Foothills Times January 2014 | Page 12

Investing In Your Employees by Sabrina Gatewood As a small business owner, you know how important your employees are to your success. You depend on their knowledge, experience, talent, and loyalty to keep your company running smoothly and efficiently. But, like many businesses, you may have been hit hard by the recession, and trying to keep expenses down—making cuts, freezing payrolls, and streamlining operational costs—means your employees may be assuming heavier workloads, longer hours, and broader responsibilities, often for the same paycheck. So, in these tough economic times, how can you show your workers just how much they're appreciated? Small gestures, like movie tickets or a night at a local restaurant, can help improve morale, but if you're looking to offer something more substantial, consider supplementing your employees' benefits package with life insurance through a voluntary payroll deduction program. Voluntary payroll deduction is one of the simplest ways employees can purchase permanent life insurance to protect their loved ones, and a smart way to supplement the benefits you already offer them. It can usually be set up using your existing procedures for payroll deduction and best of all, there is virtually no direct, out-of-pocket costs to the employer. Remember, when you invest in your employees, you invest in your business. That's just good business sense. Note: Employee participation in a payroll deduction insurance program is completely voluntary. Since this program is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), employers cannot contribute to, or endorse, this program. Together let’s create a retirement plan that can help you continue all the good in your life. Sabrina Gatewood Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 120 South Main Street King, NC 27021 (336) 403-3998 [email protected] www.newyorklife.com Registerd Representative offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency. Walking - A Step In The Right Direction Walking is more than just an exercise regimen. Walking is becoming a movement around the United States. Heart disease is this country's number one killer and strokes are number four. Physical activity has a large role to play in making heart disease and stroke 80% preventable. American Heart Association research studies show that adults may gain as much as two hours of life expectancy for each hour of regular vigorous exercise – like very brisk walking. A regular walking program is easy, safe on your body, requires no equipment and is free. Starting a regular walking routine can improve your circulation, energy level, enthusiasm, optimism, muscle tone and strength. It can also reduce your blood cholesterol, blood pressure, bone loss, stress, anxiety and weight. Many people are tempted to go on a diet to lose weight, but merely cutting calories isn't the best long-term approach. When you lose weight strictly by dieting, you lose more muscle along with the fat. Muscle helps rev up the body's metabolism so a loss of muscle mass can lower the rate at which you normally burn calories. Exercise such as brisk walking not only elevates your metabolism while you're doing it, but can also elevate metabolism for a short time after you're done, depending on your pace. Not only is the combination of healthy eating and exercise the best way to lose weight, it is much more effective at keeping weight off in the long run than any diet alone. A healthy exercise program includes muscular strengthening, flexibility training and plenty of aerobic exercise such as walking. www.foothillstimes.com by Sarah Fedele Don't think you have the time? Even on a busy schedule, you can find creative ways to make time for walking. If you can fit two, ten minute sessions in during the day, it will benefit you almost as much as one twenty minute session. You just need to fit in a total of 2 ½ hours over the course of a week. Think about small doses. For example, parking farther away, taking the stairs, walking to lunch, hopping off the bus a stop or two earlier or taking a short walk after dinner can get you to your goal. For great warm up stretches before you begin your walk, walking tips, tracking tools, or to find a walking path near you, visit www.startwalkingnow.org. 12