Monday Morning Memo Changes

As we wrap up a successful 2014, and in continuation of our efforts to provide the most timely, relevant and impactful information, NAFCD will be revamping member communications in 2015.

Stay tuned for more information in the new year. In the meantime, this will be the final Monday Morning Memo of the year. We will continue to provide timely information on important topics through the remainder of 2014 and into 2015 via dedicated emails as needed.

We look forward to continuing to serve you in 2015! Don't forget to update your member profile to ensure everyone in your company is receiving their copy of NAFCD's communications. 

Register for the 2015 University of Innovative Distribution

University of Innovative Distribution

March 8-11, 2015

JW Marriott Indianapolis Hotel

Indianapolis, Indiana

Register here

The 2015 University of Innovative Distribution (UID) is a concentrated four-day format that has helped increase the effectiveness of hundreds of NAFCD member employees.

Click here to learn about the 2015 UID courses. Courses provide a hands-on experience with knowledge you can apply and share when you return to your company. The more popular courses fill up early, so don't wait. Register today!

Important Affordable Care Act Update from NAW

In guidance recently unveiled by the Obama Administration and slated to be published later this month, the Departments of Health & Human Services and Treasury reveal the imminence of regulatory action to render "group health benefit designs that do not provide coverage for in-patient hospitalization services" as non-compliant with the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate:

"The Departments believe that plans that fail to provide substantial coverage for in-patient hospitalization services or for physician services (or both) (referred to in this notice as Non-Hospital/Non-Physician Services Plans) do not provide the minimum value intended by the minimum value requirement and will shortly propose regulations to this effect with a view to being in a position to finalize such regulations during 2015 and make them applicable upon finalization."

To read a new NAW Regulatory Alert on this topic, click here.  

NAFCD is a member of NAW, whose primary purpose is to represent the wholesale distribution industry before Congress, the White House, and the judiciary on issues that cross the industry's many lines of trade. NAW encompasses over 100 national line-of-trade associations, including NAFCD.

Did You Know NAFCD Offers...

Showcase your affiliation with NAFCD by including the NAFCD logo on your website, in catalogs, letterhead, business cards and more!

To download the NAFCD Proud Member logo, sign into the NAFCD website and click on "Download NAFCD Logo" under the Members Only tab. You will need your username and password to access this section of the website. 

New Research Study Available for NAFCD Members

2014 NAFCD Profit Analysis Report (PAR) Survey

NAFCD Welcomes New Member Loxcreen Flooring Group

NAW Winter 2014 Legislative Update

This legislative update is a benefit for NAFCD members, made possible through NAFCD's membership with NAW.

In this update:

• 2013 Congress Year in Review
• Labor and the National Labor Relations Board
• Marketplace Fairness
• OSHA Reform
• Regulatory Agenda
• Taxes

2013 Congress Year in Review

• Congress began and ended the year passing bipartisan fiscal measures. In January they passed the "fiscal cliff" legislation dealing with taxes and spending; they closed the year in December passing a Congressional budget and spending bill - the first budget passed by both houses of Congress since 2009.
• In February 2013, the Administration issued guidance delaying for one year implementation of the ACA's limitation on out-of-pocket expenses for non-grandfathered group health plans that use more than one provider to administer major medical and pharmacy benefits. Thus, group health plans with more than one benefits administrator don't have to combine their tallies of members' out-of-pocket spending into one total until 2015. 

Labor and the National Labor Relations Board

• Although labor has had few legislative victories, the pro-labor assault on the American workplace continues to manifest itself aggressively in the regulatory arena. Both the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are expected to increase their activity and begin moving on regulations that have been in the queue in both agencies.

Marketplace Fairness

• In April 2013, the U.S. Senate passed S. 763, the NAW-supported Marketplace Fairness Act ("MFA"). The bill proposes to empower the states to require sellers not qualifying for a small seller exemption to collect and remit sales and use taxes on remote sales. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House, but neither the Senate-passed measure nor its companion House bill will be the vehicle for action in the House. Instead, proponents of marketplace fairness legislation are working with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte (R-VA-6) to develop a bill based on seven principles Chairman Goodlatte unveiled in September.

OSHA Reform

• Legislation to reform the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), favoring confrontation over cooperation as the preferred approach to workplace health and safety regulation ("Protecting America's Workers Act" or "PAWA"), stalled in both the 111th and 112th Congresses and has gone and will go nowhere in the 113th.
• OSHA is continuing to develop "a rule requiring employers to implement an Injury and Illness Prevention Program," and publication of a long-delayed proposed "I2P2" rule is on the Agency's regulatory agenda for the fall of 2014. The proposal will involve "planning, implementing, evaluating, and improving processes and activities that protect employee safety and health," and will "build on OSHA's voluntary Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines."
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a new system allowing workers to file whistleblower retaliation claims with the agency online. Previously an employee had to file a written complaint with OSHA or call the agency hotline or a regional office. Complaints filed using the online system will be automatically routed to the proper regional office for investigation. OSHA enforces the whistleblower protection provisions in 22 federal laws.

Regulatory Agenda

• NLRB continues to pursue its rule-making, including the NLRB Rule requiring employers to post a Notice of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act. Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) and others successfully challenged in court and both the DC and 4th circuit appellate courts struck down the rule, one ruling that the rule violated the constitutional free speech clause by compelling speech by business, and the other ruling that the NLRB lacked the statutory authority to require the notice postings. NLRB did not appeal which means that the lower court decisions stands, the notice posting rule is invalid, and the business community collaborative effort was a success.

Taxes

• A few tax provisions important to business, particularly bonus depreciation and Section 179 small business expensing, were extended for a year in the fiscal cliff bill, but not made permanent. These two provisions are among the 55-or-so expiring tax provisions that Congress allowed to lapse when it adjourned last December. It is unclear whether Congress can or will retroactively extend some or all of those tax provisions.

__________________________________________________________________

For complete details on these and other topics that NAW is working on, please see the Winter 2014 NAW Update.

NACFD is a member of NAW, whose primary purpose is to represent the wholesale distribution industry before Congress, the White House, and the judiciary on issues that cross the industry's many lines of trade. NAW encompasses over 100 national line-of-trade associations, including NAFCD.

IMPORTANT: THIS NAW LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT DOES NOT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE LEGAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE OF ANY KIND. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR COMPANY'S LEGAL/EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COUNSEL FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE APPLICABILITY OF THIS INFORMATION OR ANY PROVISION THEROF TO YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION.

Action Alerts generated by NAW are sent to you as a member service of NAFCD. For additional information on the issues outlined on this update or any other issue being monitored by NAW, please contact NAW at: 1325 G Street, NW Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 / 202.872.0885 / naw@naw.org

Meet NAFCD's Newest Alliance Partner

Members of NAFCD are eligible to receive a free freight consultation from Trinity Logistics's experienced and seasoned logistics team. During the complimentary consultation, Trinity will analyze your business, supply chain, freight goals, and address any challenges you might be facing. They will then create a customized approach to help analyze your shipping processes, identify areas of improvement and provide workable solutions. To reserve your consultation, please visit Trinitylogistics or call (866) 604-5679. 

Trinity will also be hosting an in-person session at the 2013 NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention in which you will learn about best practices and tactics from logistics experts Kathie Kingery and Pat Wallace. This session takes place Tuesday, November 12th from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., RSVP today! If you can't make this session, they will also be at Booth #718 throughout the convention.

New NAW Publications Just Released!

As a Member of NAFCD, you and your employees are eligible for a reduced (middle tier rate) on publications, wholesale distribution manager's courses, and business services offerings.

New to the NAW library are:

• Facing the Forces of Change: Reimagining Distribution in a Connected World
• Pricing Optimization: Striking the Right Balance for Margin Advantage
• Getting the Most Out of CRM: Best Practices for Wholesaler-Distributors

When you place an order with NAW, make sure that you acknowledge your membership with NAFCD to receive the discounted price. To view NAW full publication catalog of educational materials, please visit NAW Publications or check out the current Top 10 Best Sellers here.

Participate in NWFA's Focus Group & Luncheon

Join the National Wood Flooring Association at the NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention for a focus group with distributors and manufacturers in the wood flooring industry interested in sharing their ideas on how trade associations can help create supply chain efficiencies and improve wood flooring issues.

Topics of discussion will include:

• What do distributors of wood flooring need to stay competitive?
• What are the biggest challenges in the wood flooring sector?
• What do distributor sales people need to know to increase the sales of wood flooring products?
• What can your trade associations do to help grow your wood flooring business?

This session will be held on Tuesday, November 12, from 12:00-1:30pm at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel. There is no additional cost to attend and lunch is included.

Space is limited to 15 qualified wood flooring industry professionals, so RSVP today! Contact Anita Howard or Heather Wegge at (800) 422-4556 for more information or to RSVP.