Temp- tation                                                                        March 2015 
In this issue
USSC Hears Subsidy Case
Temptation Trivia
Fun Facts
Right to Work
One Minute Ideas
Recipe
USSC Hears ACA Subsidy Case
(King v. Burwell)

Under the ACA, Exchanges were established where individuals and small businesses could buy coverage. The intention was for the states to do this on their own, but 34 states chose not to. To close this gap, the federal government stepped in and set up a federal Exchange (Healthcare.gov).     

 

The federal government then provided subsidies for anyone registered through an exchange who could not financially handle the full cost of a healthcare plan.  The majority of enrollees, 87%, receive subsidies.    

 

According to the government's interpretation of the ACA, the subsidy is available to anyone who buys insurance through any exchange, whether it was established by the federal government or a state.

 

The King prosecution disagree because the ACA specifically states the subsidies apply to "an Exchange established by the State."  They are arguing that anyone who purchased coverage through a federal exchange is not eligible for a subsidy.

 

The outcome of the case will hinge on whether the Justices make their decision based on what the Obama administrations stated was the "intent" of the law, or what the law actually says.  

Temptation Trivia 

What is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, and what was the name of the supercomputer that figured it out?     

  

If you know the answer, call or e-mail your local branch office by noon this Friday.  One winner in each branch will be chosen at random from those that answered correctly, and that person will get treats delivered!  

 

Last issue answer: The Chairman of the Guinness Brewery came up with the idea for the Guinness Book of World Records after a friendly argument in a pub.   

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Fun Facts 

Sheboygan, WI is home to the tallest flagpole in America.

Erected in the summer of 2014, the flagpole at the Acuity Insurance building off of highway 43 stands 400 feet tall. That's almost 100 feet taller than the statue of Liberty!  

The flagpole weighs 420,000 pounds, and it flies an American flag measuring 60 feet by 120 feet, and weighing 350 pounds! 

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Wisconsin Becomes 25th "Right to Work" State

 

On March 9th Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a bill into law that prohibits requiring membership in a union or the payment of union dues as a condition of employment. 

 

This makes Wisconsin the 25th state to approve a so-called right-to-work law.  "It sends a powerful message across the country and around the world," Walker said, adding that what he called freedom to work is one of the three or four things that people ask about when he is on trade and investment tours for Wisconsin.  "This is one more tool that will help grow good paying, family supporting jobs here in the state of Wisconsin," Walker said. 

 

Wisconsin's Republican-led legislature approved the bill in an extraordinary session, with representatives voting on Friday along party lines for the measure just two weeks after the Senate majority leader said the bill would be introduced. 

 

Supporters said the law would attract businesses and jobs, while opponents said it was a thinly disguised assault on organized labor that will drive down wages and leave workers vulnerable.

Thousands of workers demonstrated at the capitol in Madison as lawmakers debated the bill, but crowds were far thinner than four years ago, when tens of thousands of people protested the push for changes to public sector collective bargaining rights. 

 

About 8 percent of private-sector workers in Wisconsin are union members, down from about 22 percent three decades ago.  


 

Footnote: Two days after the law was signed by Governor Walker, the AFL-CIO filed a lawsuit to stop the implementation of the law.       
One Minute Ideas

Ten Tips for Your Next Great Hire! 

It's an exciting thing to see your company grow, but adding a new person to your team can be a stressful process.  In small companies a bad hire can be crippling.  Not only is hiring a daunting task, it can be time-consuming and costly.  Here are 10 tips to help you make your next hire your best hire.

 

1. Be Clear About the Role - Use keywords to increase the chances of being found by the right talent pool.  Within your listing, include day-to-day tasks, how the role fits into your company, goals and any necessary skills (like Photoshop or Excel).  Include key information such as salary, benefits and work environment to add life to your job ad. 

2. Showcase Your Company - Make sure you share how awesome your company is.  A little insight into your company can pique interest, and helps you build a relationship with the right candidates from the start.

3. Always Be Hiring - Or, at least be thinking of it. Look at everyone you meet as a potential hire: would they fit the company well? Even if you don't have a vacancy today, you could be chatting with your future Marketing Manager or Accountant. 

4. Don't Settle - It might take a little more work, but your next great hire is out there.  Don't forget that skills can be learned.  If you interview a candidate who's not proficient in Excel, but has a great personality, a lot of drive, and really gels with your team - you've got yourself a winner.

5. Offer Flexibility - Flexibility is a huge selling point for job seekers today. It turns out, we don't want the 9 to 5 lifestyle our parents had.  Forty-two per cent of working adults said they were willing to take a pay cut for more flexibility in their work schedule. 

6. Find Their Watering Hole - If you want top talent in a particular field, find out where they are and go to their hangouts - online, and off. There's no greater way to meet a wealth of incredible talent than immersing yourself in the pool.  

7. Make Hiring a Team Sport - When you can promote from within, do so - but sometimes you need a fresh perspective and a new skillset.  In such cases, enlist the help of your team to bring in the best candidates for the job.  

8. Woo Your Candidate - If you think it's the candidate's job to impress you, you're sadly mistaken.  Chances are that top talent you're trying to find has his or her eye on some other great companies, so it's time to step up and prove that your company is the best fit for them.

9. Try Before You Buy - It costs a lot to hire someone, but it's far more expensive to replace that same person when you find out he/she wasn't quite right after all. Before committing to a candidate, it's not a bad idea (for both parties) to test the waters a little.  In some cases, a short-term contract (possibly through a staffing service) may work well.  

10. Don't Forget To Onboard - One gigantic mistake that companies make is neglecting to properly onboard new staff. Help smooth the transition from candidate to employee by getting to know your new hire and have a little fun. 

 
Adapted from an article by Quimple.com    
Recipe
Stuffing Meatloaf 

1 package Stove Top Stuffing mix

1 Cup warm water

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 package Lipton onion soup mix

 


 

Preheat oven 350�.  Coat the inside of bundt or loaf pan with cooking spray. Place warm water, onion soup mix, and stuffing mix in a bowl.  Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes to allow bread to absorb water. Add eggs and ground beef.  Mix well.  Place evenly into pan.  Bake for 1 hour or until no longer pink inside.  Remove and allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.  Serve with potatoes and beef gravy, catsup, or BBQ sauce.  
 
  

 

Inspirational Quote
 The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.   - Unknown