According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), homecare workers have a greater risk of injury while on the job than other health care and human services employees. For example, the injury rate in home care settings, cites the BLS, is about 50% higher than in hospitals. Based on the multiple exposures homecare workers face, it’s not surprising that Workers’ Compensation insurance represents one of the most significant expenses for homecare providers. For every Worker’s Compensation...

Opioids help people in the healing process, relaxing the body and relieving pain. But, like nearly any form of medication, they can also be abused. The prevalence of opioids has led to an epidemic in America. The CDC estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the U.S. is $78.5 billion a year and that 115 people die each day from overdoses. You can learn more about the crisis and how it can affect your business in our blog, “Opioids and Their Effect...

While nearly every employer may agree that workplace safety is one of their top priorities, the fast pace of daily operation means it can sometimes fall by the wayside. However, when it comes to improving the bottom line, there are few better investments than developing a safety program. In fact, according to studies from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for every $1 invested in an effective safety program, $4 to $6 may be saved as illnesses, injuries, and fatalities decline....

Employees injured at work are often prescribed powerful – and potentially dangerous – medication in the form of opioids to help relieve their pain. Opioids are a class of drugs found naturally in the opium poppy plant. Opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and relieve pain. Prescription opioids are used mostly to treat moderate to severe pain. Common prescription opioids include: Hydrocodone (Vicodin®) and oxycodone (OxyContin®,...

Alcohol within the culture of a workplace has become the norm for many organizations, not just for holiday enjoyment. For some, alcohol can be found in meetings, at desks or as the centerpiece for events both in and out of the office. If that sounds familiar, you will want to have a solid understanding of how your workplace culture effects the drinking habits of your employees and the risks that come with it. Your workplace culture is a shared understanding between employees. That is to say it...

Winter is here. And that means winter weather can cause headaches for business owners no matter where they’re located as they try to keep their properties as safe as possible for employees and customers. But, Accidents DO Happen Try as you might to prevent an employee or customer from being injured due to a slip, trip, or fall, accidents do happen, and sometimes people get hurt. You obviously never want to see someone injured, especially at your business, but injuries that do occur...

Winter has officially settled in, and while the season normally batters northern tier states with frigid temperatures and snow, southern states are not always immune from winter’s wrath. In other words, winter weather can cause headaches for business owners no matter where they’re located as they try to keep their properties as safe as possible for employees and customers. Cold temperatures and snow are of particular concern during winter months, each capable of causing injury to people....