Introducing RISQ Consulting’s new blog, The Vantage Point! Get ready to learn about more than “just insurance”. We have experts on our team that know so much more than premiums and paperwork! At RISQ Consulting, we are proud to say we focus on educating ourselves in many areas of the business world, not just insurance. This quest for knowledge has inspired many of our team members to dive deeply into fascinating areas such as business technology, organizational management, team psychology, employee engagement and more! The Vantage Point is our way of sharing simple tips and valuable insights with you. Please enjoy!
LATEST BLOG POSTS
Read more +11 June 2021 in BlogThe Productive Value of Not Being Productive
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinator A couple weeks ago, I wandered over to a colleague’s desk where we started chatting up a storm of, non-work related, topics. A few minutes into our conversation, the Employee Benefits President of the company walked by and asked me what I was up to. I told him
Read more +11 June 2021 in BlogThe Law of Attraction
By Shayla Dablemont, Individual and Family Benefits Consultant We all have suffered from a “case of the Mondays,” but what if we could turn all our bad days into good ones? Have you ever noticed that bad days often just get worse? First, you wake up in the morning feeling unrested, then you stumble to
Read more +09 June 2021 in BlogMental Health in the Workplace
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinator Last week, Naomi Osaka, a world-renowned tennis player, withdrew from the French Open. Why would she withdraw from such an important match, resulting in a $15,000 fine? The answer is simple: mental health. Naomi Osaka explained that she struggles with depression and anxiety and needed to put her
Read more +08 June 2021 in BlogAlcohol at Work, a Pro or a Con?
By Natasha Kwachka, Lead Account Specialist I have always loved the controversial topics, the cans and cannots, the dos and the don’ts, that are engrained in our society. After all, discovering what went wrong to create the guidelines that were put into place is quite intriguing. For as long as people have been people, we
Read more +26 May 2021 in BlogDressed to Impress
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Manager You can see the bottom of my face now. I’m vaccinated, and when the CDC came out with their updated guidance on masks earlier in May, I rubber banded the mask I was wearing off my face so fast it hit a wall. I still don the mask
Read more +25 May 2021 in BlogThinking Critically
By Jessica Carlson, Employee Benefits Consultant I was recently required to watch a video for my job. In the video, the presenter talked about how having a lack of critical thinking skills has become a major weakness due to API (application programming interface) influences. When you look at your social media feed, you’ll notice that
Read more +19 May 2021 in BlogDon’t Forget to Break the Ice
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager For so many employees, the thought of coming back to the office evokes a mixture of thoughts of excitement and anxiety. If you’ve been working from home for the past year, can you remember what it is like to be around other people regularly? Work has continued throughout the
Read more +11 May 2021 in Blog4 Reasons to Learn a New Language Even Though English is Taking Over as the Universal Language
By Aimee Johnson, Account Executive According to Josh McWhorter, a Linguist and Columbia Professor, English is on its way to becoming the world’s universal language for better or for worse. There are currently more Mandarin speakers in the world, yet more Mandarin speakers are learning English then English speakers learning Mandarin. Additionally, by the end
Read more +07 May 2021 in BlogTop 5 Cryptocurrencies to invest in May 2021
By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant Cryptocurrency have seen their biggest boom in the last four years than any other currency out there. Bitcoin, the most popular and the most valuable, hit a record high of $63,000 per bitcoin in 2021 alone. There is still a lot of unknown risks out there on how to invest,
Read more +03 May 2021 in BlogWhat’s the Tea – Your Guide to Understanding Your Gen Z Coworkers
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinator Sometimes I’ll say a phrase at work and receive blank stares from my colleagues. It’s easy to forget that different generations have varying phrases and slang and, while the world focused on Millennials, Gen Z has slowly entered the work force. According to this article, Gen Z was
Read more +30 April 2021 in BlogCreating Healthy Boundaries
By Jessica Carlson, Employee Benefits Consultant Do you have a hard time saying no to people? What if someone needs a simple favor or needs to borrow money? What about at work? Are you busy and someone you work with needs something done ASAP? How do you decide what takes priority? Setting boundaries is essential,
Read more +28 April 2021 in BlogLong Live the Hierarchy
By Jennifer Outcelt, RISQ Consulting Account Specialist I love hierarchy, don’t you? It’s just so much nicer when you can easily separate the important from the masses. Clear leaders guiding your mind is the only way to maintain order. Without hierarchy countless systems would devolve into chaos… What’s that? You think I have extreme political
Read more +22 April 2021 in BlogWorkers’ Compensation Benefits Overview
This article is from RISQ Consulting’s MyWave Connect portal, a resource available to all RISQ Consulting clients. Please contact your Benefits Consultant or Account Executive for more information or for help setting up your own login. Workers’ Compensation Benefits Overview When employers purchase workers’ compensation insurance, such a policy is used to cover expenses that
Read more +20 April 2021 in BlogReflecting on the Last Year
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP We are now past the 1st year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Things do seem to be turning in the right direction from the perspective of getting closer to life as we knew it prior to this monumental event that’s impacted all of
Read more +13 April 2021 in Blog10 Key Principles of Servant Leadership
By Shayla Dablemont, RISQ Consulting Individual and Family Benefits Consultant While speaking with my mom the other day, I mentioned my servant leader at work. Shocked, she said “They call you a servant at your work?” I then realized that it is not a common term and figured I had better explain it. Servant leadership
Read more +07 April 2021 in BlogHello Alaska, Let’s Plan a Summer Staycation!
By Aimee Johnson, Account Executive I’ve travelled to many international locations and dream on exploring more (once able). I do have to admit that I am a little embarrassed on how few places and adventures I have taken in my home state of Alaska. After 30+ years (that’s all you will get from me in
Read more +05 April 2021 in BlogKeeping Indoor Plants Alive
By Angela Baker, Account Specialist One of my favorite things to do is to go plant shopping. I always end up bringing a few new beauties home and I need to know how to care for them properly because plants are not cheap. Keeping plants alive is not as hard as you think it is.
Read more +25 March 2021 in BlogHaving a Work Smarter, Not Harder Mindset
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations Many years ago, in the throes of a project that I no longer remember, one of my colleagues said something that has stuck with me – work smarter, not harder. I had never heard that phrase before that I could recall, or at least not at
Read more +23 March 2021 in BlogWorker, Interrupted: The Cost of Task Switching
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP Do you ever feel like you spend an entire day doing a million different things at work, but by the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished nothing? Even the best planned out workdays can easily get side tracked by the
Read more +18 March 2021 in BlogYou Had a Great Idea, Now What?
By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant We are in 2021 and now more than ever, it seems like everyone is selling something and trying to create a value proposition. We have all had an idea or thought, “could that actually create value and make a difference in the world?” Just the other day I thought about
Read more +16 March 2021 in Blog122 Emails a Day
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager I spend a lot of time in my email inbox. Reading, replying, forwarding, sorting, unsubscribing. Repeating. Over, and over, and over again. A weird measure of time I keep is how many messages have sent. If you work in Outlook for Desktop, you can head on over to your
Read more +10 March 2021 in BlogWarmup and Stretching – Improve Flexibility, Performance and Avoid Injuries
By Tonya Mott, Director of Continuous Improvement Well, it’s been a few weeks since I wrote about my success in finally getting my butt to the gym. I Made a Habit of Going to the Gym I’m proud to say that I’m still going and don’t see an end in sight! The only concern I
Read more +02 March 2021 in BlogHow I Conquered Insomnia and Lost My Quarantine 15
By Shayla Dablemont, RISQ Consulting Individual and Family Benefits Consultant My husband and I got married in July in the middle of COVID-19. This created newlywed comfort along with the push to support our local restaurants. The result? Double the weight gain. I like to call it the quarantine 15, but it was more like
Read more +18 February 2021 in BlogI Made a Habit of Going to the Gym
By Tonya Mott, Director of Continuous Improvement Against all odds because it took me 20 years to make it happen, I have been going to the gym 6 days a week consistently since January 1, 2021. And, no, this was not a New Year’s resolution type deal, it just so happened to line up with
Read more +16 February 2021 in Blog3 Ways to be a Better Leader Today
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations Our agency has really gone against the grain when talking about who is a leader within the organization. Preferring the definition of a leader as someone who can see how things can be improved and rallies people to move toward that better vision. At RISQ, everyone
Read more +10 February 2021 in BlogG2’s Best HR Products for 2021
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP G2 is one of the best review sites out there when it comes to Workforce Technology. They’ve recently shared their 2021 top 50 list for HR Products. RISQ Consulting has experience in using, as well as consulting for the systems at #1, #2,
Read more +04 February 2021 in BlogExplosion of the Athleisure World
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner I don’t know about you, but I have worn more active gear without actually being more active since March 2020. COVID being the main cause for virtual meetings has helped create a new style definition, ‘below the shoulder’ attire. We have all seen the horrible faux paus
Read more +28 January 2021 in BlogHave You Changed HOW You Work Over the Years?
By Joshua Weinstein, Employee Benefits President I’m no longer a member of the youngest and hippest generation. My daughters keep me apprised of the trending memes, hand gestures, and terms, but at heart, I know I’ve crossed into deep mid-life. With that ascension comes maturity and growth, right? While I still break into fits of
Read more +26 January 2021 in BlogWinter Vegetable Options Got You Feeling Down?
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations Normally I try to share articles that are deep, insightful and nonetheless thought provoking, but sometimes we all need a little break from the norm as long as it provides some inspiration! Based on the most recent data from the CDC, in Alaska, only 19% of
Read more +19 January 2021 in BlogReady. Set. Shop! Earn 10% Cash Back at 1,000+ Stores.
By Joshua Weinstein, Employee Benefits President I’m a minimalist by nature. I believe everything you own is a relationship you’re in that requires maintenance. That said, many things spark joy and should be kept around, even if they require TLC. When new “things” are needed, I try to maximize my purchasing power. Heck, we so
Read more +13 January 2021 in BlogVolunteer Time Off: The Benefit That Gives Back
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinator We’ve all heard of paid time off, but what about volunteer time off? Volunteer time off (VTO) is an increasingly popular employee benefit that businesses are offering as a way to demonstrate how seriously they take social responsibility. Offering VTO is also a way to recruit and retain
Read more +04 January 2021 in BlogWorkers’ Compensation Trends to Watch in 2021
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner I can hardly believe it but 2020 has finally come to a very long awaited and welcomed close. With the new year upon us professionals of all industries are offering predictions, trends and opportunities for 2021 and the insurance industry is no different. All business owners
Read more +16 December 2020 in BlogEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
By Tonya Mott, Vice President of Operations My colleague recently turned me onto the book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown: https://gregmckeown.com/book/ I was hooked after reading these two questions: Is your time being hijacked by other people’s agendas? Are you busy but not productive? YES, the answer is, YES!! After I
Read more +08 December 2020 in BlogVirtual Workplace Holiday Parties
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner All of us throughout the world have experience vast changes in 2020. The world is not yet back to the ‘normal’ we have grown knowing and now with the holiday season upon us we seem to be searching for ways to remain close to our loved ones
Read more +18 November 2020 in BlogCruise Season Cancelation
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner Alaska offers majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and outdoor adventures which bring tourists from all over the world primarily by cruise ship. In 2019, two times the population of Alaska residents came to Alaska on a cruise ship. In 2020 all cruising was put to a screeching halt
Read more +17 November 2020 in BlogHow to Tell if Distance Learning Is Working for Your Kid
By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant 2020 is a crazy time to be alive. We’re dealing with a pandemic, politics, economic uncertainties, and so much more. This article hit home for me because I have a kid in school and, like many others, we are doing distance learning. My son is going to be 8 years
Read more +10 November 2020 in BlogA Layman’s Guide for When Sh!t Hits the Fan
By Jennifer Outcelt, Account Specialist I think we can all agree that this year has been comprised of many fans, and many propelled sh!ts. It sucks, and we are all struggling to wipe ourselves clean. Many of us are now struggling in a way that feels SO unfamiliar that it’s difficult to identify how we
Read more +03 November 2020 in BlogStress Is a Mess, it Plays to be Board
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Manager I’ve been fighting heartburn the last few days (weeks, months, etc.) Stress has been a constant, and inconsiderate, guest lately. Quite possibly most of us have had to reach liberally for the Tums, Rolaids, or stomach soother of choice this year. As we get ready to head indoors
Read more +21 October 2020 in BlogSocial Inflation, Low Interest Rates, Rising Catastrophes: Recipe for a Hard Market
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner When you think of a perfect storm, many thoughts may come to mind. You may be reflecting on an emotional storm you’ve encountered, a trifecta of issues and problems all coming down at once. You also could be thinking of Mark Wahlberg as the hunky deckhand glistening
Read more +13 October 2020 in BlogOverheard on Zoom: Not a Horror Story
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager In the age of online meeting exhaustion, there are loads of horror stories about embarrassing things that happened over Zoom. Not long ago, I read a blog post of a person who accidentally saw a coworker’s husband naked on Zoom. Yikes. The second-hand, or even third-hand, embarrassment is unbearable.
Read more +22 September 2020 in BlogBlue Zones: Thank you Zac Efron for Educating Me on Longevity
By Aimee Johnson, Account Executive First, I have to admit that, yes, I have been watching Zac Efron’s new series on Netflix, “Down to Earth” and it has become a guilty pleasure! And no I am not of the generation that swooned over Zac and High School musical. I can honestly say I’ve never
Read more +15 September 2020 in BlogCampsite Recommendations in Alaska for 2021: Start Reserving Spots Now!
By Tonya Mott, Vice President of Operations I know you’re probably thinking it’s way too early to start thinking about booking campsites for the 2021 summer but I promise, you are wrong. Let this blog post be a warning that if you want to camp at the most beautiful campgrounds and get the prime spots
Read more +01 September 2020 in BlogLook Back to Get Ahead
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Manager I don’t know about you, but being encouraged to stay at home during these turbulent times has really upped my YouTube consumption. Quite possibly Google should start paying me a portion of ad-revenue based on the uptick. One thing I find myself binging are the videos released by
Read more +28 August 2020 in BlogWhy Say Lot Word, When Few Word Do Trick?
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager I’m the first to say I can be a little long winded. I’ve made many efforts over the last few years to try to be more succinct, but it is quite challenging. Because of this self-criticism, I am envious of others who are able to convey their message concisely.
Read more +11 August 2020 in BlogThe Power of Words – Surprisingly Our Least Powerful Tool for Communication
By Alesha Combs, Account Manager I began working from home in March of 2020. One of the first things I noticed during this transition was the shift from popping into a colleague’s office, or by their desk, to say good morning or ask a question, but instead increasing my utilization of emails, texts, phone calls,
Read more +29 July 2020 in BlogSurprise Billings
By Diana Stewart, Executive Account Manager Surprise billing happens when a patient with health insurance is treated at an out-of-network hospital or when an out-of-network doctor assists with the procedure at an in-network hospital. Bills for such services can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. “Surprise” out-of-network bills have come under
Read more +14 July 2020 in BlogThe New Normal – Is it Here Yet?
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP I’ve written a few blog posts about change in the past, as I believe the ability to adapt to new challenges is one of the most important skills you can possess in life. But what happens when an event occurs that forces you
Read more +30 June 2020 in BlogEurope Was Cancelled, So I Bought a Unicycle
By Joshua Weinstein, President of the Employee Benefits & Employer Services Division My daughter was married in the fall of 2019, and my gift to the newlywed couple was a family trip to Europe in 2020. COVID-19 hit, so the trip is on pause. So, I decided to dip into the trip savings fund
Read more +23 June 2020 in BlogEmpower Kids to Reach Their Goals With Goally
By Alesha Combs, Account Manager How do you handle distracting colleagues? You know the ones I’m talking about. They ask you a million questions, half of which they already know the answers to, or could figure out on their own. They’re loud, even when you’re in the middle of a scheduled call or Zoom
Read more +16 June 2020 in BlogPlanning a Wedding During a Pandemic
By Shayla Dablemont, RISQ Consulting Individual and Family Benefits Consultant Planning a wedding is stressful enough by itself. Now let’s throw a pandemic into the mix! Most couples put a lot of thought into the specific day they choose to tie the knot. We wanted ours to be as close to our anniversary as possible
Recent Posts
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The Productive Value of Not Being Productive
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinat... -
The Law of Attraction
By Shayla Dablemont, Individual and Family Bene... -
Mental Health in the Workplace
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinat... -
Alcohol at Work, a Pro or a Con?
By Natasha Kwachka, Lead Account Specialist I h... -
Dressed to Impress
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Ma...
