Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce report that details which fruits and veggies are the least—and most—contaminated by pesticides. The guide is designed to help you make healthy and informed choices and reduce your exposure to toxic pesticides.

For the third year in a row, strawberries top the “Dirty Dozen” list of the most pesticide-tainted produce, with one-third of all conventional strawberry samples containing 10 or more pesticides. One sample even contained 22 pesticide residues. Read More

With warmer weather approaching, the time for summer clothing has arrived. While fashion and dress is a way that many people express themselves and their unique personalities, sometimes the workplace is not an appropriate place for certain clothing styles.

Because of this, every employer should put together a carefully drafted dress code policy. This policy should not violate discrimination laws but should clearly define what is considered “appropriate attire for the workplace.”

With the changing season, it’s the perfect time to proactively communicate your organization’s dress code expectations.

Reviewing Your Dress Code

Remember, your policy should be designed to fulfill your business needs by applying some uniformity, while not infringing on the civil rights of your employees. Keep the following in mind:

• Make sure your policy has a basis in social customs and doesn’t significantly differentiate the standards for men and women.

• Apply consistent discipline for dress code violations across all employees.

• Be extremely specific about what type of dress is permitted.

• Explain how your policy matches the company’s culture and image.

• Apply the dress code fairly to all employees at your organization.

For More Information

If you would like additional information regarding dress code policies or employee communications, please contact us. Read More

Earlier this year, a tax law change for 2018 reduced the health savings account (HSA) contribution limit for individuals with family high deductible health plan (HDHP) coverage from $6,900 to $6,850. On April 26, 2018, the IRS announced that, for 2018, taxpayers with family HDHP coverage may treat $6,900 as the annual contribution limit to their HSAs.

Why was the limit changed again?

After the IRS reduced the HSA limit for individuals with family HDHP coverage, it received feedback from various stakeholders, including employers, that the change would be disruptive and costly to implement. For example, some individuals with family HDHP coverage made the full $6,900 HSA contribution before the limit was reduced, and many other individuals made annual salary reduction elections for HSA contributions through their employers’ cafeteria plans based on the $6,900 limit.

In response to these concerns and others, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2018-27, which allows taxpayers with family HDHP coverage to use the original $6,900 HSA contribution limit for 2018.

What are the next steps?

Employers with HDHPs may want to inform their employees about the HSA contribution limit change for family HDHP coverage. Employees who changed their HSA elections to comply with the reduced limit may wish to change their elections again for the $6,900 limit.

After the reduction in the limit was announced, some HSA account holders may have received a distribution (with earnings) from their HSAs to correct an excess contribution, based on the $6,850 limit. Revenue Procedure 2018-27 addresses the tax consequences for these individuals. To avoid taxes and penalties, individuals can repay these distributions or use them for qualified medical expenses. Read More

For the many Americans that seek help from mental health professionals, selecting a provider is an important decision that should be made carefully. Credentials, competence and your comfort level with the provider are worth considering.

There are different types of professionals out there to help. The following are the most common for mental health care:

Psychiatrists

Have medical degrees, can prescribe medication and have completed three years of residency training (beyond medical school) in mental health care.

Psychologists

Have a doctorate in psychology and, generally, complete one or two years of internship prior to licensure.

Professional Counselors

Have a minimum of a master’s degree in a mental health discipline, and at least two years of post-graduate supervised experience.

Marriage and Family Therapists

Typically have a master’s degree or doctorate in marriage and family therapy, and at least one year of supervised practice.

Social Workers

Have a minimum of a master’s degree in social work and at least two years of post-graduate supervised experience.

Who’s the Best Fit?

Finding the right mental health professional requires a bit of work. If you are depressed or have another serious mental illness, it can be difficult to do that work on your own. If you are in this situation, ask family, friends or your primary physician for assistance. Here are some dependable ways to locate a provider:

Through referrals by physician, friends or family members

Ask your health insurance company for a list of providers

Check your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at work for a referral

Also take into account factors that are important to you like age, race, gender, religion and cultural background. It is not wrong to rule out certain providers because they don’t meet the criteria; you will be establishing a long-term relationship with this person, and you need to feel as comfortable with him or her as possible.

Questions to Ask

What types of treatment do you provide?

What is your training or experience with my problem area?

How will we determine treatment goals?

How will we measure my progress?

What do you expect from me?

What are your office hours?

How do you handle emergencies?

Do you charge for missed appointments?

Are you in my health plan’s provider network? Read more