Employers wishing to enroll their companies in the Small Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace for coverage beginning February 1 must complete the enrollment and make their initial payment by January 15. Enrollment in SHOP is limited to employers with 50 or fewer employees. More information on eligibility and timeframes is available on the SHOP website.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan continued his quest to roll back taxes and shrink the financial bite of government on Marylanders this week announcing a number of additional tax cuts he is proposing. Hogan unveiled the proposals one day before the legislative session began this week and a week after unveiling his $17 billion FY’17 budget…
According to the monthly MillerPulse report, QSR same store sales (including some DD units in the mix) were at their weakest point for the entire year in November. The trend weakened versus October 2015 as well as the two year comp (combined two year November 2014 and November 2015 value), which often gives a more…
America’s 30th President, Calvin Coolidge is famously quoted as having said “The business of America is business.” A little over a decade earlier, our 26th President, Teddy Roosevelt opined that it is “our duty to see that the wage-worker, the small producer, the ordinary consumer, shall get their fair share of the benefit of business…
The nomination of a new Chief Counsel for the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy was approved by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee of the US Senate and has been sent on to the full Senate for formal confirmation. President Obama nominated Chicago Attorney Darryl DePriest for the post, which has been vacant for…
We noted this week that the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) released their monthly index of small business indicators and the outlook through November was anything but encouraging. A full 60% of the index indicators dropped in November with a growing pessimism about future opportunities being the most significant contributing factor. The index came…
Eligible small businesses looking to take advantage of no minimum participation rates offered by the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace have just under two weeks to make their selection as the no minimum offer expires on December 15. Generally, businesses must meet a participation rate of 70% of employees in order to enroll…
Incredibly, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo accused businesses of stealing from the taxpayers because the state provides financial assistance to residents earning below certain levels of income. On a “push the legislature for $15/hour wage” tour, the Governor said that “Business is stealing from the taxpayers of this state” because workers making less than $15/hour…
Although all the media covered the strike for $15 an hour by fast food workers in major cities across the country, opponents of the increase rallied in opposition on Wednesday as well. New York state is now the epicenter for much of the effort with Governor Andrew Cuomo being a major participant. This week, Cuomo…
DDIFO will host its final member meeting of 2015 on Thursday, December 15 at the Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport. The program will focus on the many dramatic changes in employment law in New Jersey and New York, with emphasis on the above-referenced New York fast food workers $15 an hour wage. The program will feature…
Small Regular - No Sugar Newsletter is weekly email with news and updates - it is like a virtual cup of coffee with DDIFO Executive Director Ed Shanahan