ATTENTION ALL (soon to be) NURSING MAMA's: Our insurance companies are doing something right! Mechanical breast pumps are now covered! The amount covered varies by company, Coventry covers up to $300! A client got this bad boy at NO COST! All you need is a script from your doctor for a breast pump, with the diagnosis as lactating. Insurance is required to cover up to 1 pump a year, so if you are still pumping next year, you will qualify for an additional pump! Those motors do wear out over time... 

Edwardsville (KSDK) - Guns at work. It will be the new reality for some Illinois businesses, as owners adapt to the new concealed carry law. But not every workplace is allowing guns. The new law allows companies to ban firearms on their property. And since the first concealed carry licenses are set to go out in a few months, many business owners are still deciding whether to allow enact a ban.

Kandi Mensing owns an HR consulting business called Elite HR Team. She's still deciding whether to allow people to carry guns on her property.

"You have to be able to trust their judgment, and how they're going to utilize that weapon," said Mensing.

But she says there is also risk in banning firearms.

"You have to consider whether your employees' safety is at risk then because you didn't allow them to carry a gun if they wanted to," said Mensing.

So she's attending a seminar to learn more about the law. She'll also use the information to advise her clients.

"Whether you are for it or against it, you still have to have a written policy," said Todd Sivia, whose law firm, Sivia Business and Legal Services, is helping host the seminar.

Sivia says if the policy's not clear, it could create problems for the establishment, and its patrons.. Whether that's a store, church, or restaurant.

"The waitress sees a gun on the person you don't want them to run around saying 'I see a gun, I see a gun.' That's going to create a panic," said Sivia.

So businesses who ban firearms will have to post a sign at the front of their building to alert people before they walk in the door. And it's especially important for Illinois businesses to be clear about their policies, because having a gun where you're not supposed to is a misdemeanor in the state. That's one reason firearm safety trainer Allen Keilman is attending the seminar.

"I want to make sure I'm giving the right message to our clients," said Keilman. "They're good people. They want to do things the right way."

The seminar will be Thursday, January 16th, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. It's being held at the SIUE Morris University Center in the Hickory/Hackberry Room. The event is free and open to the public.

When life is dragging you backwards, remember you are getting ready to be launched into something great, like an arrow. Keep focus and aim.

Kandi discusses. 

By: Joel Harrison

Watch the free training video below where Joel discusses a few strategies to contain healthcare costs in light of healthcare reform. Enjoy the free training! 

Our Team's {Monday Motivator} today was on the topic of time management, which is relevant to both individuals and businesses. In life or business, if we don't manage our time well, we find ourselves stressed, stretched too thin, and unorganized. Some tips shared with the team were to try to do phone meetings rather than in-person, so you avoid 'down' drive time. Also, be respectful of your own schedule. But first, you must prioritize and schedule your time accordingly. 

By: Kandi Mensing, SPHR, MBA
In my career as a professional recruiter, I’ve interviewed thousands of candidates, and hired hundreds! It seems like most applicants don’t put much time into their resume. The typos, the inconsistent formatting, the grammatical and punctuation errors all reflect negatively. In fact, when I’m looking at applicant resumes, I circle these items with a red pen. The point of your resume is to get the interview, not necessarily to get the job. It is the interview that determines whether you get the job. Today, we share with you 5 resume tips to get the interview. 

Consistency. Lack of consistency is the number one reason resumes get kicked out of consideration. Some people don’t get chosen for an interview simply due to lack of consistency on their resume, especially if the job requires strong grammatical skills, attention to detail, or handling company correspondence internally or externally. Ensure your information is all formatted in the same way. If you have your job title first, then your company, format it the same for every job. Same with dates. Too often I see some jobs only have years, and some have months. Be consistent

Objective. An ‘Objective’ is often listed as one of the first things on a resume. Why? What is the point of the objective? Did you google “resume objective” and then choose the best sounding one? Yeah, so did everyone else. We see the same objectives all the time! Stop using objectives. If you insist on an ‘intro’ use a summary or a skills section instead. Objectives are not serving you. 

Your name. Make sure your name is large, and obvious. When a recruiter is looking at your resume, your name should make impression in their mind. All too often I see resumes that have the candidate’s name seemingly hidden in the text. This is YOUR resume; own it! 

Education. If you have a degree from a higher education institute, make sure it is listed first on your resume. The fact of the matter is that only 30.4% of the US population over the age of 25 holds a bachelor’s degree or higher (source: New York Times). The second component is to use the word “Acquired” next to your degree. If you just put dates, for example 1996-2000, that doesn't necessarily tell the recruiter that you obtained your degree, but rather that you attended that school for those years. Don’t short sell yourself. Make sure they know you have that degree. And, you don’t necessarily need to put the year you acquired the degree as much as you just need to make sure they know you have the degree. You will fill in the year on their application. Remember, the resume is intended to get you the interview. 

References. Stop using the phrase “references available upon request” on your resume. We all assume you’re going to give us references if we ask. Substitute that phrase for a quick “thank you” to the recruiter. You could say something like “Thank you for reviewing my resume. I look forward to interviewing with you” or anything that is friendly, thanks them, and speaks of you personally and the way you would talk with them. Let your personality come through. Another thing, don’t take up valuable space on your resume listing the references. Wait until we ask for them.

by Bill O'Hara, Safety Consultant

Fire Safety Week falls in October. Many people turn their furnace on for the first time, the days get shorter and we start spending more time indoors, we light candles inside our Jack-o-lanterns and fires in the fireplace on those chilly nights. With a few quick checks, you can ensure your family's safety in the coming blustery months.

You should always replace smoke detector batteries at least once a year to help ensure they will work when needed. The end of Daylight Saving Time is 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3. When clocks are adjusted to “fall back” an hour, that can serve as a yearly reminder to replace the batteries. 

It's also a good idea to practice fire safety home evacuation test drills with your children. State Fire Marshals recommend creating a family fire safety plan that includes learning about kitchen fire hazards and how to avoid them, as well as developing a home fire escape plan. Families should regularly practice these plans and explain them to children, revising the plan as the children grow up. Establish a safe meeting point outside the home or near a neighbor's house. 

Purchase a fire extinguisher for your house and garage. Check to make sure it's properly charged and accessible. 

Prevent Kitchen Fires

Did you know more fires occur in the kitchen than in any other room of the house? Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and of home fire-related injuries. Kitchen fires, especially those involving grease, can spread quickly and be very difficult to put out. There are other fire risks in the kitchen: including toasters, toaster ovens and overloaded outlets and extension cords. That is why it is essential to know how fires can start in the kitchen, understand the ways they can be prevented, and have an action plan for what to do if a fire starts.

In case of a kitchen fire, control the fire by: 

• Covering the pan with a lid or a bigger upturned pan.
• Turn the heat off.
• If you don't have a proper fire extinguisher handy, douse the burning oil with baking soda.
• Never run with a pan fire. You run the risk of spreading the fire further when the oil drips.
• Never throw water on the pan—it will splatter the oil and spread the fire, possibly burning you.
• Never throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. Flour might look like baking soda, but it's not, so it won't react similarly! One cup of either of these baking products contains the explosive potential of two sticks of dynamite. (Pay special attention this fire safety tip, it can result in third degree burns and even death in some cases.)
• Wear tight clothes when cooking over the stove. Billowing sleeves or hanging accessories above a lit stove can spell disaster.
• Install a smoke detector in the kitchen.

In a commercial environment, employers should schedule fire safety training, including fire extinguisher training for your employees to be able to know the proper use of the device. This can prevent millions of dollars in damage, lost time, and possible costly lawsuits. 

HST Post of the Week: 
By: [email protected]

How many times do you hear someone say to you “I never get sick?” Or maybe you say that yourself. Why get health insurance coverage if there is nothing wrong with me? As the clock ticks toward the 2014 launch of the Affordable Care Act, health leaders across the nation are embarking on a tough task: persuading young adults to enroll. Their participation will be critical to balance out older, sicker patients more likely to sign up for health insurance as soon as they are able.

This has been the battle that private insurers have faced in the past as well. If any plan regardless if it is a private carrier or the plans in “ObamaCare” the only way it would ever work is if there is a “balance” in the age of the people who apply. The success of the healthcare law depends on reaching everyone who is uninsured, but particularly young people who may feel like they don’t need insurance.

Beginning in 2014, nearly everyone will be required to have insurance or face a fine — $95 or 1% of their household income in the first year. Many young adults who are not covered through work or their parents may be eligible for Medicaid or the new state-based insurance market places known as exchanges.

Health officials worry that the fine, which increases over time isn’t high enough to convince people to sign up for coverage. The penalty itself will not convince a young person or any other person. Young people will need to understand the risks of not having health insurance. If there is a lack of young people signing up there is a concern that the older, sicker generation will use up all the money that is set aside for the “Obamacare” plans

So parents of the younger generation, please call us. We can insure your son or daughter so that you will not have the stress of trying to protect them and answering to the federal government all at the same time.

By Joel Harrison

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been stated by many to be the single most controversial and confusing piece of legislation in United States history. With so many different people and groups interested in healthcare in one form or another everyone has something to say and they are all saying something different.  Like it or not healthcare reform is coming FAST. The countdown is to less than 6 months left in 2013 and the exchanges open in October.   If you’re “just waiting to see what the ACA does” you’re going to be left in the dust and be scrambling to comply with regulations early next year.  This could end up costing you in the end. So here are a few tips to stop worrying and love the ACA.

Drop the politics

OK I’ll admit love is a bit of a stretch. My point is Healthcare reform is coming whether you like it or not.  Congress tried to overturn it… FAILED. The Supreme Court tried to say it was unconstitutional… FAILED. States said they would not participate… FAILED.  It’s time to face the facts… the healthcare reform is here to stay. So stop arguing about who is right and who is wrong and start having intelligent conversations about what solutions work best for your business. The number of businesses who will actually be severely hurt by the new laws is minimal.

Get educated (properly)

Healthcare reform is complex; there is no way around it. If you have not already begun to understand how the ACA will affect you, your time is running out. Now is the time to meet with professionals in the healthcare field. Search out and attend seminars that help you to navigate the pitfalls business owners will have to deal with. Have specific conversations about how reform will help or hurt your business and what strategies are available to make the transition as smooth as possible.  When doing research remember to pay attention to the political affiliations of your sources. Because everyone feels so strongly about healthcare reform there is A LOT of misinformation out there… be careful.

Relax… it’s just the ACA

Once you have made your peace with healthcare reform and found the best solutions for your business you can sit and watch the chaos happen around you. The “wait to see what happens” crowd will be forced to make last-minute, hasty decisions and pay costly fines because they have been too stubborn to just stop worrying and learn to apply and love the ACA. 

In order to be eligible for your 2014 deductible to decrease by 20%, policies must be active in June. Last day to apply for a June 1 effective date is Tuesday 5/28.