Tax season is here! We want to inform you about an important change that may affect how you receive your tax forms.

 

What is the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act?

On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act (H.R. 3697) into law. This new legislation aims to streamline administrative processes and reduce unnecessary paperwork. One key change is that employers are no longer required to automatically provide paper copies of Form 1095-C to employees.

 

How Does This Affect You?

If you need a copy of your Form 1095-C, you can request one in writing. Here’s what you need to know:

– You may request a copy by emailing hrdept@royalamerican.com.

– The deadline for distribution of the form is March 3, 2025, so please send us an email AFTER this date.

 

If you do not request a copy, this form will not be automatically mailed to you. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the HR team.

 

At Royal American, we believe education is a powerful opportunity, and we are proud to support our employees’ families through the Leadership Education Scholarship program.

In 2025, we will award up to two (2) Leadership Education Scholarships, each valued at $2,000 per year for two years, to legal dependents of active, full-time employees. Eligible applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited community college or university.

If your dependent meets the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to review the Leadership Education Scholarship policy and submit the Application Form along with their essay to hrdept@royalamerican.com by March 15, 2024.

 

Managers – Please share this opportunity with your teams and ensure employees have access to the application materials provided below.

Scholarship Flyer

Leadership-Education-Scholarship-Policy

Leadership-Education-Scholarship-Application

 

 

You recently received Incentco points for Thanksgiving and the Holidays. Don’t forget to cash in your points for gift cards to your favorite stores or restaurants! Have questions about Royal Rewards with Incentco? Refer back to this Q&A on Incentco.

 

January Marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Join the Fight Against Exploitation

Each January, we observe National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the pervasive issue of human trafficking and to empower individuals to take action. This annual initiative underscores the importance of combating a crime that impacts an estimated 24.9 million people worldwide, depriving them of their freedom for profit.

What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel individuals into commercial sex acts, labor, or services against their will. Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities, often targeting those seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families.

Spotting the Red Flags
As part of our ongoing commitment to safety, we encourage employees to familiarize themselves with the signs of human trafficking, which may include:

  • Individuals showing signs of physical abuse or malnourishment.
  • People who appear fearful, submissive, or unable to speak for themselves.
  • Individuals who lack personal identification or appear controlled by someone else.
  • Mention of exploitative working conditions, unpaid labor, or excessive hours.

Our Commitment at Royal American Management
At Royal American Management, we are dedicated to maintaining safe communities and workplaces. Employees working in public lodging establishments in Florida are required to complete annual human trafficking awareness training, as mandated by Florida Statute 509.096. This training ensures employees can recognize potential trafficking situations and respond appropriately.

How You Can Help

  1. Complete Required Training: All employees must complete the “Human Trafficking in Rental Housing” course assigned via Grace Hill and submit a signed certificate of completion to their Community Manager.
  2. Be Observant: Familiarize yourself with the red flags and report suspicious activity.
  3. Spread Awareness: Display the required Human Trafficking Public Awareness Sign in employee-accessible areas, as per Florida law (Florida sites only).

Report Suspicious Activity
If you suspect someone may be a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733. Your vigilance could save a life.

Together, we can make a difference by staying informed, vigilant, and proactive. Let’s ensure that our communities remain places of safety and freedom for all.

 

Review the Human Trafficking presentation here.

 

 

We’re excited to introduce Policy Reminders, a new series on the Dispatch dedicated to keeping employees informed about essential company policies. Each month, we’ll spotlight key policies from various departments, providing a quick overview and links to detailed procedures in our company Procedures Manual. This initiative aims to increase policy awareness, improve compliance, enhance efficiency, and support departments in updating policies as needed.

 

For our first month, we’re featuring top HR policies, focusing on the areas that generate the most questions from employees. Click on the titles to view the full policies.

Attendance Policy: Our attendance policy ensures that all team members maintain a reliable work schedule, contributing to smooth operations and effective teamwork. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential, and this policy outlines expectations and procedures for reporting absences, tardiness, and requesting time off. A reminder: consistent attendance supports our goals and keeps our teams running smoothly.

Leave Donation Policy and Form: To support colleagues in times of need, our donated leave policy allows employees to voluntarily transfer accrued leave to fellow team members facing challenging circumstances. This policy provides a way for us to show our solidarity and compassion as a team, offering a safety net for those experiencing personal or family emergencies.

On-Call Policy: Some positions may require employees to be on call outside of regular working hours to ensure continuous support. Our on-call pay policy specifies the requirements for on-call shifts, how on-call time is compensated, and the expectations when an employee is called in. This policy ensures transparency around compensation and expectations, recognizing the value of availability during off-hours.

 

If you have any questions or need further clarification on these policies, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Human Resources department—they’re here to help!

 

 

The following employees were recognized at our Corporate quarterly meeting yesterday. They were nominated by their peers for going above and beyond and delivering exceptional service and work ethic during the 3rd Quarter of 2024. We would like to acknowledge their hard work.  Thank you for all you do!

 

  • Holly Bringard- Development Coordinator
  • Ashley Lafond- Accounts Payable Technician
  • Heidi Reynolds- GL Accounting Manager (WINNER)
  • Dawnelle Davis- Resident Services AA

 

The following site staff were also nominated for the GEM Award. Thank you to these individuals for their work ethic and dedication!

  • Alissa Peterson-  Community Manager- Sutton Creek/Marianna Crossing (WINNER)
  • Kent O’Neal- Maintenance Supervisor- The Reserve at Northshore
  • Elizabeth Murray- Assistant Community Manager- Singer Plaza

 

 

It’s that time of year – open enrollment season! All employees are encouraged to review and update their information to ensure their coverage reflects any changes they may need. Open enrollment will remain open until November 20th, so please make sure to take advantage of this opportunity to secure or adjust your benefits.

  • Update Your Insurance Information: Please update your Guardian Insurance in Paycom and your medical insurance with THATCH. An email was sent to your work or personal email from THATCH, so please check your spam if you haven’t seen it. If you’re full-time and believe you should have received this email but haven’t, please contact Human Resources for assistance.
  • No Action Required for Guardian Insurance: If you’re not planning to make any changes to your Guardian insurance, no action is needed. This year’s enrollment is passive, so your current coverage will carry over if left unchanged.
  • Need Assistance? If you have questions, you’re welcome to make an appointment with the ICHRA Shop, where the enrollment team will be happy to help. You can schedule an appointment through this link: Schedule Appointment.

Don’t wait – make sure you’re prepared for 2025!