When an employee misses work because they are sick, it’s a hardship on the employee and the employer. Absenteeism costs the employer money and time. From finding a substitute teacher, pulling assistance from another department to cover the gap, to shuffling deadlines and duties. Presenteeism is also critically important and often overlooked. This is when an employee is physically at … Read More
Wine O’Clock
Most of us have heard the benefits of moderate wine consumption and feel no shame in our nightly glass of wine. It is true that red wine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and contains beneficial polyphenols and when compared to other alcoholic beverages, it is one of the better choices. However, even one glass of wine may not be … Read More
Open Enrollment Essentials
If you’re an employee of a school district in Arizona, open enrollment is close at hand! Your employer is making final benefit vendor selections and rate decisions right now, laying the critical groundwork to roll out benefits to employees for the 2019-2020 plan year. Districts and government agencies designate a specific period for you to choose your benefits package … Read More
A Testimonial from Jan Cordova
Here at Valley Schools, we are a beneficial resource for you as an employer for your school district or other governmental agency. But don’t just take it from us, hear from one of our members, Jan Cordova… “I have had the pleasure of working with Valley Schools for several years and appreciate that they are right there in … Read More
Healthy Dating
Happy Valentine’s Day from Valley Schools. This is a day where many people take the time to appreciate the healthy relationships in their lives. Whether that is a significant other, friend, or family member. A healthy relationship can be defined as a relationship that is built on mutual respect, trust, honesty, and support. Many studies have shown that supportive relationships … Read More
Weight Loss 101
With every New Year comes a slew of exercise goals and fad diets. Unfortunately, both the goals and the diets often fall flat due to frustration associated with deprivation and/or a lack of results. Turn over a new leaf in 2019 by following these simple strategies for successful weight loss and gift yourself a more balanced diet in the New … Read More
The Benefits of Partnering with Valley Schools
For more than 30 years, Valley Schools has been the leader in insurance administration, vendor contracting, and consulting services. We provide school districts, governmental agencies, and public sector employees with the absolute best pricing in employee benefits and insurance coverage, to better support their financial freedom and well-being. Valley Schools combines governmental employers into a larger group, which increases their … Read More
Behavior Change
New Year’s resolutions are built around trying to make a life change, but the popular trend of setting a resolution does not guarantee a readiness to change. The Transtheoretical Model is used to measure an individual’s readiness to act by outlining the five stages of behavior change and the feelings associated with each, including, Stage 1 Pre-contemplation: Not considering change … Read More
Should You Consider Self-Funding?
If you are a public sector employer of 200 or more benefit-eligible employees, self-funding, or self-insuring your medical and pharmacy plan(s) is an essential option to consider. Let’s compare fully insured to self-insured plans: Fully Insured Self-Insured • Insurance company dictates the cost of the monthly premium to the employer • Employee/Employer pays a set monthly premium • Insurance company … Read More
Are You in the Right Health Insurance Pool?
For more than 30 years, Valley Schools has served school districts and other governmental agencies in administrative, financial or public service positions, providing our more than 35,000 members with the absolute best pricing in employee benefits and affordable, group health insurance coverage to better support their financial freedom and well-being. There are key components that set us apart from other … Read More