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Eating Gluten- Free in the workplace does not have to be as difficult as you think. I know in the beginning it can seem daunting. It is not easy at times to have to explain that you have certain health needs pertaining to food. It can be tough to adjust to a different lifestyle, but once you get the hang of it, it will become easier to navigate. Just like at home, here are some simple tips to get started. Tip 1. Do you have a fridge in your office? Clear off a shelf to store gluten-free items. Keep them well-packaged, sealed and clearly labeled. Make sure to designate this section as gluten-free only. This way you can grab and go safely. Tip 2. Wash your dishes and utensils thoroughly with soap and water. You can also check with your office manager to see if the office will order extra supplies that you may need to keep a safe space in the kitchen area. If that is not possible, bring a few from home and store them separately from your co-workers. Tip 3. Do you have cabinet space? If so, ask your other co-workers if one of the cabinets can be a gluten-free zone. This cabinet can be a place where you can store your snacks and other items. They will be handy when you have that 3 pm snack attack and going to the vending machine is not an option. The plus to this option, you can fill it up with lots of healthy gluten-free options instead of the high sugar and salty items that are filled in the vending machines. Tip 4. Take a moment to wipe down any surfaces where you might prepare or place your meal. This will help to avoid mixing residual crumbs from gluten-containing foods. If you are unsure of the safety of a surface you are preparing your food or eating off, use a napkin to place down, a disposable paper placemat, or even a flexible plastic cutting board that you can keep clean and separate from other utensils. This way your food does not have to touch spaces that gluten containing foods may have been around. You don't have to avoid co-workers in the lunch room, office kitchen, or eating area. You can create a safe space to enjoy lunch or munch on snacks throughout the day. It is crucial for your health not to isolate just because you have different health needs than others. Most individuals understand and would like to keep you safe and happy during work hours. You might even get a surprise gluten-free treat during office parties and celebrations. 
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 Choosing the right small business insurance isn’t just about the price of the premiums, it’s about getting a small business insurance quote that works for your company. The next time you review your insurance coverage with an agent, ask these questions to ensure you’re getting the right policies to protect your interests.
What Coverage Do I Need in a Small Business Insurance Quote? General liability coverage is a necessity for most businesses. However, these policies alone may not be enough to cover big accidents or problems. Talk to your insurance agent about additional liability policies to protect every aspect of your business operation. Product liability coverage covers you when your product or service is found to be the cause of an accident or injury. Professional liability insurance pays for damages that are caused by negligence while providing services. How Can I Protect Myself and My Employees at the Same Time? Employees present special challenges for small business owners. If an employee gets sick or hurt while on the job, getting them the proper care can be a drain on your business resources. Talk to your insurance agent about policies designed to protect your employees’ health and your bottom line. Worker’s compensation provides funds for medical care, equipment, and prescription therapies for workplace injuries. Employer liability coverage pays for job-related injuries and illnesses that fall outside of worker’s compensation policies. Employment practices liability coverage provides for legal funds in the event of a lawsuit brought against you by an employee. Does My Business Owner’s Policy Provide Enough Commercial Property Insurance? A Business Owner’s Policy is a comprehensive collection of coverages that address most of the business’ insurance needs. This includes commercial property coverage. However, your policy may not contain enough protection to ensure you can rebuild if a big accident happens. This is especially true for high inventory and sales-based businesses. Production operations that allow tours and public visitors may also have additional coverage needs. For many small business owners, these policies are an essential part of their long-term protection strategy. Be sure to ask your agent which policies are right for you. Your small business insurance quote can often be customized to fit your budget, goals, and circumstances. You need a Broker you can trust, who is trained to handle your insurance needs, whatever the situation. Someone who can help you better prepare for the unexpected. Someone who can help you make a smart and affordable decision when it comes to your insurance. I'd like the opportunity to help you obtain the solution for all your insurance needs. Contact: Jennifer Castro Email: jennifer@alisonjassoc@gmail.com Web: alisonjassoc.com So many of us spend a lot of time in the office. If you're familiar with the office environment, you're also undoubtedly familiar with the break room. There's something about heading to the break room to break up the monotony of the day. Taking a trip to the break room or vending machine feels like an escape, allows you to be social, and gets you up and moving. These are all great things -- and today, I want to share with you some of my favorite and simple healthy snacks you can keep on hand for those much needed snack runs. The crucial part is to find a mixture of protein, fat, and fiber, so your snack has a little bit of staying power. Feel free to mix and match any of these options to create a perfect snack for your cravings. Seeds, nuts, and dried fruits are easy to keep on hand and store well, meaning you can buy a large bag and keep it in your desk or break room. Less time restocking means less opportunity to run out and needing to find a snack that will leave you feeling that afternoon crash.
 As you may know, it’s pretty easy to receive commercial insurance quotes. But what about when you get the quotes? It's crucial that you understand the information you are reviewing so you know that you have the right coverage to protect your business. Each quote tells you what kind of policy you are looking at and what kind of coverage it offers. For instance, your business owner’s policy quote may break down your coverages and their accompanying limits like this: Liability coverage: bodily injury and property damage $1 million: General liability per occurrence. This is the amount your policy can pay for any single general liability claim, such as a lawsuit over bodily injuries that happened on your property. $2 million: General liability annual aggregate. This is the total your policy can pay for all general liability claims filed during one policy year. $1 million: Personal and advertising injury per occurrence. If you’re sued over copyright infringement or defamation, your policy can contribute $1 million toward legal expenses. $2 million: Products completed operations aggregate. If you create or sell something that causes someone physical harm, you can be held liable for the damages. Your policy can offer $2 million in coverage for legal expenses. $1 million: Damage to premises rented to you. If you’re liable for damaging rented property, your policy can compensate the owner. $10,000: Medical. This is what your policy can pay in immediate medical expenses (like an ambulance) in the hopes of averting a lawsuit when someone is injured on your property or by your work. $10,000: Data breach response. This is the amount your policy can pay to help you recover after your business suffers a data breach. $50,000: Data breach defense. This is the amount of coverage you can receive if you’re sued over a data breach. Property coverage: Your property and your client's property in your possession $500: Property claim deductible. You must pay this amount toward a claim in order to receive your property insurance benefits. $10,000: Business property. If your assets are lost or damaged in a covered event (e.g., a fire), your policy can pay out $10,000 for you to repair or replace the insured property. $10,000: Business computers and media. If your computers, tablets, or smartphones are damaged or lost in a covered event, your property insurance can compensate you up to $10,000. $5,000: Laptop computer – worldwide. This means you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 if a covered event destroys your laptop, even if it happens while you’re out of the country. If this particular policy costs $635 or so in annual premiums, you can see that you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. You even get some cyber liability protection thrown into the mix. Your quotes might also include concise explanations of whether the policy meets the requirements in your client contract (if applicable). For example, you might see something like, “Meets contract requirement for commercial general liability insurance.” Lastly, here are some keywords you’ll need to understand when looking at policy limits and coverages:
If you have policy questions, contact us today to get the conversation started. If you need a quote for a policy, our commercial representative will be happy to help you find the best coverage for your business needs. For any business, investing in employee benefits is crucial. With benefits becoming a differentiating factor for many employees, companies that offer the most get to attract the cream of the crop. With the above mentioned, health benefits such as Healthcare Reimbursement Accounts – HRAs and Health Savings Accounts – HSAs are some of the best ones. Even employers recognize that they are better than group health insurance policies, which can have restrictions imposed by the provider, have higher costs, and require active participation from employees. To simplify things, introducing HRAs and HSAs is a great idea. Both accounts also encourage consumerism from employees by helping them focus on their healthcare costs and understand how they can be more prudent regarding their healthcare. Additionally, both HRAs and HSAs encourage contribution since all unused funds are carried forward for the next year, allowing them to start the year off with a small nest egg for their health care. What are Healthcare Reimbursement Accounts – HRAs? Despite the title, HRAs are not physical accounts where funds will accumulate. Instead, they can have a classification as notional accounts. These are used by employers to actively reimburse their employees with their medical expenses and health insurance. Employers also pay employees after all costs have been incurred. Advantages You Can Get with HRAsHRAs offer certain advantages that employers find to be better for their business. The following are the major ones in the following categories: Control – Employers get more control on HRAs since they are the only ones who contribute to it. The coverage of medical expenses with this account will only be made to the pre-defined extent. Anything exceeding this will not be covered. Flexibility – Usage of this account is also flexible, and employers can make contributions for single or family-based coverage. In 2019, contributions for single employees come up to $5,150, whereas families are eligible for $10,450, but these can vary based on the status of the family. Qualifying employees should meet at least the minimum essential coverage requirements. HSAs can also be used with FSA but have a few restrictions on their usage. Simplicity – Getting coverage through HRAs is easier. Since funds are available in a company account, the employees only need to submit proof of payment, such as receipts and receive the funds. All rules for the HRAs are defined by the company’s plan and guidelines from the IRS. Given these advantages, it is easy to see why most employers prefer to use HRAs for their employees. What are Health Savings Accounts – HSAs?Unlike HRAs, HSAs are financial accounts that are established with any banking institution of the employee’s choice. Individuals need to establish these accounts, but they can only be used for medical expenses that qualify for it. Additionally, the HSA has to be linked with a health insurance plan (high deductible). The good news here is that anyone, employers and employees, can contribute to this account. Advantages You Can Get with HSAs |
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