MONEY MATTERS - 401K

Who's Your Beneficiary?

You should review your beneficiary designations at least annually and after any major life event

Your retirement account is about you and it’s for you – your nest egg to enjoy in your retirement years. After working hard all those years and saving diligently, your retirement account will be there to ensure that you live comfortably in your retirement years. But unexpected things do happen. If you aren’t around to enjoy the fruits of your labor, who will inherit the balance of your retirement account? If you have a valid beneficiary designation in place, then your beneficiary will inherit. If not, your account will be distributed according to the rules of your plan. If you haven’t reviewed your beneficiary designations in a while or if you never specified your beneficiaries, now is a great time to do so!

Don’t Blink!

 You likely designated your beneficiaries when you first signed up for your retirement plan. That may have been last year or a decade ago. Either way, your life may have changed dramatically since that time. Maybe you got married or divorced? New baby? Congratulations! Perhaps your company’s plan merged into a new plan and your old beneficiary designations did not carry over. Given the speed of change, it’s worth taking a look at your current beneficiaries.

It only takes a moment to make sure that your beneficiary designations are up to date. You can do so by logging in to your account at www.myplanconnection.com and then selecting “Personal Profile” and “Beneficiaries”.

Married? Remember, if you are married and would like to designate someone other than your spouse as a primary beneficiary, federal law requires that you obtain your spouse’s notarized consent to this alternate designation. If you married after designating your current beneficiaries, be sure to review your current beneficiary designation. If your spouse has not consented to your designation by providing their notarized signature, then your current beneficiary designation is no longer valid.

Brought to you by BlueStar Retirement Services, Inc.


                                                                                          

Promoting Your Career Path

Are you ready for the next step in your career?  Wondering how to get that promotion you've always wanted?
Follow the link below for some great tips.

http://humanresources.about.com/cs/careerdevelopment/a/aapromotion.htm

YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOU!

Don't forget to like us on facebook for your chance to win a $25 gift card!


                                                                                           

SAFETY TIPS FOR LIFTING AND HANDLING ITEMS

Low back pain is among the most common and most costly type of worker injury. Some of the primary risk factors for low back pain include:

• Excessive exertion or force
• Bending the trunk
• Twisting the trunk
• Reaching out

The first course of action should always be to minimize the need to lift or carry objects manually.


Next, size up the load. Use a hand truck if possible. Get help if you need it. Check for slivers, nails, exposed staples. Use gloves if necessary. Make sure you have a clear path to where you are moving it to.

• Choose the position that feels best and maintain a natural back curvature.
• Do not place objects on the floor if they must be picked up later.
• Turn your feet instead of your hips or shoulders.
• Never twist and bend at the same time.
• Keep objects close to the body.  Don't reach out to pick up an object.
• If the load is too heavy or bulky, don't lift it. Get help or use a mechanical aid.
• Lift smoothly and slowly.  Avoid jerking to lift or pull the load.
• Minimize the distance the load has to be moved.
• Push or slide the load rather than lift or lower it.

KEEP ILLNESS OUT OF THE WORKPLACE

Why is it important NOT to come to work sick?

• You can transfer the illness to your coworkers and customers

• Sickness means you and others can be affected.

• Creates stress and concern among employees.

• Working while you are sick can make you sicker.

Flu Prevention

Follow these simple steps to prevent the Flu:

• Wash your hands often - The most common way to catch the flu is to touch your own eyes, nose or mouth with germy hands.

• Wash your hands with soap before handling food and often during food preparation.

• Wash your hands with soap after using the toilets.

• Wash and sanitize all surfaces and equipment used for food preparation.

• Keep your distance when you are sick, or if you are around someone else who is sick.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing and coughing.

• Protect kitchen areas and food from insects, pests and other animals.

• Get a vaccination.

** You can still spread germs up to 7 days after getting sick

Flu Symptoms

• High Fever (102-104 degrees F) for 3-4 days

• Headache

• Body aches and pains

• Fatigue and Weakness that may last up to 2-3 weeks

• Early and significant Exhaustion

• Cough and Chest discomfort which may become severe

• Occasional stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat


Do not be a hero and come to work sick, STAY HOME.

EMPLOYEE 2012 W2's

When are the W2's available?
January 31

2011 W2's will be postmarked as of January 31, 2012. W2's will go to employee's most recently updated address on file.
Also as of January 31, 2012, W2's will be available through PER's Data Access Center. Employees can create a login by clicking on First Time Login and using their social security number and date of birth. In the Data Access Center employees can review pay stubs, contact information as well as W2's for all years worked for PER back to the year 2006. Using the PER Data Access Center is the fastest, easiest way for employees to obtain a copy or additional copies of their W2. The copy printed from the Data Access Center is a legal copy and can be used for all tax filing purposes.

Those employees who signed up to receive their W2 via email will NOT receive a copy in the mail, they will receive their copy via email, as early as January 31, 2012.

If employees have questions they can contact PER at 407-599-4990 to get further information.


Deadline to File Individual Tax Returns

April 17

Due to April 15, 2012 falling on a Sunday, the deadline to file individual tax returns has been moved by the IRS to April 17, 2012.
April 17, 2012 is the deadline to file individual tax returns (Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) or to request an Automatic Extension (Form 4868). An extension provides an extra six months to file your return. Payment of the tax is still due by April 17th. You can submit payment for tax along with the extension form.

2011 W2's- 2 Ways To Receive It Faster!

We are pleased to offer you two additional opportunities to receive your 2011 W2.

The first option is by email:
 Just go to www.w2copy.com and click on E-W2 sign up. You will be asked to enter our company code.  Please contact PER payroll department at 407-599-4990 to obtain the company code. Register online by 12-31-11 and when the W2 is available, you will receive an email notification, also please keep your personal access code handy as you will need it to retrieve your W2. If you choose this option you will not receive a paper copy in the mail. If you have used the email service before you must re-register every year.

The second option is by logging into our company website:
Go to www.perhumanresources.com at the end of January and click on the client area, then the data access center option on the left and log on with your personal information. Remember, if you want a paper copy and do not have access to a printer, do not choose these options.

**Also, carefully review your current check information; if your name, address or social security number is incorrect please have your supervisor submit a change form via the fax to 407-599-4991 immediately.

2010 W2's- Mail, Email, Online!

Have you moved recently? Recently married or changed your name? Submit a Payroll Change Form to PER's payroll department in order to ensure you recieve your W2 to file your taxes.



Get your W2 via Email!

Why wait for snail mail? Get your W2 faster than ever with EW2!

Electronic W2's:

• Will be available online sooner than mailed copies
• Can be printed as many times as needed once received electronically
• Can be downloaded to your personal computer for access anytime
• Remove the risk of sending your social security number on a paper copy in the mail- a common source of identity theft.
  

Signing up is easy!

• Go to W2copy.com and enroll!
• click on EW-2 sign up
• Enter our company code (IW2023)
• Create a log in and password
• Enter your Social Security number and your name (as listed on your paycheck) and a valid email address and submit
  

Success! You will receive an email when your W2 is ready for pick up in January!

DEADLINE: The deadline for signing up for Email W2's and changing your personal information for 2010 W2's is January 7, 2011.

PER's WEBSITE

February 2011 all previous W2s are available on PER's website back to the year 2006. To log on and retrieve a copy go to:

http://www.perhumanresources.com/


click on the lock



click on the tree


Click on "enroll as a new user"- Create a user name and password by using your social security number and date of birth.
There will be a green bar across the top of the screen. One of the tabs will say W2's. Click on the tab and a drop down menu to see all W2's you have recieved through PER dating back to 2006.

Please call our office with any questions- 407-599-4990.