Departments > Leader Resources > Monthly Leader Brief Archives

January 2026

New Year, New Paycheck: Key Payroll & Tax Reminders

As we kick off 2026, please help ensure your teams are aware of several important payroll and tax reminders tied to the first paycheck of the year and upcoming tax documents.

💰 First Payroll of 2026 is TODAY, Friday, January 9

The first bi-weekly paycheck of the year was issued TODAY, Friday, January 9. Employees should be reminded to review their check stubs in UKG, as the start of the year is an especially important time to confirm accuracy.

Key items to review:

Benefits deductions – Are the correct amounts being withheld?
Questions: benefits@nsm-seating.com
Home address – Must be current for accurate tax reporting
Federal, state, and local tax withholdings – Employees should update their W-4 if changes are needed

📄 Tax Documents & W-2s

2025 W-2s are now available in UKG

Path: Myself > Pay > U.S. Wage and Tax Statements > 2025
Paper copies (for those who elected mail) will be sent by January 31
Employees can download their W-2 at any time, regardless of mailing preference

💸 Annual Withholding Review Reminder

The IRS recommends reviewing W-4 elections at least once a year. Employees may want to update their information if they have experienced:

A change in marital status
A new child or dependent
Additional income
Over- or under-withholding last year

Step-by-step instructions are available on the UKG Guides page on WNSM, and the IRS Withholding Estimator is also a helpful tool. Employees should consult a tax professional for personalized advice.

⚠️ Additional Tax Information to Note

Qualified Overtime (OBBBA): Eligible overtime from 2025–2028 may be deductible from federal income tax. Amounts appear in Box 14 of the W-2.
Questions: payroll@nsm-seating.com
HSA 1099-SA: Available soon via myhsabank.com (late Jan/early Feb for paper copies)
1095-C Forms: Distributed by March 2, 2026, confirming 2024 medical plan eligibility/enrollment

📍 States with Local Taxes

AL | CA | CO | DE | IN | KY | MD | MI | MO | NJ | NY | OH | OR | PA | WV

❓ Support Contacts

Payroll: payroll@nsm-seating.com
Benefits: benefits@nsm-seating.com

Thank you for reinforcing these important reminders and helping your teams start the year informed and prepared.

Company

⚠️ 2026 Compliance Training – Check Assignments and Use Job Aids

NSM's Annual 2026 Compliance Training launches January 12 and must be completed by February 28. As leaders, your engagement is critical to ensuring a smooth rollout and full compliance across your teams.

To support you this year, NSM's Learning and Development Team has created job aids to help you navigate enhancements to the NSMU platform and this year’s compliance program. These resources are available on your NSMU homepage under “News and Announcements,” and we strongly encourage you to review them prior to launch.

2026 Compliance Job Aids

All Employees: 2026 Compliance Learning Plan QRG
Managers: Video – How to Track Your Completions (4 minutes)
Managers: How to Track Your Completions QRG

Action Required:

Ensure you receive the NSMU assignment notifications that will be emailed on Jan. 12^th.
Ensure that everyone on your team has received the training. We are asking local leaders to verify with their direct reports that compliance assignments are not missing in NSMU.
If an employee does not receive a notification or does not see their compliance training, contact the NSMTraining inbox for assistance with the assignment.

Thank you again for your partnership in supporting compliance readiness and accountability across your teams. If you have any questions, we are happy to support.

NEW! Customer Satisfaction Survey Process

We have been piloting a new customer satisfaction survey process for the past couple of months in our NorCal and Colonial Valley regions and overall it has been received well by employees and customers.

This month, we will be rolling out the new process to all U.S. locations! This new process surveys clients throughout the order process using automated texting, versus sending one survey by mail or email after the order process is complete. To start, we are focused on new equipment orders, except for Home Access and Kaiser. Following soon after, we will add in repairs and home access orders. Kaiser orders have a separate survey process that they will continue to utilize.

This new survey approach gives us a lot more visibility to learn how we are doing throughout the order process – evaluation, funding, and delivery. It is meant to help us understand where we are performing well and where we need to do better to deliver a great client experience. The survey completion rates during the pilot phase have more than quadrupled at 13% compared to our prior Press Ganey survey process at 3%!

The exact launch date will be announced soon as we are finalizing some technical components, but the launch will occur this month! We will be communicating out the new process in multiple ways using email, Teams virtual meetings and cascading communications from you, our Leaders. We wanted you to be notified first before we start communicating out to our employees next week

Click here for a high-level communications plan.
Click here to view a brief presentation to prepare you to communicate the new process out to your teams.

Thank you in advance for your support in rolling out our new client satisfaction survey process. Please send any questions to feedback@nsm-seating.com.

2025 Google Review Recap: Let's Build on this Momentum in 2026

In 2025, customer feedback on Google reinforced what we strive for every day at NSM: quality, reliability, and exceptional service.

By the numbers (US and Canada):

⭐ Overall Google Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (up from 4.3 in 2024)
📝 Total Reviews in 2025: 2,455
📈 Year-over-Year Review Growth: +24% (an increase of 476 reviews)
👍 5-Star Reviews: 83% of total reviews

Throughout the year, customers consistently highlighted:

Dependable delivery and execution, even on complex or time-sensitive projects
Responsive, knowledgeable teams who communicate clearly and follow through
High-quality products that meet real-world needs
Strong partnerships, with many reviewers referencing trust and long-term relationships

Several reviews specifically called out NSM employees by name, praising professionalism, accountability, and a willingness to go above and beyond. That recognition speaks directly to the commitment and pride our teams bring to their work every day.

Google reviews are more than a score—they provide real-time insight into how our customers experience NSM. In 2025, that feedback validated our focus on service excellence, continuous improvement, and doing the right thing for our customers.

Thank you to every team member who helped drive these results. Every interaction matters—and our customers are noticing.

Let’s build on this momentum in 2026!

PEOPLE

CVS and/or BCBS ID Card Shipments Delayed — Temporary Options Available

We wanted to make you aware that there has been a delay in the shipment of employee CVS Caremark and/or BCBS ID cards. While physical cards are on the way, there are easy options available right now to ensure you can still access care and fill prescriptions without interruption.

Please review the options below and choose the one that works best for you.

Option 1: Use Your Current BCBS ID Card + a Temporary CVS Caremark Card

If you currently have a BCBS ID card, you may use it along with a temporary CVS Caremark card to fill prescriptions at the pharmacy.

Present your current BCBS ID card
Provide the temporary CVS Caremark card (Click here to see an image of the card)

This combination will allow your pharmacy to process your prescription while you wait for your new card to arrive.

Option 2: Download a New Digital BCBS ID Card

Digital ID cards are available and can be accessed immediately. This option provides one digital card that includes both BCBS and CVS Caremark information.

You can download your digital ID card using either option below:

Blue Access (BCBS Web Portal): Download a digital ID card through the BCBS portal. Click here to learn more.
BCBS Amplify Health Mobile App: Download a digital ID card through the BCBS Amplify Health app. Click here to learn more.

Once downloaded, you can save the card to your phone or present it directly at your provider or pharmacy.

Option 3: Contact the Benefits Team

If you experience any issues accessing your card or have questions, the Benefits Team is here to help.

📧 benefits@nsm-seating.com

We’re happy to assist and can download a copy of your card on your behalf if needed.

Flu Season Update: A Timely Reminder to Protect Yourself & Your Teams

This flu season is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent years, with significantly higher rates of illness reported nationwide. Increased hospitalizations and longer recovery times are placing added strain on workplaces, families, and communities.

As leaders, we play an important role in supporting the health and well-being of our teams. A simple but impactful step is encouraging preventive care—especially the flu vaccine. If you haven’t received your flu shot yet, it’s not too late. Getting vaccinated can reduce the severity of illness, lower the risk of complications, and help limit the spread to coworkers, customers, and loved ones.

We also encourage leaders to model healthy behaviors and remind employees to:

Stay home and rest if they feel ill or have flu-like symptoms
Practice good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
Seek medical care when needed

By taking proactive steps now, we can help minimize disruptions, support one another, and get through flu season healthier together.

Thank you for your leadership and continued commitment to wellness.

NSM to Participate in 2026 ISS Virtual Professional Summit

NSM is proud to participate in the 2026 International Seating Symposium as a Supporter of the VPS event that will be held on Wednesday, January 28 and Wednesday, February 25. This partnership reflects NSM’s ongoing commitment to advancing innovation, education, and collaboration within the seating and mobility community. By supporting the International Seating Symposium, NSM is honored to contribute to an event that brings together clinicians, researchers, manufacturers, and industry leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals who rely on seating and positioning solutions.

As a supporter, NSM values the opportunity to engage with attendees, share insights, and support meaningful conversations that drive progress in the field. NSM looks forward to being part of an event that continues to set the standard for excellence in seating and mobility education.

NSM Deepening Referral Relationships with 2026 Momentum Academy Events

We’re excited to announce the 2026 Momentum Academy schedule. These in-person events offer referral partners valuable education in Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits.

Designed for clinical partners—including physical and occupational therapists—Momentum Academy focuses on best practices in mobility solutions and CRT, reinforcing NSM’s role as a trusted clinical education partner.

Momentum Academy also provides a meaningful opportunity to strengthen referral relationships. When events are hosted in your area, leaders are encouraged to personally invite referral partners to attend and engage.

This year's Momentum Academy event schedule is as follows.

Austin, TX: April
Denver, CO: April
Seattle, WA: May
Boston, MA: May
Washington, DC: August
Detroit, MI: August
Concord, CA: September
Chicago, IL: September
Charlotte, NC: October

Final dates to be announced soon.