OSHA recently issued a new NEP, National Emphasis Program, which may have your business in its sights. There are not any new regulations, instead there will be a focused enforcement scheduled over the next 3 years. Now is the time to consider the chemicals known as isocyanates in your workplace and how best to control
Healthcare Disclosure Required: I Have to do What?
The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires employers that offer prescription drug coverage, through a group plan, to notify all healthcare eligible employees whether the coverage offered is creditable or not. Creditable Coverage is defined as coverage that is expected to pay on average as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage. This requirement is two-fold.
US Dept. of Labor Changes Position on Service Advisors?
Over the next few weeks, you will probably see stories in industry publications that the U.S. Department of Labor has reversed its position and that service writers are no longer exempt from overtime requirements. More importantly, your service advisors may see the coverage. Here is the real story and what you can do about it. In 1978, the
Information Safeguards Sometimes Overlooked
Your salespeople probably listen regularly to your customers’ concerns about protection of their private information. You’ve put in place safeguards to protect that information as required by federal law, and you notify customers of your policy through a privacy notice. You’ve locked file rooms, locked F&I offices, and put in any number of physical and electronic protections
Class Actions: What They are and What you Should Do About Them
All dealers watch for trends in the auto business. From time to time you are sure to hear about the fearsome threat of class actions. Unless you have been involved as a defendant in a class action, it is hard to really assess the danger. Make no mistake, a class action can be very dangerous. But there are things
Abandonded Vehicle Law Changes for 2011
An adjustment in Virginia’s abandoned motor vehicle law, recently signed by Governor McDonnell, means changes for automobile dealers who operate repair shops, self-storage facilities or tow-truck businesses. These businesses may no longer use DMV’s online abandoned motor vehicle process to remove, auction, re-title or demolish a vehicle that is not retrieved by the owner. Towing
The Value of a VADA Partnership: An Interview with Zurich
Recently, we sat down with one of our Team VADA Program Partners to talk about the value of a Team VADA Partnership. Doug Avery is the F&I Executive Sales Manager for Virginia for Zurich, N.A. So how is the relationship with VADA going? Our partnership has exceeded my expectations in every way. The automotive dealers in
HOV Exemption for Clean Fuel Plates Extended
The Virginia General Assembly approved a one-year extension on the HOV-lane exemption through June 30, 2012, so vehicles registered with clean special fuel license plates may continue to use certain High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of passengers. During HOV-restricted periods, HOV-2 lanes require a minimum of two people per passenger vehicle
Workplace Wellness Programs
Are you looking for ways to drive down insurance expenses in your dealership? Would you like to keep your employees healthy and reduce lost work-time due to illness or injury? Would you like to improve employee performance and increase productivity in your dealership? If you find yourself nodding yes to the questions mentioned above, then look
Federally Mandated Form Updates
Now that August is here, there are some revisions to forms that you use in your dealership of which you should be aware. Adverse Action and Risk Based Pricing Notices As of July 21, 2011, your dealership will be required to be using updated adverse action and risk-based pricing notices. Here is what the