Assessing the Value of Your Employee Benefits Program

Open Enrollment Part 1: Assessing the Value of Your Employee Benefits Program - VSMG Valley Schools Arizona

*Part 1 of our Open Enrollment blog series   For many public sector employers, annual open enrollment is right around the corner. Open enrollment is an opportunity to showcase your benefits program and the value it provides to your employees. Before open enrollment begins, it’s important to evaluate what you offer and if those offerings are valuable to your employees. … Read More

Supporting Your Employees in a Post-pandemic Workplace

Ideas to Help Support Employees in the Public Sector

It’s hard to believe the pandemic started a year ago – and what a long year it has been. Thanks to the phased rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to essential workers, EMS, and now, K-12 school staff, as well as law enforcement and protective services, it’s finally beginning to feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel. … Read More

Boost Employee Retention With Your Benefits Plan

Employee Retention -Employee Benefits for Educators and Government Workers - Valley Schools

Employee retention, as well as job satisfaction, have always been important priorities for forward-thinking businesses. Benefits, vacation time, and ongoing employee development are a good start. However, in today’s business climate, you must go the extra mile to retain employees for the long-term. This is especially relevant to civic workers and teachers who are always in high demand in Arizona. … Read More

COVID-19 Relief Legislation and Employee Benefits 2021

Arizona Benefits Consulting Group - Valley Schools - Covid relief bill

In the last days of 2020, Congress passed yet another COVID-19 Relief Bill. Moving forward into 2021 there will be an impact on employee benefits that you need to be aware of. Significant restrictions on so-called “surprise” medical bills, changes to Health Flexible Spending accounts (HFSAs), and Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) are among the key changes that will impact … Read More

Procurement of Hearing Officers for Student Discipline Hearings

hearing officer, student dicipline

Procurement of Hearing Officers for Student Discipline Hearings By Bill Munch, CPPO, CPPB Hopefully, none of our students are currently facing discipline issues this early in the year, and since online learning is the way of the world right now. However, I received a question via one of the many listservs I belong to regarding whether or not student discipline … Read More

Adjusting to A Virtual Work Environment

infographic video conferencing virtual environment

Change in a Virtual Work Environment It’s hard to keep up with the myriad of changes to daily living over the last three months. One of the most pressing is how to adjust to, create, and support our work teams in this virtual environment.  Below are tips to help support our collective efforts.  Managing Remotely When your work environment goes … Read More

Kindness RX

Be kind written in chalk

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. – Maya Angelou Prescribe Kindness for Better Connections With the negativity infiltrating our media sources right now, it is clear our world can use a little more kindness. Whether you are struggling to offer yourself … Read More

Gearing Up With Gratitude

today I am grateful notebook on table

Feeling In Control Since the coronavirus began spreading across the world, we’ve undoubtedly learned a lot about the lengths to which people will go for a roll of toilet paper. While the social distancing guidelines were extended by the White House on Sunday, the uncertainty of the future continues to drive the “panic-buying” that we see emptying all the shelves. … Read More

The Role of Telemental Services in Healthcare

Patient talking to doctor over the computer

Technology continues to advance our access to care in the form of telemental services. What Are Telemental Services? Like telemedicine that allows members to access practitioners to remedy acute care situations such as colds, rashes, or minor infections, telemental health solutions have moved into the digital age.  With the demands on balancing work, home, family, and self-care, telemental services offer … Read More