likely spend a lot of time and energy managing the physical impact of your illness. However, a little self-care can go a long way. Be extra kind to yourself, especially during flares.