The Benefits and Relevance of Industrial Mechanical Insulation Systems

by B&B Thermal Insulation in Chattanooga, TN.

In today’s world of increasing energy concerns, the need for efficiently managing facilities is more and more relevant. Properly insulating industrial systems reduce energy costs, ensures facilities maintain air, sound as well as temperature quality. More specifically, mechanical insulation provides improved safety, effectiveness and aesthetics to work environments. Proper mechanical insulation also maximizes the return on investment in industrial facilities by improving energy efficiency, enhancing the quality of work environments, and reducing overall costs.

While conservationists and environmental consultants push expensive and sophisticated mechanical appliances, few of these options compare to the overall gains of properly insulating an industry’s mechanical systems. When done correctly, mechanical insulation systems:

• Minimize energy costs
• Maximize return on investment
• Enhance system performance
• Reduce emissions
• Bolster personnel safety
• Inhibit noise transfer

Additionally, these systems increase the durability and hands-off maintenance of a facility’s insulation systems. Once installed, insulation provides continuous savings and other invisible but vital benefits. Quite simply, sometimes the easiest solution is the best one.

For more information about industrial and mechanical insulation systems, please contact B & B Thermal Insulation at 423-622-5623 or find them online at bbthermalinsulation.com.

10 Benefits of Outsourcing Payroll

by L and L Tax Services in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA.

Every business owner is faced with the option of doing payroll in-house or outsourcing to a payroll service provider. While each has its advantages and disadvantages, outsourcing payroll seems to be a common choice for both large and small businesses. If you are trying to decide if payroll outsourcing is right for you, consider the following benefits.

1. Fewer Compliance Issues

Payroll tax regulations can be complicated and confusing. It may be difficult to stay up with all the tax rules and changes when trying to run a business, yet you are legally responsible for inaccurate payroll reporting, which can result in penalties from the government. Outsourcing payroll services can help you prevent compliance issues. Companies dedicated to running payroll stay up-to-date on all tax rules and therefore are much less likely to make costly errors. In addition, outsourced payroll services will often handle filings, taxes, and payments, as well as take responsibility for the cost of mistakes.

2. Lower Costs

In addition to reducing the probability of costly penalties, hiring a company to manage your payroll can save you money in other ways. Payroll outsourcing usually costs less than managing payroll internally. Particularly for small to medium businesses, the price to pay for training and the labor hours spent processing payroll in-house generally add up to more than the price of outsourcing.

3. Saved Time

Not having someone process payroll internally can not only save you money but also time. When one of your employees has to work on payroll every couple of weeks or once a month, they are spending less time actually doing their job. Because payroll takes a lot of time and attention to detail to prevent errors, outsourcing to a professional company can increase efficiency.

4. No Days Off

When you rely on an employee to manage your payroll, you may have to deal with illness, vacations or resignations. If your employee gets sick or requests PTO when payroll is due, it may not get done on time, which can lead to penalties. Hiring a payroll company means no asking for days off. This ensures consistent and reliable payroll processing of every pay period.

5. Better Security

By processing payroll in-house, you may be putting yourself at a greater security risk. Even though you may trust your employees, there is always a chance personal information could accidentally get shared or be seen in the office. This could lead to potential identity theft, messing with company records, manipulating payments or embezzling money in extreme cases.

6. More Reliable Backup

While payroll software is available to help companies run payroll internally, if the software goes down, all of your data may be lost. When you outsource payroll to a service provider, they generally have backup systems in place and several server locations to protect your information – without additional cost to you.

7. Peace of Mind

One of the greatest benefits of outsourcing payroll is the peace of mind that comes with it. When you don’t have to worry about whether your payroll is getting done correctly and on time, you can concentrate on growing your business. Since payroll providers usually take responsibility for errors, you can feel confident they will take responsibility for mistakes. If the payroll service company cannot fix the issue, it is quick and easy to hire a new one, as opposed to taking weeks for hiring and training new members of your staff.

8. Alternative Payment Methods

Many payroll companies offer different options for paying employees. Doing payroll in-house often means sending paper checks to your employees each pay period. By outsourcing payroll, businesses often have the ability to do direct deposit or even offer pay cards to those employees without bank accounts. Having these options means it is easier to stop payments and reissue them if necessary.

9. Quicker Processing

Payroll service providers employ experts in payroll rules and requirements. Because payroll is all they do and they have advanced technical resources as support, they can complete complex payrolls quickly and accurately. This includes adding new employees to the system and removing former employees as soon as they leave the company.

10. Access for Employees

Outsourced payroll often comes with an employee access system that allows employees to see their personal payroll information. This creates a quicker and more efficient way to get information to employees and makes it easier for them to update their information. Since this feature often comes with outsourced payroll services, employers do not have to worry about maintaining it.

While every payroll company is slightly different, the benefits of outsourcing payroll often outweigh the negatives. If any of these factors are leading to inefficiencies or limiting profitability in your company, it might be time to consider payroll outsourcing. For more information about outsourcing payroll, call L and L Tax Prep at (706) 841-0829 or find them online at www.facebook.com/LLTAXPREP.

Why Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Insurance in Tennessee or Georgia?

By the Dennis and King Law Firm In Chattanooga, TN

Despite the fact that Tennessee and Georgia require automobile insurance, there are still many drivers on our roads lacking it. By some estimates, as many as fifty percent of all drivers in Tennessee and North Georgia lack insurance coverage. Furthermore, those that do carry insurance only carry the lowest limits allowable by law: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per wreck.

What does all this mean? It means if a careless driver causes injury to another driver, the injured party may never recover enough money to compensate them for medical bills as well as pain and suffering. This is why Tennessee and Georgia law requires every car insurance company selling liability insurance also to offer uninsured motorist coverage in an amount equal to the limits of the property damage and “at-fault” bodily injury coverage amounts in that policy.

What Is the Minimum Legal Automobile Insurance Policy in Tennessee?

In 2008, under the 2010 Financial Responsibility Law, the state legislature increased the minimum liability coverage amount by revising section 55-12-102 of the Tennessee Code:

“(12) Proof of financial responsibility or proof of financial security means:…
(i) If proof is required after December 21, 2008, proof means:
(a) A written proof of liability insurance coverage provided by a single limit policy with a limit of not less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) applicable to one (1) accident;
(b) A split-limit policy with a limit of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for bodily injury to or death of

one (1) person, not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident, and not less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for damage to property in any one (1) accident…”

If the bare legal minimum car insurance policy of 25/50/15 is purchased, then one can only receive that same amount of coverage for an uninsured motorist {UM} policy. Why is this? Because Tennessee law forbids UM coverage exceeding the liability coverage. Keep this fact in mind when shopping for car insurance. Even though an inexpensive premium is desired, drivers also need enough insurance to protect against uninsured drivers or underinsured drivers. In this day and age when an ambulance ride costs $1500, a CT scan costs $1800, an MRI costs $4500, and a 24-hour hospital stay can easily run $10,000 dollars, $25,000 dollars is really not very much.

When Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Apply?

Most UM policies will cover injuries to:

• the insured, while driving or riding in their car or any car and while as a pedestrian
• any relative who lives with the insured while driving or riding in the vehicle listed in the policy
• anyone else riding in or driving the insured’s car, with the insured’s permission
• anyone riding in a car the insured is driving but does not own.

When Does Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage Apply?

UIM coverage applies only if the injured party proves to their insurance company that the careless driver who hit them lacked enough insurance to properly compensate them. This can be proven after the injured party has managed to get the careless driver’s insurance company to offer them “policy limits” of $25,000 in writing. This can be a complicated procedure because it requires cooperation between the injured party’s insurance company and the careless driver’s insurance after the accident.

For more information about the laws in Tennessee regarding car insurance, contact Dennis and King in Chattanooga, TN at 423-892-5533. They are here to help and can provide a great deal of information about how underinsured motorist insurance can apply to injuries if a negligent driver has caused an injury.

The Various Health Benefits of Bowling

By Retro Bowl In Dalton, GA.

Bowling is one of the few activities where the entire family can participate. While bowling is not a full-contact sport, it still works muscle groups throughout the entire body. Additionally, it offers healthy exercise for people of all ages. Bowling assists seniors in maintaining control of their motor skills and helps children with their hand-eye coordination. It is a well-known fact that regular exercise has a very positive effect on overall health, from lowering the risk of heart-related incidents to increasing bone density. Why not get some exercise through bowling? It’s competitive, and adrenaline rushes tend to increase heart rate, also possibly contributing to better heart health. Furthermore, bowling is really fun!

One might not consider bowling to be a proper form of exercise. However, bowling actually utilizes many different muscular groups. For example, knees are bent during the approach, the core is kept tight, legs are used to approach the lane, and arms are used for throwing the ball. While bowling is not an extreme cardio workout or a heavy weight lifting routine, it is a well-rounded combination of exercise that definitely helps burn calories.

At a later age, getting the proper amount of exercise can definitely become challenging. One of the greatest things about bowling is the bowler’s ability to choose and customize the ball. At later ages, it is paramount not to use too heavy of a ball, because of the amount of excess strain it can put on the body. Having the ability to select the best weight and fit for one’s individual specifications makes enjoying some light exercise a lot easier. Most other sports
are not as adaptable because they do not allow such customization of the game.

There are not too many sports in which young children can fully participate. Light bowling balls and the availability of ramps make bowling a plausible activity for children of any age. While they might not have the ability to fire a fifteen-pound bowling ball down the lane like an adult, they can still roll the ball (whether using a ramp or not) and experience the various nuances of bowling. It also teaches kids about aim, and how to adjust where they are aiming, in order to make their next shot more successful. These are all healthy skills for young children to learn and to even utilize in other areas of their lives.

From the social aspect of bowling with a group of people to the concentration necessary to successfully knock down pins, bowling assists in keeping the mind active. Bowling well encompasses a great deal of hand-eye coordination. A great amount of focus is also required to be able to consistently duplicate a good shot. Additionally, bowling requires alertness in order to adjust and compensate for whatever bowling conditions to which one may become subject.

Regardless of age, bowling is a good exercise for both the body and mind. While children can learn important developmental skills, elders can benefit from exercise and mental stimulation. In a time where staying active is increasingly challenging, bowling is a fantastic way to burn calories while keeping the mind sharp.