As the Trump administration returns to aggressive tariff strategies, business owners across the country are once again bracing for impact. On-again, off-again tariffs aimed at key trade partners like China, Mexico and Canada are creating a volatile environment where forecasting costs, securing materials and delivering products on time are increasingly difficult. The unpredictability of these […]
Growing companies often overlook the importance of properly managing their risk. Increased activity can result in additional losses. For example, more trucks driving more miles may result in more accidents. However, other kinds of risk can increase more than the jump in business activity. We look at three such areas here. Workplace safety Typically, […]
As commercial property insurance rates have climbed steadily in the last five years, insurers have been increasing deductibles, sometimes for all risks, but sometimes for specific perils, such as hail. Often, business owners fail to notice these increased deductibles until they file a claim. Sometimes, their dollar-amount deductible has been replaced by a deductible that […]
The Department of Labor on May 1, 2025, announced it would no longer enforce a Biden-era rule on independent contractors, setting the stage for a drastic overhaul that will likely result in a more employer-friendly regulation. While the DOL reviews the rule, which has been in effect since March 2024, it announced in a field […]
Cal/OSHA has released draft language that would require employers of outside workers to take additional steps to ensure their safety when working in high heat conditions. The proposed rules were written to implement legislation — AB 2243 — signed into law in 2022 to address heat and wildfire smoke protections for workers. The draft rules, […]
President Trump’s far-reaching tariffs are starting to bleed into building costs as many of the main materials used in construction are now subject to import taxes. And as construction costs increase due to tariffs, so does the cost of repairing or replacing materials if damage occurs during construction. Rising repair and replacement costs make claims […]
When OSHA shows up, it’s not the time to figure things out on the fly. Whether you’re in construction, manufacturing or any other field with safety exposure, knowing the ground rules can make all the difference between a successful visit or one where you leave yourself exposed to penalties and a drawn-out appeals process. If […]
As the one-year anniversary of California’s workplace violence prevention law approaches, employers will need to take steps to ensure their continued compliance. The law requires all California employers with 10 or more staff to have a workplace violence prevention plan and to provide training to employees on the plan by July 1, 2024. It also […]
As new malware and ransomware that specifically targets mobile devices grows exponentially, if you have not set rules for employees who use their own smart phones for company business, you should do so now. While implementing a bring your own device (BYOD) program can save your company money by not buying new phones for staff, […]
Employers that are hit with a discrimination complaint must act fast to compare the allegations in the lawsuit to the earlier complaint the worker filed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If the employer can find that the allegations in the complaint filed with the EEOC do not match those in the subsequent lawsuit filed […]