Legal Spotlight: North Carolina’s Bathroom Debate

After a recent ordinance was passed in Charlotte, the North Carolina General Assembly called lawmakers back to Raleigh for a special session. This session was brought specifically to overturn this ordinance, which aimed to ban discrimination against LGBT individuals.  The most controversial provision allowed transgender individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds to the gender with which they identify.

However, notably, the new law, Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act (H.B. 2), has a far more encompassing impact: it not only prevents any local government from passing any anti-discrimination ordinances in regard to any class not specifically listed as a protected class per state law (gender/gender-identity and sexual orientation being excluded), but mandates that any individual in a public school or agency must use the bathroom corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate. This is the first instance in which the use of bathrooms has been tied to a pers

What is Annual Enrollment?

In the insurance industry, ‘annual enrollment’ refers to the period every year where individuals can sign up for an insurance plan with no discrimination or reduced discrimination against pre-existing conditions, or reduced or non-existent medical underwriting.

Insurance companies limit open enrollment to specific times every year in order to protect themselves and everyone else enrolled in their plans against adverse selection, which is the tendency of healthy people not to sign up for insurance until they actually have a claim. By restricting access to insurance programs outside of open enrollment periods, the carriers can prevent new enrollees with medical issues or other risk factors from taking advantage of the system and unfairly passing on their own expenses to other policyholders.

The Affordable Care Act

For those who want to enroll in an Affordable Care Act insurance plan via the exchanges, the open enroll

Business Interruption Insurance: A Lifeline for Your Company

Most businesses have property insurance in place to protect themselves against severe losses from events like fires and explosions. However, the income lost during a shutdown after a loss can be even more devastating. Without business interruption insurance, the organization may suffer a blow from which it will be difficult to recover.

Business interruption coverage applies under four conditions:

•  The named insured organization must suffer an actual loss of business income for a certain period of time;

•  The loss of income must result because the organization had to suspend operations;

•  The suspension must result directly from loss of or damage to the organization’s premises;

•  The loss or damage must be caused by a factor the policy covers, such as fire, lightning, or windstorm.

The term “business income” does not necessarily mean “profits.” Rather, it means

Tanya Lyons

With App Driven Ride Services, There is no need to risk Drinking and Driving

Thanks to smart phones and a number of enterprising companies, catching a ride has become easier than ever.  At least three companies – Uber, Lyft and Sidecar – all provide services that are very similar to those of a taxi service but more efficient, fast, comfortable and inexpensive.  Now that these services have an expanded network of drivers, there is really no reason to second-guess your blood alcohol level or even think of getting behind the wheel if you have been drinking. Even if you think you are below the limit, you driving is still impaired after consuming any amount of alcohol, and these services remove the risk of ever having an embarrassing and costly incident due to driving under the influence.

The App Advantage

To use one of these services, you must first download an app on your smart phone. You may initially feel skeptical about using a safe-ride service without talking to a live person. However, after using it o

Employers Are Sweetening 401(k) Incentives

Access to retirement plans is a key differentiator in the marketplace for top employee talent. If you are counting on your company 401(k) plan to be an asset in helping retain the best talent and to compete against other employers for the services of the workers that are critical to helping your company function, it may be time to take a look at your plan and ensure it’s still competitive with those offered by competing employers.

According to a recent survey produced by Ascensus, a prominent provider of retirement plans and college savings plans, employers have been gradually expanding incentives to encourage workers to contribute to 401(k) plans. The percentage of employers who say they are matching a portion of workers contributions to their retirement plans is increasing, as are match levels. Employers are also relying on technology to support plan administration, reduce costs and liability and encourage plan participation.

A majority of 401(k) plan sponsors