Programs & Benefits
401K
For more information on the Association 401K Program, please call Martin Adams at (866) 319-6500 or e-mail him at madams@wmafinancial.com – The website is: www.wmafinancial.com Click here to see a list of Private Client Services.
Buy Alabama’s Best Program
Buy Alabama’s Best goal is to Identify and increase awareness of Alabama food products and increase sales of those products, as well as, raise money for designated charities through partnering with the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries and the Alabama Grocers Association.
Grocers Insurance Group and Safety Updates
Grocers Insurance Group provides Workers Compensation, 24 Hour Employee Coverage, IRA’s, Deferred Compensation, Pension Plans, Key Man Insurance, Business Agenda, Salary Continuation, Commercial Insurance, General Liability, Business Auto and Umbrella coverage. For more information on Grocers Insurance Group, please contact Paul Burnett at 205.841.8080 or at pburnett@argonautgroup.com
Courtesy of Grocers Insurance Group, the following safety information is available for our members through the Association Office. If you are interested in any of these topics, please e-mail Ellie Smotherman Taylor at etaylor@alabamagrocers.org.
TOPICS AVAILABLE ARE: OSHA 300 Requirements; Baler & Compactor; Winter Safety; 30-Second Safety Topics; Federal Child Labor Laws; Drug Screening; Employee Safety Reminders; First Aid Kits; Hazard Communication; Manager’s Winter Safety Reminders; Mandatory Postings; Medical Services of First Aid; Safety Incentive Programs; Shoplifting Prevention; Portable Space Heaters; Internal Theft Protection; Safety Rules for Vendors and Contractors; Contractors and Vendors; Floor Monitoring; Return to Work Programs – Workers Compensation; and Shopping Cart Damage
Health Insurance
Health Insurance is available through Strategic Employee Benefit Services. A portion of the proceeds of this program will go into the Alabama Grocers Education Foundation. The following Items are available: Medical, Dental & Eye Insurance; 401K/Qualified Retirement Plans; Executive Compensation Plans; Business Continuation Planning; Supplemental Benefits for Employees; Estate Analysis Service; Asset Management/Investment Planning; Individual Policy Evaluation; and Group Life/Disability/Long Term Care. For more information please contact Mr. Scott Smith of Strategic Employee Benefit Services at 205.803.7355 or by e-mailing scott.a.smith@nmfn.com
Limited Medical Plans
AGA has partnered with InnoBenefits to market Limited Medical Plans for your part-time and hourly employees. These employees are typically not eligible for your traditional group medical plan, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield. Limited Medical Plans, while not comprehensive in nature, provide the same features of major medical insurance, with defined benefits. Limited Medical Benefit choices include: Physician Office Visits; Prescription Benefits; Wellness Benefits; Surgical Benefits; Accident Benefits; Diagnostic Lab; X-Ray Benefits; Dental and Vision. For more information please contact Mr. Arthur Bagby of Capital Benefits Group at 205.789.8844 or by e-mailing abagby@bham.rr.com
On-Line Food Safety Manager & Other Training
- FOOD SAFETY MANAGER TRAINING
- OTHER ON-LINE TRAINING
AGA has an online education portal with Learn Something, Inc. where you have access to 10 categories of online training including: Business Skills; Computer Skills; Food Safety; Healthcare; Loss Prevention; OSHA courses; Pharmacy courses; Responsible Vendor Training; Retail Compliance; and a Retail Management Series. To Access any of these trainings, please visit: www.aga.learnsomething.com.
Pre-Employment Screening
RKB Solutions offers criminal background searches in the following areas: Social Security Number trace to verify / detect names / addresses used by applicant; Birmingham Municipal Court criminal record search; Alabama Statewide District & Circuit Courts criminal record search; Federal criminal record search (7 years minimal) in every district lived or worked and State Sex Offender record search in every state lives or worked. RKB can also search Motor Vehicle Records. For more information please contact Robert Burnett with RKB Solutions at 205.678.5755 or by e-mailing rkbsolutions@bellsouth.net
Rental Car Discounts
Being a member will give you access to Hertz rental car discounts. Please call the association office at 800-844-2391 to get the Hertz number and you can receive $10 off weekly rental or one car class upgrade. Discounts may be greater depending on destination.
Responsible Vendor Training
The Responsible Vendor Program requires the training of all employees involved in the management, sale, or service of alcoholic beverages. Training includes Alabama law regarding the sale or service of alcohol, practical techniques for determining if the customer is of legal age, civil and criminal penalties, and techniques for reducing the risk inherent in the sale/service of alcohol. Licensees who voluntarily join the program are required to establish policies ensuring legal and responsible sales and service, and to train employees in these policies.
For most licensees, participation in the program is voluntary. However, Alabama law requires mandatory participation for on-premises licensees who hold a retail restaurant license (020 license type), and who wish to hire 19- and 20- year old servers and allow those servers to deliver alcohol to customer tables. Otherwise, persons under the age of 21 are prohibited from delivering the alcohol to customer tables.
Benefits of participating in the program include:
- Protection of the beverage license in the event that a trained employee sells/serves an underage customer without the knowledge, consent, or participation of the owner.
- Reducing the risk of dram shop lawsuits by effectively training employees.
- Broadening the hiring base for retail restaurant licensees.
- Improving the business relationship with local communities by preventing problem situations that can lead to fines and bad press.
- Making communities safer by refusing sales and service to underage and intoxicated customers.
Ellie Taylor, President of the Alabama Grocers Association has been approved by the ABC board to provide training for certification in the Responsible Vendor Program.
We offer on-line Responsible Vendor Training through Learn Something. For more information please click here.
Workers Compensation Plan
For information on the Workers Compensation Plan please contact Mr. Steve Hewitt with Alacomp at 334.269.2000.