The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) sets standards on voluntary retirement and health plans offered to employees in the private sector. While it doesn’t require employers to offer healthcare, retirement, disability, or welfare plans, for those that do, it dictates what must be included in these plans.

Failure to comply with the basic standards of ERISA can result in hefty fines and penalties. Participants will also have grounds for civil suits against their employer if the information was not appropriately and clearly disclosed. With such heavy penalties, employers must make themselves aware of ERISA law to avoid falling afoul.

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The backbone of any type of business is its company culture. While large corporations may be able to rely on fun perks and large salaries to entice people to join their teams, small companies usually have to depend on a positive company culture to encourage employees to stay on. If you own any type of small business, you know how crucial it is to hire the right people to join your team. Here are five ways you can create a positive work environment and avoid a high rate of employee turnover.

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There’s no doubt about it. A happy workforce is one that is productive and works hard for your business. Feeling part of a team helps employees work together and builds loyalty, and rather than just coming to work to earn money, happy and motivated employees want the best for your business. So how do business owners help their employees to have good morale? This guide gives you some tips.

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If your Monday morning work routine already has you fantasizing about the weekend, you might be showing signs of burnout. It’s somewhat different than job-related stress. Experts say stress is usually short-term—maybe you have an important project deadline looming—but exhaustion occurs when stressors such as a lack of autonomy or feeling your work doesn’t really matter never seem to go away.

To fight burnout, it helps to know a few of the symptoms. Dreading going to work, high absenteeism, lack of energy in and out of work, insomnia, and irritability can all be signs of burnout.

So, what can you do to prevent burnout setting in on the job? Here are 10 tips. Let’s start with the ones concerning basic self-care—things you need to do every day.

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In every community across the country, there are people who make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering. In fact, each year tens of thousands of volunteer service projects and community initiatives make communities in America a better place to live in.

From the grass root efforts of people who serve their communities in every sector of society, there is an abundance of projects that help lift up people that are in the most need. These projects are the heartbeat of what makes America thrive.

From faith-based organizations to non-profits and community organizations, some of America’s most difficult problems are being addressed by everyday Americans who volunteer. It is a well-recognized fact that America is one of the most generous countries in the world.

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No matter what industry you are in, how large your organization is, your employees are your greatest asset. While you may be head of your business and ultimately be the decision maker, it is your workforce who have the greatest influence on your business’s success. Research has shown that in the average business, 55% of employees are looking for other work opportunities, which means that right now, your business could be at risk.

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There is much more to running a business than just maximizing profits. Though it very well may be the end goal, it can be difficult to accomplish if a positive work environment is not also high on the priority list. When employees are satisfied, they can have an innate motivation to perform and be loyal to a company, which can lead to a higher quality of services or products they produce. By understanding strategies, you can use to foster a positive work environment, you can likely look forward to happy employees that are willing to go above and beyond to make your business succeed.

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