California employers already have a lot to digest after Cal/OSHA issued sweeping new COVID-19 safety regulations in November. Now they face additional requirements starting Jan. 1, 2021, thanks to a new law that expands notification requirements and gives Cal/OSHA the authority to issue stop-work orders on workplaces that have COVID-19 outbreaks. Here’s what you need…
Commercial auto insurance rates have been on the rise since 2011, increasing often by more than 10% a year as accidents and claims costs have soared. The trucking industry has been the hardest hit by The Risk Placement Services report concludes that businesses with larger vehicle fleets that have someone responsible for safety and that…
One of the hallmarks of the holiday season is the company Christmas party, but with the COVID-19 pandemic in hyperdrive, many companies are rethinking their plans. A number of businesses have cancelled their parties altogether, but other managers feel that in light of this very difficult year for many people, a company Christmas party might…
With so much information — and misinformation — circulating about COVID-19 and what’s safe and not safe to do, businesses are treading carefully as they implement policies to keep their staff, customers and vendors safe. While there is plenty of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and OSHA on how to reduce the chances…
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has approved new emergency regulations that will impose strict rules on employers to implement safeguards in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the workplace. The sweeping proposal extends the reach of protections to employer-provided housing and transportation, as well as imposing new reporting requirements on employers who have…
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing so many of our employees to work remotely, and with mobile technology allowing them to work from anywhere, your employees may be working when they are off the clock. They may feel pressured to do so or maybe they just want to get their work done, but if they are…
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, commercial insurance rates are continuing to move higher, pretty much across the board with the exception of workers’ compensation. A new report by online insurance exchange MarketScout found that in the third quarter of the year the highest rate increases were in liability lines, but hefty rises in property insurance…
Many business owners may be good at running their companies, but the majority of them are failing to address essential long-term planning that is critical to sustaining their businesses. The one area that the majority of business owners often neglect is planning for business continuity if they die or become disabled, according to the “MassMutual…
With the opioid epidemic continuing to sweep the nation, more and more workers are battling addiction than ever before. But if you as an employer suspect or know one of your staff has a substance abuse problem, you need to be careful about how you approach them and try to deal with the issue. Even…
Burglary, robbery and vandalism can be particularly devastating to small businesses in terms of money, customers and employee safety. You can see thousands of dollars of merchandise or equipment damaged or stolen, and your employees and customers can be in mortal danger if your facility is robbed. These types of risks to your business are…