For some Americans, Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays. Unfortunately, it can also be rather dangerous. Use the following suggestions to help keep your child safe this year.

Costume Safety Tips

• Choose fire-resistant costumes, wigs and accessories.
• Avoid potentially dangerous props, like hard swords.
• Opt for non-toxic face paint or makeup instead of masks.
• Decorate costumes and treat bags with reflective tape if your child will be out after dark.

Trick-or-treating Safety Tips

• Accompany children under 12 at all times.
• Insist that trick-or-treating only be done in familiar areas.
• Plan a route if older children are going alone.
• Designate a specific time for children to return home.
• Instruct children to never enter a stranger’s car or home.
• Remind children to always look both ways before crossing a street, to be aware of their surroundings and to use sidewalks whenever possible.
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
• Discard treats that appear to be open or tampered with. Read Full Article

With over 1 billion overweight adults worldwide and at least 300 million who are clinically obese, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Obesity is a major contributor to many diseases and health conditions.

Why Is It an Epidemic?

Here are some reasons for the increase in obesity:

• We are eating more energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated fats.
• We are generally less active.
• Economic growth, modernization, urbanization and globalization of food markets contribute to poor eating habits.
• Higher incomes and more urban populations encourage more varied diets with a higher proportion of fats, saturated fats and sugars.
• There is an increased shift toward less physically demanding work and less physical activity due to automated transportation, technology in the home and more passive leisure activities.
• Though genes are a factor in determining a person’s susceptibility to weight gain, energy balance is primarily determined by caloric intake and physical activity. Read Full Article

The complexity of administering leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) should not be underestimated. This can be particularly true when calculating leave entitlement and usage for an employee who is using FMLA on an intermittent or reduced schedule basis.

Most HR professionals know that, in general, the FMLA provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during any 12-month period. When an employee requires a block of time off, the 12-week leave entitlement is fairly straightforward. Read Full Article

In an effort to make choosing a health plan easier for consumers, the federal government is encouraging insurers to offer “simple choice health plans” as an option during the upcoming Marketplace open enrollment.

Insurers won’t be required to offer simple choice plans on the Marketplace; however, for insurers that choose to do so, the government is providing guidelines for creating a simple choice plan design at each of the current metal levels (bronze, silver and gold).

These plans will have standardized deductibles and annual out-of-pocket maximums. Additionally, many services will allow consumers to pay flat-dollar copayments upfront instead of having to meet their deductible before insurance will cover the cost. Read Full Article