The ABCs of Indemnity Agreements and Additional Insured Endorsements
Understanding your business’s risk exposures is the cornerstone to managing them. Whether your business relies on outside vendors to provide goods and services, or you’re a provider of goods and services to your clients, you should be aware of how to take contractual precautions to protect your business against potential losses or damages. An indemnity…
Read MoreThe Benefits of OSHA Compliance
With all the possible OSHA violations and potential fines, ensuring OSHA compliance within your company can seem like a daunting task—but it doesn’t have to feel that way. Start with Recordkeeping Do you have an employee who is responsible for recording all cases of injury or illness? If you don’t, this is a good place…
Read MoreHow Opioid Use Affects Workers Compensation
How Opioid Use Affects Workers’ Compensation Prescription opioids are the number one workers’ compensation problem in terms of controlling the ultimate cost of indemnity losses. This comes from a recent Lockton Companies report that also states that there’s never been a more damaging impact on workers’ compensation claims than the abuse of opioid prescriptions for…
Read MoreLegalized Marijuana and Employment: Off-duty Use and Drug Testing
While all marijuana use remains illegal under federal law, most states have enacted laws that allow certain uses of marijuana or a marijuana derivative. None of these laws place any restrictions on an employer’s right to administer drug tests or to prohibit their employees from using or being under the influence of marijuana at work…
Read MoreWhen to Report a Claim? Immediately!
A claim is an insurance policy’s “moment of truth.” When an event happens that causes bodily injury or property damage to a client or guest, you might be fearful that if you report the claim to your insurance carrier, they may increase your rates or even cancel your policy. Claims handling is our service to…
Read MoreTreating Pain Without Opiods
Treating Pain Without Opioids Therapeutic treatments can help you recover You’ve probably heard a lot about opioids lately, and for good reason—the CDC estimates that more than 115 people die from opioid overdoses every day. One of the biggest reasons for widespread misuse of these drugs is that they’re both effective at short-term pain management…
Read MoreCryptocurrencies and What They Mean for Business
Technology has added efficiency and modern conveniences to daily life. Among these conveniences, computer experts have managed to apply digital traits to new, online currencies that are commonly called cryptocurrencies. Simply put, cryptocurrency is digital money that operates independently of a bank and can be used similarly to cash around the world. However, the digital…
Read MoreHow to Prevent Workplace Retaliation Claims
When employees complain about discrimination or harassment, employers must ensure that workers aren’t retaliated against for raising these issues. Otherwise, businesses may face legal liability even when the underlying claim isn’t proven. Under federal and state laws, job applicants and employees have the right to work free from discrimination based on age, disability, national origin,…
Read MoreIRS Issues New Tools for 2018 Tax Withholding
OVERVIEW As of Feb. 15, 2018, employers must use new tables to determine how much income tax to withhold from their employees’ paychecks. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the required new tables in Notice 1036 on Jan. 9, 2018. The new tables are also available in IRS Publication 15. In addition, the IRS issued…
Read MoreAddressing Sexual Misconduct Allegations with Insurance
Allegations of sexual misconduct against politicians, celebrities and other public figures have become increasingly common in recent years. In fact, social movements and a strong public outcry have led to a marked increase in sexual harassment claims—claims that can be incredibly damaging for organizations themselves. When these claims arise, organizations are expected to handle them…
Read MoreWorkplace Safety Experts Testify on OSHA’s Role
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) should work more cooperatively with businesses and expand compliance assistance programs to help employers have the safest workplaces possible, industry experts said at a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on Feb. 27. “Workplace safety is the responsibility, and should be a chief priority, of all businesses,” said…
Read MoreSupreme Court Leaves DACA in Place
The Supreme Court declined on Feb. 26 to review a federal district court decision requiring the government to continue to process Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application renewals. The status of DACA, which grants work permits to those who arrived in the United States as children when their parents crossed borders unlawfully, has been a…
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