Regulations

Is the end of Non-Compete agreements coming? Will funeral directors be “Free Agents”?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 20, 2023 /

      Back in January of this year Funeral Director Daily published this article entitled “Federal Trade Commission seeks to ban (most) non-compete agreements.”  There has been a lot of push-back to non-compete agreements as they have become common practice, not only for highly compensated professionals, but for general employees as well.   During…

Opioid deaths, yes. . . what about traffic fatalities?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 5, 2023 /

      I worked my time for over 30 years as a funeral director in a community located along the interstate highway system.  That vast amount of traffic passing by us unfortunately led to a few incidents of multiple fatalities that were directed to our funeral home for help in removal and trade services.…

A Renaissance for cemeteries?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 1, 2023 /

    I was out at our hometown non-denominational cemetery, Kinkead Cemetery, on Memorial Day.  It’s the large cemetery on the north end of our community where I ride my bike through on Summer Saturday mornings.  It was named after Alexander and William Kinkead, the founders of our city, Alexandria.   I went out there…

Memorial Day 2023 — May God Bless their memories

By Funeral Director Daily / May 29, 2023 /

    I bring you this Memorial Day thought and tell you that it is a slight reprise from an Easter message of thanks that Funeral Director Daily produced during the days of the pandemic lock down. . . . The crux of the message, with a little editing to bring it up to date,…

Pandemic’s death benefit payments come to an end. . .average award about $6,275

By Funeral Director Daily / May 26, 2023 /

    President Donald Trump declared a nationwide pandemic public health emergency on January 31, 2020.  That public health emergency has now expired as of midnight on May 11, 2023. . . . a period of over three years in length.   I certainly don’t have to remind anyone who lived through it of the…

Maybe the word is getting out. . .it’s honorable and rewarding

By Funeral Director Daily / May 25, 2023 /

    I served as a “front line” funeral director for over 33 years.  I did my share of night calls, prep room work, arrangements, and funeral duty.  One thing that I take from that experience is that “I always felt, by the way I worked with a client family, like I could make a…

Will Illinois bill set a precedent for the future of cremation remains

By Funeral Director Daily / May 19, 2023 /

    A reader of Funeral Director Daily recently sent me information on Illinois HB 1367 that is a bill under consideration in the state legislature of Illinois that the bill’s author states in this radio interview will (allow for a) “concept of how cremated remains are handled in the future”.   According to this…

Your employees and marijuana use

By Funeral Director Daily / May 18, 2023 /

      I recently read an article in the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Memorial Business Journal about what employers need to know about the increasing legalization of marijuana and how it will possibly affect employer/employee relations.     Back in 1990 the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and put into effect…

Burials on hold. . . . more problems at cemeteries

By Funeral Director Daily / May 12, 2023 /

    As we continue to see less and less full casket traditional burials at cemeteries, especially rural cemeteries, we have kept you apprised about some of the issues that these long-time, old-established cemeteries face.  Most of the time the issues are those of finances — such as not enough grave lot sales, interment sales,…

How much government intervention is enough?

By Funeral Director Daily / May 10, 2023 /

    I think the last few years, especially in some of America’s largest urban centers, we’ve learned that the rule of law is essential in a democracy.  It’s imperative that we have laws and even business regulations so that all people play by the same set of rules.   However, sometimes it feels like…