PEO clients were 119% more likely to have received PPP loans.
It turns out that PEOs have been very successful at helping their clients through this period of extreme difficulty. One of the most apparent ways is by helping clients to apply for and claim emergency funds available through thePaycheck Protection Program(PPP)
These funds were designed to help businesses navigate the economic disruption without downsizing. However, the PPP program turned out to be challenging to apply for and receive funds. PEOs have proved to be a major help in this regard. One PEO client told NAPEO: “I sat down at my computer one morning to request what I would need to get a PPP loan and it was already in my inbox (from my PEO), even before banks were allowed to accept applications… As a result of their service, I could focus on serving my clients.”
Specifically, only an average of 30.1% of small businesses nationwide received PPP loans, while fully two-thirds (65.9%) of comparable PEO clients received PPP loans.
PEO clients were 60% less likely to have permanently closed.
The effects of COVID-19 have proven so destructive that many businesses have permanently shuttered. While noting that it is too early to determine final survival rates, NAPEO’s survey did find that as of July 31, 2020, only 0.6% of PEO clients had permanently closed, compared to an average of 1.5% for all small businesses nationwide. There’s a similarly dramatic difference in temporary closures as well: only an average of 1.3% of PEO clients was still temporarily closed compared to 14% of all small businesses.
The NAPEO report suggests that PEO’s ability to help clients maneuver through new regulations and figure out ways to reopen safely played a role. As one of NAPEO’s member PEOs said, “We’ve helped our clients in a variety of new ways, with everything from return-to-work procedures and securing personal protective equipment to introducing solutions via mobile applications for contact tracing and office reopening management.”
Final Summary
So, from a percentage standpoint, compared to other small businesses, PEO clients are:
119% more likely to have received PPP loans.
72% more likely to have received their PPP funding in Round 1.
91% less likely to still be temporarily closed.
60% less likely to be permanently closed.
While the first wave of urgent needs from small and mid-sized businesses is behind us, smaller businesses will continue to face challenges as the recession and COVID-19’s impact continue. As the research shows, PEOs will provide unmatched support as these smaller companies anticipate and respond to the new normal.
360PEO is also here for you during this time. For more information on how a PEO can make difference for your small business please contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or 855-667-4621.
Over 30,000 New Yorkers died from coronavirus between March and May, prompting the Empire State to lay out some of the most intense restrictions and guidelines in the country. Since then, New York has managed to keep its positivity rate extremely low – less than one percent. Now, hospitalization rates are the highest they’ve been since June as the state reports a one-day total of 5,310 positive cases.
NY COVID Policy
New York has contained the virus by establishing yellow, orange and red restriction zones depending on how severe a COVID-19 outbreak is in a given area. For towns in the yellow zone, large gatherings are limited to 25 people, businesses and schools can remain open, and restaurants can only seat four people per table. In orange zones, large gatherings are limited to 10 people and certain “high-risk businesses” must close (such as gyms and hair salons). In red zones, large gatherings are prohibited, only essential businesses can remain open and restaurants must be takeout-only. In response to the uptick in cases, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made the decision to close in-person schooling until further notice. Policy implemented after the city’s deadly spring earlier this year requires schools to close if they reach a three-percent positivity rate across a seven-day average. “We must fight back the second wave of COVID-19,” the mayor tweeted.
Cuomo Reaction
Governor Andrew Cuomo, who (perhaps prematurely) published a book on leadership lessons from the pandemic in October, got into a shouting match with reporters at a recent press conference. The exchange began when Wall Street Journal reporter Jimmy Vielkind pressed Cuomo about whether he would overrule any decision by city officials to close schools. Cuomo was also very blunt when speaking directly to New Yorkers, stating: “If you socially distanced and you wore a mask and you were smart, none of this would be a problem. It’s all self-imposed.” The announcements drew cynical statements from New York City officials, including the public advocate Jumaane Williams. “People are scared and stressed, and need plans and assurances,” he said. “Today, we have only executives governing by haphazard tweets and combative press conferences, from City Hall and the State Capitol to the White House.”
The Numbers
At least 574,072 people have been reported to have COVID-19 in New York since the beginning of the pandemic. According to reports, 34,187 have died. One thing is certain: Governor Cuomo’s ominous message back in March was accurate. “We are your future. What happens to New York is going to wind up happening to California and Washington state and Illinois. It’s just a matter of time.” The country reported a total of 185,000 coronavirus cases in a single day Thursday, the highest since the pandemic began. Both Texas and California recently surpassed over 1 million confirmed cases while cases continue to surge throughout the Midwest.
On Friday, June 5, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act, clearing the way for more flexibility and forgiveness of the loans made through the PPP. Originally these loans, which were part of the CARES Act, were provided to help business owners cover payroll costs, rent, and utilities.
The newly enacted legislation states that:
Business owners now have 24 weeks to spend funds (up from eight weeks)
Business owners only need to spend 60% of the loan on payroll costs (down from 75%)
The covered period of the loan now ends December 31 instead of June 30
Business owners won’t have to make employer payroll tax payments through the end of 2020
The business will not lose any loan forgiveness eligibility if it can show that some employees declined to return to their jobs or the pre-pandemic headcount is no longer required
The payback period for new loan applicants has been extended from two years to a minimum of five for those not seeking, or who are ineligible, for forgiveness
If you’d like to find out more about how you can get better benefits so your employees use them when they need to, we’d like to show you how. Please contact us using form below or info@mecialsolutionscorp.com or 855-667-4621.
The information provided on this website is intended for informational purposes only. Millennium Medical Solutions Corp. does not offer legal or medical guidance. Those with legal or medical questions should seek appropriate assistance from a licensed professional. Stay up to date by signing up for Newsletter and Coronavirus Dashboard below.
For those who have found the challenges of maintaining proper work-life- balance during COVID-19 may find this artcile helpful. Aside from the obvious physical advanatges now more than ever is a good time to maintain good habits.
Gym closed? These are the best home workout options
Courtesy of CNET by Sharon Profis Updated May 14, 2020
There are really only two ways I’m coming out of this self-quarantine: super-ripped or in dire need of a diet.
Switching to a home workout routine isn’t easy — it takes some space and a lot of intrinsic motivation — but in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, many fitness experts, gyms, apps and studios are doing their part to help us stay in shape. And establishing a workout routine could, most importantly, ease anxiety related to coping with the pandemic.
Staying healthy and in shape while quarantined is totally doable and this guide will show you how. Even if you have a small space, no equipment (hello body weight workouts!) or very little time, there are many great options to help you exercise during a quarantine, with exercises focused on upper body, lower body, core muscles, chest, back — all the muscle groups, really. Then, of course, there’s high-intensity interval training, cardio and more. Seriously, these exercise options will get your heart rate up.
The fastest way to start an at-home workout routine is through instructor-led videos. Live or prerecorded the videos are typically 25-45 minutes and often require little to no fitness equipment, making it easy to jump right in.
These videos often require a subscription or membership, but many providers are offering them for free — or as an extended trial — while the outbreak leaves us stuck at home.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite at-home workout apps with live and prerecorded videos. They include yoga, bootcamp-style classes, boxing, high intensity interval training, plyometrics, pilates and barre exercises.
Normally $13 a month, Peloton is offering a free, 90-day trial of its polished workout app. The app — which doesn’t require a purchase of Peloton’s bike or treadmill — includes easy-to-follow and high-quality videos, including yoga, strength, meditation, cardio and bootcamp classes. There are also audio-only classes for outdoor runs, if that’s still an option for you.
Like many yoga studios, CorePower shut down its studios due to the outbreak and pivoted to online-only options. New classes are added weekly, including sculpt (those ones hurt!), yoga and meditation. The company is offering free yoga classes to everyone — even nonmembers — through March 30 and may extend its offering if their studios remain closed.
I spent an entire year exercising with Nike Training Club and got in great shape with very little equipment. The app — which is always free — has a wide variety of home workouts to choose from, including programs that help you set an ongoing workout schedule. The key here is that workouts can be filtered based on whether or not you have access to a gym or equipment, so you can easily find bodyweight-only exercises.
If you’ve ever had a membership at a gym like 24 Hour Fitness, you’ve probably heard of Body Pump. The class, which is managed by Les Mills, is just one of more than a dozen different types of classes, including boxing, dance and yoga. All these classes are available on demand through a 30-day free trial and many classes are equipment-free. After the trial, the monthly membership is $14.99 a month or $11.99 a month with a three-month commitment.
Designed to get you moving even when you feel stuck.
Cassey Ho, the fitness guru behind the hugely popular Blogilates YouTube channel and website continues to offer a massive library of pilates-style toning classes. In response to the outbreak, she also created a 14-day quarantine workout plan, a great option for those looking to add structure to their at-home workout schedules.
As of March 15, Barry’s (née Barry’s Bootcamp) closed all of its studios in the US, Europe and Canada. If you’re a Barry’s goer — or have heard people (like me) obsess over its high-intensity workouts — now’s a good time to get a taste of its offerings. The company is streaming two new workouts daily, one that doesn’t require equipment and another that uses some basic items, like fitness bands. You can check out its daily workouts and previous streams on Instagram.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you already have free access to a varied library of fitness videos, including Zumba and cardio programs such as 21-Day Transformation from GymRa. Just head to Prime Video and search for “fitness,” then check the “Prime” box in the left sidebar to see what’s available for streaming.
Individual personal trainers
Many personal trainers, whose classes and training sessions have been put on hold, are offering their knowledge for free. You can find them on Instagram, where they are streaming daily workout classes and showing you how to master certain moves. YouTube is home to many fitness trainers who put out free exercise videos, covering every kind of work out from yoga and pilates, to dance and bootcamp. Finally, our colleagues over at MaxPreps have rounded up free workout classes from professional fitness trainer Katerina Kountouris.
Plenty of apps and YouTube channels have equipment-free workouts, but if you want to build strength or increase your efficacy, even basic equipment can make a huge difference.
Here are some things you can use alone or with an at-home workout. At this point, you might not be ready to invest a lot in a home gym, so here are some affordable options. You don’t need everything on this list — just pick the items that work best for the types of workouts you’re doing, like strength training, yoga or HIIT.
Jump rope: If you have a room with high enough ceilings or can safely step outside, a jump rope is a go-to for warming up or getting in a quick cardio workout when you’re strapped for time.
Dumbbells: Weights are pretty much a must-have for a home workout routine, which is pretty apparent due to the low inventory available as gyms close due to the outbreak. As of writing, these dumbbells are available on Amazon and will be delivered in under a week.
Don’t forget to stretch before working out.
Angela Lang/CNET
Workout mat (or yoga mat): There are many types of mats out there and the one you choose will depend on your primary form of exercise, as well as the floor you’re working with. For instance, you’ll specifically want a yoga mat for yoga practice, while a higher-density workout mat works better for bodyweight exercises and carpeted floors.
Yoga block: Yoga blocks provide extra support during practice, especially for those who are just starting to exercise their flexibility. They’re essentially a must-have for practicing yoga and these ones come in a set of two and have a soft finish while maintaining high density for balance.
A mirror: No, not (just) for checking yourself out, but for ensuring good form while you give new workouts a try. This wall mirror from Ikea provides enough width to get a good view of your workout.
Headphones: If you’re working out to your phone, tablet or laptop, headphones will give you the best experience — while also doing a courtesy to anyone in the household who doesn’t want to work out with you.
Lacrosse ball and foam roller. As you ease into a new workout routine, take care of your body by caring for its mobility with these tools. This lacrosse ball will relieve tension in your feet and back while this foam roller can be used throughout your body.
Some of us have already been considering a home gym setup that goes further than the basics. Today’s at-home gym equipment — like bikes and treadmills — can mimic the in-studio experience with live-streaming classes, social features and progress-tracking through apps and compatible devices such as the Apple Watch ($399 at Apple). Plus, if you’re still on the fence about these investments, companies like Peloton and Mirror offer generous trial periods — long enough to help you decide if that big investment is worthwhile.
Peloton
Peloton’s indoor bicycle is an ideal — albeit expensive — quarantine companion. With its small footprint (it requires a four- by six-foot space), socially engaging workout classes and varied class durations, Peloton’s bike is an excellent choice for cycling buffs. The company now offers a 30-day trial, letting you test ride the experience before committing to the $2,245 price tag, plus $30-a-month membership. If you decide against it, the company will arrange a pick-up and process a full refund.
If it’s any comfort, the monthly membership fee also includes access to Peloton’s digital app of diverse workout classes and the bicycle can be financed through Affirm.Read our Peloton Bike review.
Mirror
Those who love working out to YouTube videos (or even old-school fitness DVDs) will love the Mirror. It takes that at-home video workout experience and brings it into 2020 by turning a functional mirror into a screen that plays live and recorded workouts.
We tried the Mirror and appreciated the variety of workouts, social interactions and small footprint. Plus, while it’s still a pricey investment at $1,500 (and a $39-a-month subscription), it’s $750 less than the Peloton and offers more variety. The Mirror also syncs with your Apple Watch, so you can get an accurate calorie burn and close those rings. Read our Mirror review.
A treadmill
Best for runners and cardio junkies
Woodway
The at-home treadmill isn’t what it was in the ’90s. Today’s machines often come with a large screen, where you can stream treadmill workouts and track your progress. Plus, many apps — including Peloton — can be paired with a treadmill to make running at home feel, well, fun. CNET tested a bunch of treadmills and here are our favorites.
Best for a Peloton experience without the price tag
Echelon
Peloton is like the Kleenex of connected exercise bikes — its name gets used a lot, but it’s certainly not the only stationary bike with live classes and high-tech features. Not only can you make a DIY Peloton, but there are also alternatives around $1,000. (That’s $1,500 less than Peloton’s offering.) Read more on Peloton alternatives.
Rowing is a great way to get an efficient cardio workout without the impact of exercises like running or HIIT. Unlike treadmills or stationary bikes, rowing machines provide a full-body workout, including upper-body parts like the back, shoulders, arms and chest.
Hydrow, which we reviewed in 2019, is a rowing machine that makes the repetitive exercise of rowing a little more exciting with live and on-demand classes displayed on its attached touchscreen. The screen swivels, which is great for when you want to take one of Hydrow’s mat workouts (which don’t require any rowing).
At $2,200, it’s certainly not a budget item and you’ll have to pay $38 a month for the content subscription. Like Peloton, you can try it out at home with a 30-day trial.
Watch this: Peloton Bike makes spinning at home much smoother
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
As COVID-19 unfolds, the importance of a properly deployed Return to Work is reviewed and in place with contingencies.
Echoing the sentiments of public health officials, a return to normalcy won’t be like flipping a switch, but rather a gradual effort. In preparation for reopening your business and asking employees to come back to work, it’s imperative that your company thoughtfully constructs a return to work plan for its employees to keep everyone healthy and safe following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Things To Consider Before You Open
1. Make sure your workspace is thoroughly cleaned with CDC recommended cleaners 2. Check with state and local health codes for your type of work in light of COVID-19 3. Create health and safety protocols for your work environment 4. Train your staff on new work and health protocols as it relates to COVID-19 5. Implement paid sick leave if you don’t have it already for sick employees
Returning to Work and Benefits Eligibility Considerations
Eligibility
Employers should first determine whether the plan document addresses furloughs, rehires, or unpaid leaves ofabsence. It may be time to check and update existing Employee Handbooks.
Premium Payments
The employer may recoup the cost of any missed contributions during theperiod the employee was furloughed without pay.Employers should check state wage and hour laws, as some states have limits on what can be deducted from an employees pay.
Restoring Previous Election
When more than 30 days have elapsed between an employee’s termination and rehire, the cafeteria plan may (by design) allow a new election or require the old election to be reinstated.
ACA and FMLA Considerations
For special unpaid leaves of absence (such as leave under the FMLA and USERRA), the employer has two options for crediting hours. One option is to exclude the period of special unpaid leave from the applicable measurement period. The other option allows employers to credit the employee with hours equal to the average hours worked during weeks not part of the unpaid leave.
Employers who furlough employees without terminating employment will need to make careful determinations as to whether employees need to be credited with hours of service under the applicable look-back period. The failure to correctly credit hours could cause the employer to misclassify employees as not full-time and cause penalties under the ACA employer shared responsibility rules. Careful records should be kept so that the employer knows each employee’s status as full-time or not full-time during each month of 2020 in order to be prepared for ACA reporting that is done in early 2021. Employers may wish to go ahead and credit employees with hours service during the furlough period. While this would be one way to avoid penalty under employer mandate rules, the employer should get the carrier’s
What Happens If Your Employees Get Sick?
Send them home immediately if they aren’t already working from home.
Advise them to contact their doctor immediately.
Advise them to keep their direct report updated on their status.
Deep clean the office if the employee has been there during the last 14 days.
Notify Human Resources to send information on how to self-monitor and self-quarantine at home.
They should not return to the office until symptoms are gone for 72 hours, without the use of symptom-reducing medication.
What do I do if an employee tests positive for coronavirus?
If they learn of this while in office, send them home immediately.
Notify all office employees of the exposure and send them home.
Deep clean the office.
Close the office for 14 days.
Identify and notify any employees from other offices who may have visited the office in the last 14 days.
Advise all employees to self-monitor for 14 days, and to reach out to a doctor if they start to exhibit symptoms.
Notify Human Resources to send information on how to self-monitor and self-quarantine at home.
Advise employees to keep in contact with their direct report.
Require a doctor’s note that verifies the employee is no longer sick, contagious or COVID-19 positive before they can return to work.
Continued Safety
Once back at work employees with symptoms should understand the importance to stay home and get tested and have a plan if an outbreak occurs again. Remember, reopening your business after the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t as simple as opening your doors. You’ll need to carefully evaluate each step of your reopening and gradually ask employees to return to work.
The next phase of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic involves reopening your business. While this task may seem daunting, we’re here to help. Understanding your health benefits well is the key to helping your employees get the right health care when they need it. If you’d like to find out more about how you can get better benefits so your employees use them when they need to, we’d like to show you how. Please contact us using form below or info@mecialsolutionscorp.com or 855-667-4621.
The information provided on this website is intended for informational purposes only. Millennium Medical Solutions Corp. does not offer legal or medical guidance. Those with legal or medical questions should seek appropriate assistance from a licensed professional. Stay up to date by signing up for Newsletter and Coronavirus Dashboard below.
To Test or Not to Test: That is just one of many critical questions
TIME: Friday, May 15, 1:00 P.M. EST
JOIN UPCOMING WEBINAR
COVID-19 has dramatically affected the world and created new hurdles for businesses in virtually every industry. To meet this challenge, Optum has built a practical Return to Workplace approach for employers.
DISCUSSION presenters discuss the issues defining (and redefining) the workplace in the age of COVID-19, including:
Testing, re-testing, and quarantine management – all top of mind with employers as they consider how to open for business
What employers should think about as employees return to the workplace
A framework for building an effective return to work approach
The Departments of Labor and Treasury has issued a final rule that creates an extension of timelines for employees due to COVID-19. These new rules apply for 60 days after the announced end of the declared National Emergency. This 60-day period is now called the ‘Outbreak Period’. See new model general and election notices for continued health coverage under COBRA.
COBRA
Current Rules:
Employees impacted by a COBRA qualifying event have 60 days to elect COBRA, and 45 days thereafter to make payment for coverage retroactive to their last day of coverage.
A participant actively enrolled in COBRA has 30 days from the first of each month to make payment for continued coverage.
New Rules:
Initial election period is extended to 60 days from the last day of the ‘Outbreak Period’.
Actively enrolled COBRA participants now have 30 days from the last day of the ‘Outbreak Period’ to submit retroactive premium payments.
These Federal rules only apply for groups 20 or larger, each state has its own continuation rules for employers with less than 20 employees.
Our Recommendation:
Please notify your COBRA Participants and adjust your required notifications.We are automatically notifying all our COBRA Administration Clients and Participants of these brand-new Federal Rule changes.Employers are ultimately responsible for all COBRA rules, including notification requirements.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Current Rules:
Employees have the right to enroll under 3 situations only:
When initially hired, subject to the company’s waiting period. 2. At open enrollment, which normally coincides with the plan’s renewal date. 3. When there is a life qualifying event (i.e. marriage, birth, etc.); the employee can enroll within 30 days of the qualifying event.
New Rules:
Employees with a Qualifying Life Event now have up to 30 days after the end of the ‘Outbreak Period’ to submit the request for retroactive enrollment.
The Special Election Period Allowance currently applies to Medical Insurance coverage only.
Additional New Rules:
Employees who previously opted out of coverage may now be able to join the employer’s plan. This is subject to carrier discretion. Call us for the particulars.
Health carriers continue to allow furloughed employees to remain eligible for coverage even though for many this does not meet their minimum eligibility guidelines.
Examples
Example One: Electing COBRA
Individual A works for Employer X and participates in X’s group health plan. Due to the National Emergency, Individual A experiences a qualifying event for COBRA purposes as a result of a reduction of hours below the hours necessary to meet the group health plan’s eligibility requirements and has no other coverage. Individual A is provided a COBRA election notice on April 1, 2020. What is the deadline for A to elect COBRA?
Answer – Individual A is eligible to elect COBRA coverage under Employer X’s plan. The Outbreak Period is disregarded for purposes of determining Individual A’s COBRA election period. The last day of Individual A’s COBRA election period is 60 days after June 29, 2020, which is August 28, 2020.
Example Two: Special Enrollment Period
Individual B is eligible for but previously declined participation in, her employer-sponsored group health plan. On March 31, 2020, Individual B gave birth and wants to enroll herself and the child into her employer’s plan. The open enrollment does not begin until November 15. When may Individual B exercise her special enrollment rights?
Answer – The Outbreak Period is disregarded for purposes of determining Individual B’s special enrollment period. Individual B and her child qualify for special enrollment into her employer’s plan as early as the date of the child’s birth. Individual B may exercise her special enrollment rights for herself and her child into her employer’s plan until 30 days after June 29, 2020, which is July 29, 2020, if she pays the premiums for any period of coverage.
The information provided on this website is intended for informational purposes only. Millennium Medical Solutions Corp. does not offer legal or medical guidance. Those with legal or medical questions should seek appropriate assistance from a licensed professional. Stay up to date by signing up for Newsletter and Coronavirus Dashboard below.
