Resources

Will We See New Federal Overtime Rules in March?

By Carlos Arévalo, Partner at SmithAmundsen LLC Last Fall, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it intended to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)…

Illinois Appellate Court Ruling Sheds Light On Triggering Event For Insurance Coverage On Public Sector Claims

By Ryan Taylor, Partner at Tressler LLP An Illinois Appellate Court recently ruled that the Circuit Court of Cook County erred in dismissing a complaint and…

New Prime vs. Oliveira Supreme Court Decision: What Fleet Owners Need to Do Now to Avoid Litigation

Unanimous Supreme Court decision gives independent contractor owner/operators options when it comes to employment conflicts. Institute these four best practices to reduce exposures for your…

5 Steps to Starting a Cyber Response Plan

Most organizations have some form of data protection in place. While these protections are critical for minimizing the damages caused by a breach, they don’t…

A Reflection on Deploying E-Learning Practices in Open Enrollment, Today

Whether you are a small, privately owned business or a large, publicly-traded company with global operations, there is one time of year that proves stressful…

Are you prepared in case you get stranded in your vehicle?

According to the Department of Transportation, 22% of all vehicle crashes and 16% of the fatalities – in the U.S. – are due to severe weather…

Surviving the Chill: Top Tips for Preparing Your Home for Record Low Temperatures

When freezing temperatures are forecasted, safeguarding your home becomes a top priority. Our comprehensive guide will arm you with crucial knowledge and effective strategies to…

Drive Down Risk Through a Partnership with a Qualified Safety Consulting Firm

Effective safety programs are one of the best ways to reduce the risk and cost of preventable accidents. The relationship between two businesses requires the…

Drive Down Risk Through Stop Work Authority

Avoiding injury requires empowerment of all employees to stop work when significant hazards are identified. Stop work authority is a safety program where all employees…

Another Fortune 500 Company Falls Victim to CyberCrime

By Tony Hopkins, CPCU, CIC, CRM Lessons from Marriott’s Starwood Database Hack In late November, another major brand, Marriott, made headlines for a recent cyber-attack. According…

Emergency Response Safety for Schools

Most school districts and individual schools have emergency management plans in place. However, they are not always practiced regularly, coordinated with community resources, updated regularly…

Preparing for Cold Weather Driving

During the fall and winter seasons, obstacles such as rain, wildlife, darkness, snow and ice can make driving extremely dangerous.

[Checklist] Emergency Response For Schools

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are a number of phases included in the creation of an effective emergency management program. The…

Employee Engagement in Schools

Employee engagement in the workplace has been an emerging trend across several industries but has been proven to be extremely viable in the education sector. …

Solar Energy, Insurance, and You

by Darryl Harding, Senior Production Underwriter | The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company I was recently asked “Why do I need Energy Shortfall…

Reduce Your Exposures During Work Events

Organizations host parties for a variety of reasons, including the holidays and accomplishments. While these events are fun, team-building opportunities, they can create a number…

How Technology Can Boost Workplace Safety

More than 14 people a day died while doing their jobs in 2016, highlighting the need for safety and procedural enhancements at their workplaces. Employers…

CVSA Announces Brake Safety Week Results

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has released the results from its most recent brake safety initiative, which took place from Sept. 16-22. The agency…

Ransomware Attacks are More Common Than Ever

Although hackers can use a growing list of cyber attacks to endanger businesses, one of the costliest and most common is ransomware. And, according to…

OSHA’s SST-16 Inspection Plan Targets Worksites Based on 2016 Reports

HIGHLIGHTS OSHA implemented a program that targets establishments for inspection based on their 2016 Form 300A data. Establishments that had elevated injury and illnesses…

IRS Begins Pay or Play Enforcement for 2016

HIGHLIGHTS The IRS began issuing Letter 226-J to ALEs in late 2018 to propose and assess employer shared responsibility penalty liability for the 2016 calendar…

The Cost of Workers Misclassification

When construction companies misclassify employees as independent contractors, they can gain a 30 percent bidding advantage, according to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. This is…

Manage Cost of Risk, Control Price

Every facet of your organization affects your cost of risk. Regardless of the type of business you run, many find it difficult to quantify their…

Preventing Frozen Pipes

One of the messiest and most costly homeowner repairs is fixing a burst, frozen pipe. Water from a burst pipe can cause damage to carpeting,…