Articles - Health and Wellness - WellCall on Jun 30, 2011

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has replaced the food pyramid with a simple, plate shaped symbol, sliced into wedges for the basic food groups, and half filled with fruits and vegetables. The circular plate is meant to give consumers a fast, easily understood reminder of the basics of a healthy diet. There are four colored sections: fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein. Beside the plate is a smaller circle for dairy, suggesting a glass of low fat milk and/or a cup of yogurt. "It's going to be hard not to do better than the current pyramid, which basically conveys no useful information," says Dr. Walter C. Willett, chairman of the Nutrition Department at the Harvard School of Public Health.

The new symbol was designed to underscore a central mantra of the federal government's healthy eating push: make half of your plate fruits and vegetables. "We need to get consumers' attention," says Robert C. Post, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. It is meant to be a "visual cue" prompting consumers to say, "I need to be a little more concerned about what I choose to build a healthy day's diet."

Consumers are urged to eat smaller portions, switch to low fat or fat free milk and drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Articles - Health and Wellness - GBS on Jun 29, 2011

When thinking of emergency preparedness perhaps one of the last things that comes to mind is food. We may first think of an evacuation plan and flashlights, but what happens when hunger strikes? A disaster may be an unlikely event, but being fully prepared with food and water is relieving.

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Articles - News & Announcements - Matt Richards on Jan 27, 2011

2010 year end W-2s have been processed and mailed out.  All employees should receive their W-2 by January 31, 2011.

Additional copies of may be downloaded from AdvanStaff HR Web Edition any time as of  January 20, 2011.

Articles - Health and Wellness - Jackie Presser on Apr 15, 2011

Be aware Rainbow Medical and Fremont Medical Centers are not renewing their long-time standing position as HMO providers for HPN as of 11-1-11.  AdvanStaff has 198 members that have either group listed as their primary care HMO doc. Each member will be notified by HPN/Sierra informing them choose a new primary care doctor.  These facilities will remain  providers covered under the POS/PPO tiers.

The facilities replacing Rainbow Medical and Fremont Medical Centers are listed below:

• Internal Medicine Associates
• Alamo Medical Clinic
• Canyon Gate Medical Group
• Red Rock Medical Group

Articles - Web Edition Articles - Matt Richards on Feb 11, 2009

AdvanStaff is pleased to announce we are getting greener!

Work-site employers may now opt-out of receiving paper check stubs if the employee is enrolled in ACH Direct Deposit.  The benefits to this option include:

1. Faster availability of pay-stubs info to the employee
2. Possible elimination of any payroll delivery fees*
3. Better care for the environment

* requires 100% enrollment from all employees for delivery fees to be eliminated

 

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Articles - Health and Wellness - United Heath Care on Jun 14, 2011

Shingles Vaccine is covered for members over the age of 60 and is also covered under the preventive vaccines. If under the age of 60 it is not a covered benefit, unless there is a medical necessity from the provider stating such.

Vons/Safeway is the facility that administers under the plan.

Articles - News & Announcements - Matt Richards on Jan 11, 2010

2009 year end W-2s have been processed and mailed out.  All employees should receive their W-2 within the next week or so.

Additional copies may be downloaded from AdvanStaff HR Web Edition any time after January 12, 2010.

Articles - Health and Wellness - Matt Richards on Nov 15, 2010

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are a popular benefit that deliver tax savings to employees and employers. They allow employees to stretch their spending power by setting aside pre-tax dollars from their paychecks for medical, dental, and vision-related expenses that are not covered by their health insurance plans. As you know, AdvanStaff HR offers a FSA/Section 125 plan to employers and employees at no charge. Employee can see all FSA activity and balances by loggig into Web Edition at any time.

However, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed on March 23, 2010, eliminates one of the favorable provisions of these accounts as of January 1, 2011. That's when over-the-counter purchases will no longer be eligible for reimbursement.

Make no mistake, FSAs are still a great benefit. Here's a reminder of how they work, as well as details about the upcoming change.

 

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Articles - Safety - Mickey Baker on Apr 06, 2010

Spring is here! It is time to put away the heavy coats and break out the sunglasses. With this great weather comes the season that many of us dread, allergy season.

Allergies can make those who are sensitive to pollen miserable, interfering with work and play. Fortunately, modern medicine has developed drugs which can give temporary relief from allergies common symptoms. As users of antihistamines and decongestants know, however, there are side affects to these over-the-counter drugs. The side affect most often experienced is drowsiness.

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Articles - Payroll Articles - American Payroll Association on Oct 19, 2011

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, that the 2012 social security wage base will be $110,100, up from $106,800 where it had been set for the past three years. As in prior years, there is no limit to the wages subject to the Medicare tax; therefore all covered wages are still subject to the 1.45% tax.

The FICA tax rate, which is the combined social security tax rate of 6.2% and the Medicare tax rate of 1.45%, will be 7.65% for 2012. The maximum social security tax employees and employers will each pay in 2012 is $6,826.20. Note that the 2011 FICA tax rate was 4.2% for employees and 6.2% for employers under the Tax Relief Act of 2010, and that the rate is scheduled to be 6.2% for both employees and employers in 2012. However, bills currently being considered in Congress may change this.

The social security wage base for self-employed individuals in 2012 will also be $110,100. There is no limit on covered self-employment income that will be subject to the Medicare tax. The self-employment tax rate will be 15.3% (combined social security tax rate of 12.4% and Medicare tax rate of 2.9%). In 2012, the maximum social security tax for a self-employed individual will be $13,652.40. Again, note that the 2012 FICA tax rate for both employees and employers is scheduled to be 6.2%, but that Congress is considering proposals that would change this.