OSHA Updates Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs Guidelines | VA Benefit Advisors

On October 21, 2016, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a set of Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs to update OSHA’s 1989 guidelines. The updates reflect the countless changes in the economy, workplaces, and evolving safety and health issues since its first release 30 years ago. The Recommended Practices combine … Continued

Ask the Experts: EEO-1 Filing | Virginia Employee Benefits

Question: What is the EEO-1 report, which companies need to file it, and where do we get the data for the report? Answer: The EEO-1 report is a compliance survey mandated by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. All employers with 15 or more employees are covered by Title VII and are required to … Continued

Update for the Franchise Industry: Is your brand manager creating a “joint employment” relationship with your franchisees’ employees? | VA Employee Benefits

For several years now, franchisors have been the subject of attention in the labor and employment law arenas, and new rules and regulations are challenging franchise relationships in a number of ways. One increasingly important legal question in the franchise world is how the law defines “employer.” The evolving definition of that term is at … Continued

Tips for Preparing Form 5500 | Virginia Employee Benefits

This week many employers and their advisors are putting final touches on their Form 5500, the annual report required for most employee benefit plans. Form 5500 must be filed with the federal government within seven months after the end of the plan year. For calendar-year plans, that means the plan’s 2015 Form 5500 is due … Continued