Drug and alcohol use by employees on or off the job is a troublesome societal plague that has put many employers on the defensive. Research by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that between 10% and 20% of the nation’s workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs. The same […]
For businesses that suffer property damage, getting repairs or rebuilding completed on time and within budget is becoming an uphill battle. A mix of inflation, supply chain challenges leading to material shortages, a tight construction labor market and the inherent complexity of commercial construction have pushed costs higher and stretched timelines longer. This can leave […]
California employers have new compliance challenges because of a law that further broadens the circumstances under which employees can take protected paid and unpaid leave. AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, expands on last year’s revisions to the state’s paid sick and safe time and crime-victim leave laws, adding new categories of protected […]
Starting Oct. 1, 2025, any California employer that uses artificial intelligence AI and other automated tools in recruiting, hiring, promotion and related human resources decisions will have to ensure that the tools don’t discriminate against protected classes. The new regulations, promulgated by California’s Civil Rights Department, cover any “automated decision system” (ADS) which the rules […]
American workplaces are facing a growing civility crisis that is costing companies dearly. According to new research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), rudeness and discourteous behavior are costing U.S. businesses an estimated $2.1 billion every day in lost productivity, absenteeism and disengagement. The problem doesn’t stop at rudeness: a separate study shows […]
Commercial auto insurance companies continue to post steep losses for liabilities like third-party injuries and property damage, which is driving continued rate hikes for businesses, particularly fleet operators, according to a new report from A.M. Best. The line posted its 14th consecutive year of underwriting losses in 2024, with liability coverage alone accounting for $4.5 […]
If you view annual open enrollment as a simple box-checking exercise, you’re likely missing out on helping your staff get the most out of the benefits you provide. Instead, if you approach open enrollment as a chance to strengthen employee engagement, control costs and help your workforce understand the full value of your benefits program, […]
In an effort to bring more insurers back into California’s homeowner’s and commercial property insurance market, the state Department of Insurance (DOI) has approved a system that will allow insurers to use forward-looking wildfire risk models to price policies in areas susceptible to wildfires. The DOI hopes this and other measures it’s been taking, will […]
At some point, the odds are that a company will be affected by some form of employee theft or outright fraud. Fraud can severely crimp a company’s finances and put the firm in a serious bind if the theft is large enough. With technology, fraud has in some ways become easier, but at the same […]
Construction defect lawsuits, a constant presence in the building industry, are on the rise, and legal observers expect the trend to continue over the next few years. There are several factors driving the increase, including a continuing construction industry labor shortage, contractors working on tight schedules to rebuild properties in areas devastated by natural disasters […]