How would you escape from your workplace in an emergency? Do you know where all the exits are in case your first choice is too crowded? Are you sure the doors will be unlocked and the exit access, such as a hallway, will not be blocked during a fire, explosion or other crisis? Knowing the […]
During our economic recovery one element that has been persistent is that employers are trying to get more out of their workers than ever before. And while most managers and owners try to ensure that their workers are provided a safe workplace and put a premium on reducing the chances of accidents, one often overlooked […]
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a number of bills that will drastically change the landscape for employers trying to resolve sexual harassment and discrimination claims. Brown signed three bills that will make it easier for workers to bring claims of harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and curtail the ability of employers […]
Businesses are facing larger and larger liability claims throughout the country, driven by a number of legal trends that are resulting in bigger lawsuit awards and new risks that many companies are unprepared for. A recent study by Liberty Mutual Insurance found that the U.S. insurance industry’s liability-related payouts have been growing steadily due a […]
Slips, trips and falls are some of the leading causes of workplace injuries. They account for 20% of all workplace fatalities, disabling injuries and days away from work in general industry. The injuries and risks are so common that four of the top 10 most cited standards by OSHA are related to fall prevention. With […]
A majority of companies are leaving themselves exposed in one crucial area as they take on high-end professional services work. As more companies’ work is intangible, many firms are missing a critical element of protection for their professional services. Professional liability insurance in the past was mainly purchased by architects, accountants and lawyers, but with […]
A recent federal government report has urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to take steps to ensure that employers report fatalities and injured worker hospitalizations. Many employers may not be aware, but in 2015 OSHA amended its severe-injury reporting rule to require that employers report the inpatient hospitalization of a single injured employee. Prior […]
The National Labor Relations Board has issued a proposed rule that would roll back an Obama-era board decision on joint-employer status for companies that hire subcontractors or use staffing or temp agency workers. The decision by the NLRB in 2015 overturned a long-time precedent (a standard in place since 1984) that a company must have […]
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 […]
Workers’ compensation fraud costs the insurance industry roughly $5 billion each year, according to estimates by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. And depending on whom you ask, fraud accounts for as much as 10% of the costs of all workers’ comp claims. This type of fraud is typically associated with malingering employees who fake injuries […]