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Employee Benefits Communications

By Business Protection Bulletin

Do you communicate company benefits to your employees? Life, health, 401K, dental, paid vacations, days off or holidays? You should communicate, in writing, these benefits to your employees at least annually so they understand the cost of these benefits.

Many companies already explain costs and benefits to employees.

How about these benefits?

1. Company share of Social Security and Medicare.
2. Unemployment insurance.
3. Workers’ compensation and employee safety costs.
4. Company automobile insurance
5. Company general liability insurance

the first two points concern government insurance programs. Include these benefits because employees tend to be dismissive of the company expense involved.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers on the job injuries and illnesses for employees. It is a benefit. Simply multiply the individuals’ payroll by the rate. Explain why this is a benefit and how much it costs. Most employees do not give workers’ compensation a second thought, but largely because they are never told.

Company automobile insurance is a benefit for drivers or employees who ride in company transportation. Drivers benefit from the company assuming liability for all accidents and covering the individual driver. This protection is often overlooked as an employee benefit.

Consider common carriers. You pay for a driver and their insurance. You can avoid the risk of trucking accident by not using employees. You can avoid the risk of trucking by requiring your employee to provide insurance. When you choose to provide the insurance, you pay for your employee’s liability as well. That’s a benefit.

General liability insurance has similar impacts on employee liabilities as does the company automobile liability policy. The company assumes responsibility for employee errors in maintaining premises or manufacturing products.

Absent company risk management programs, employees might be held responsible for their liabilities. The independent contracting driver and the employee both face risks of road travel, but the employee has the benefit of company supplied insurance.

Communicate these benefits every year for two reasons:

1. Inform the employee of the costs of these benefits.
2. Remind the employee of these risks, and their responsibility to operate safely.

Obesity and the Construction Trades

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Obesity has just become a disease. But how is obesity defined?

The current definition is twenty percent more weight than the ideal weight for an individual’s height and weight. A six-foot one-inch man weighing 216 pounds is considered obese.

Typically, some big people who are muscled from labor are on sites. This definition will almost certainly paint the construction industry labor force as obese.

As a disease, obesity and its affects must be dealt with the Americans with Disabilities Act in mind. What accommodations will be required?

What will be the effect on workers’ compensation work related disease coverage?

Safety personnel should consider these issues. Perhaps some site humor can be expected, but worker body mass index (BMI) might be a future consideration when hiring.

Employees who appear obese by the old definition probably need to be educated on the risks of weightiness. The physical stresses of the construction industry added to true body fat content is not a joke, it is dangerous. Even some safety equipment is not available to fit certain body types.

Consider adopting a physical fitness culture for onsite workers which includes maintaining a body mass index of below 30. This number may result in technically obese employees, but the BMI does not consider muscle mass or conditioning.

Visual inspection of the crew will indicate relative obesity which can be addressed individually. Begin to move in that direction, and then when the clarifying regulations promulgate new standards, you’ll be in a position to correct any deficiencies.

The secondary issue is whether this disease is work related; therefore treatment is covered by workers, compensation, or is it an individual issue which means Affordable Health Care Act or group coverage.

The lines blur with this issue. Good risk management suggests watching this issue carefully for future regulations, but in the meanwhile, begin informing employees about preventative healthcare.

What is OCP coverage?

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Owners and Contractors Protective Liability (OCP) coverage form addresses the vicarious nature of some liability issues. When an owner orders a subcontractor to complete work, and property damage or bodily injury to a non-employee occurs, the subcontractor is liable. But suppose the injured party sues the owner too. The owner will not have liability coverage for the acts of the subcontractor – vicarious liability.

OCP is designed for the subcontractor to insure the owner under these circumstances.

Suppose a contractor is acid washing a building. Traffic lanes near the curb are blocked, it’s a windless day. The crew is acid washing while a car pulls into the barricades and parks. The crew continues doing the job.

The driver complains to the owner and the contractor about damage to the paint job. The contractor turns the claim in and awaits denial since the driver ignored all the warning signs. The building owner can only respond to the claim through the OCP policy since it was within the scope of the work of the subcontractor at his direction.

Now suppose under the same scenario, the workers stopped and yelled at the driver to move his car. The building owner comes out and directs the workers to keep going regardless of the car or its paint job. The subcontractor would be covered under his liability policy, but the building owner would be excluded under the OCP because the damage was a result of his direct instructions, in effect, he became the workers supervisor.

OCP extends coverage to owners who rely on the subcontractor to supervise and complete operations. When the owner crosses the line to take control of the work, OCP no longer applies.

OCP also excludes the usual exclusions under a general liability policy. You cannot be the building owner and the contractor.

Construction and Environmental Risk Management

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

Site management includes proper storage of fuels and other potentially toxic supplies. Fuel tanks require secondary containment for rupture control and a safe low-traffic location. Other potential toxins need proper containment and inventory control.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will remind you of these requirements if you fail to comply.

Environmental awareness is critical to avoiding problems:

* Roofing. When roofs leak, mold grows in the affected area frequently because wet, dark, cooler areas promote mold growth. When performing repairs, always check for mold. Take pictures of any suspicious growth and show the owner. Contractors are often blamed for mold after the repair when common sense might suggest the mold occurred during the leak. But the time for remediation is before new materials are installed. Check for mold. Any large black or white stain should be sampled and tested by trained mold inspectors. Don’t take a chance with mold.

* Equipment. When diesel equipment is used around an area which has or had heating oil storage tanks, any leak can be attributed to the contractor. Check the soil in the area where work is to be performed. Does it smell like heating oil? Does it look stained? Is there any evidence of overfilling the tank? Get samples and send them to a laboratory for testing before the project starts.

* Avoid toxic products. The green product industry has blossomed over the past few years. The products have nearly the same efficacy of traditional formulations, and have the benefit of not creating long-term problems for the owner.

Think environment before a job starts. What is already there which needs documentation as an existing condition?

These conditions may be an opportunity to increase the contract, but they will certainly be a point of contention if not documented properly.

Construction Industry Injuries: how does your operation compare?

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

The experience modification indicates relative claims experience by offering a credit modification, lower premium, for positive claims experience and higher premiums, debit modification, for poor experience.

But does an experience modification help you understand the rate of injuries in your operations rather than the raw cost? Frequency of claims correlates to safety more so than the costs associated with those claims.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag23.htm), full-time construction professionals suffer four injuries per year for every 100 employees on average. Half of those injuries result in loss of time or light duty assignments.

The average time lost is one and one-half days.

First, four injuries out of 100 employees may not sound like a high average, but that rate makes construction a very hazardous occupation. Personal protective gear and safety awareness over the past few decades has helped reduce jobsite claims, but this rate can be reduced further.

Slips and falls are the most common claims and yet very avoidable using proper techniques for ladder safety and spill clean-up. Tie ladders off or use a buddy to steady it; clean spills immediately and thoroughly.

Back pain from lifting incorrectly or excessively is common in the construction industry. Again, avoidable using a weight limit per lift and a buddy system for heavier loads.

Use your insurance carrier resources to reduce and eliminate injuries through advanced and aggressive loss control techniques. Use government resources like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (www.OSHA.gov) which can provide safety regulation awareness or instructions in Spanish and other languages.

Workplace safety is an employee benefit. Can you prove your work sites are safer than average? Do you have light duty options for unfortunate injuries? Do you investigate all injuries and find a cause of and prevention for each incident?

Worker safety pays in cash and improved morale.

Do You Need a Flexible Savings Account in 2015?

By Employment Resources

It’s time to pick your employee benefits for the new year. Is a flexible savings account, or FSA, one of your options? Before you pass on this optional benefit, learn more about it and decide if it’s a smart choice for you.

What is an FSA?

Your employee benefits package could include an optional cafeteria plan that allows you to pick and choose personalized benefits. An FSA is one of those choices. It allows you to save part of your income for specific expenses listed in the plan. While most of the qualifying expenses are medical related, an FSA can also cover dependent care for your children or aging parents.

What are the Primary Benefits of an FSA?

Because the money placed in an FSA isn’t taxed, you’ll appreciate tax benefits. Plus, you’ll have money set aside for expenses like deductibles, eye glasses and day care.

What are the Disadvantages of an FSA?

No matter how much money you save in your FSA, it’s a use it or lose it deal. That’s why you’ll have to carefully estimate how much money you’ll need through the year. Save too much, and you’ll be scrambling to use it all before 2016 rolls around.

Is an FSA Right for You?

An FSA is a good choice for you if you expect to accumulate medical expenses that your insurance won’t cover, like high deductibles or copays. You can use FSA funds to buy prescription and over-the-counter medications, pay for dental procedures and stock prescription sunglasses. These funds also pay for specific medical condition treatment and prevention like smoking cessation aids. Some plans also cover dependent care for your children or aging parents.

However, you can’t use FSA funds for cosmetic surgery, general health improvements or your health insurance premiums. It also won’t cover your child’s summer camp or your parents’ nursing home expenses.

Now that you know more about it, could you benefit from an FSA this year? Talk to your insurance agent for more information and specific details about the options your employer offers. Then, get ready to save for expenses and be prepared in 2015.

Seven Beneficial Reasons to Take Time off This Thanksgiving

By Employment Resources

If you’re lucky enough to have time off this Thanksgiving, make a conscious effort to get away and leave work behind. Turn off your email, let calls go to voicemail and leave projects for Monday. You deserve time away, and your family, body and work will thank you.

1. Enjoy Your Family and Friends

Whether you spend time with friends down the street or fly across the country to see your family, appreciate the time away with your loved ones. Bake cookies with your kids, go shopping with your mom or play football with your friends. Be completely present as you make memories and strengthen your relationships this holiday.

2. Relax Your Body

As your doctor will tell you, constant pressure, tension and stress from work can create long-term health consequences. Relax your body and improve your health when you take a complete break from work. Nap, exercise or just sit around and pet your dog as you reduce stress and relax your body.

3. Focus on Your Hobbies

If you can’t remember the last time you picked up your paintbrushes, tennis racket or gardening tools, now’s the time to reengage with your hobbies. You feel mentally relaxed, rested and energized after focusing your brain on fun and fulfilling hobbies and interests that aren’t related to work.

4. Set Healthy Boundaries

Feeling guilty about taking time off work is a sign that you need better work-life balance. Establish healthier boundaries and start this holiday season.

5. Refresh Your Brain

Creativity and problem solving, two essential job skills, require tons of mental energy. On vacation, give your brain a rest, recharge your energy and prep yourself for greater success once you return to work.

6. Find Your Smile

A cheerful mental attitude keeps you motivated at work, but when was the last time you smiled? Find your smile when you get away from work and enjoy a restful vacation.

7. Take Care of Business

Are you putting off a dental cleaning, car repair or garage clean up? That list clutters your mind and distracts you from doing your best at work. Spend a few hours this holiday taking care of business at home, and relieve the clutter in your mind.

This Thanksgiving, you owe it to yourself to take a break from work. Your break will help you enjoy your holiday and work smarter.

Why You Should Spend More Time Choosing Employee Health Benefits

By Employment Resources

With open enrollment season in full swing, now’s the perfect time to evaluate your employee health insurance benefits. Unfortunately, a recent Aflac survey reveals that most employees don’t spend enough time evaluating their benefits packages.

*Two out of five, or 41 percent, of American employees spend under 15 minutes choosing health benefits for the upcoming year.
*Twenty-four percent spend less than five minutes selecting benefits.
*These same employees will research new cars for 10 hours, family vacations for five hours and new computers for four hours.

You owe it to yourself and your future health to invest time in choosing the right health insurance benefits.

Understand Your Benefits

Technical jargon on insurance papers can be confusing, but would you rather wade through it now or miss out on important benefits when you’re sick? Take time now to figure out which procedures are covered, where you can get treatment and how much deductible you’ll owe. Don’t be like 73 percent of employees who don’t understand their health insurance benefits.

Know What’s Changing

Maybe your employer now offers Health Savings Accounts or dental insurance. These benefit changes could help you stay healthy. Unlike 64 percent of employees who don’t take time to understand their benefit changes, you can ask about changes and understand them.

Select Partners for Long-Term Health

Now’s the time to switch coverage options if you want to switch doctors or pharmacies. While you’re inspecting your benefits package, make sure your preferred hospital and lab is covered, too. Your healthcare team partner with you for long-term health, so take time to ensure you can see your preferred partners.

Save Money

When you don’t make a careful decision about your benefits, you could be throwing away $750 a year on wasted premiums and lost benefits, which is what 42 percent of Americans do. Save that money when you invest time in choosing your health benefits.

Choose Premiums You Can Afford

Employers increasingly push rising insurance costs onto employees. By picking and choosing the benefit package options you want, you also select the premium you can afford. A few hours now prevents insurance premiums from straining your family’s budget in the new year.

Although nine out of 10 Americans auto-enroll and keep the same benefits every year, take time to ask your employer or insurance agent questions and verify the exact coverage you want. You’ll be glad you did.

You Have Life Insurance, But Do Your Kids Need a Policy, Too?

By Employment Resources

Life insurance makes sense for you because it gives your surviving family members financial peace of mind if you were to die. However, do your kids need life insurance, too? November is National Adoption Month and a good time to consider this insurance option for your children.

Receive Lifetime Coverage

Pay the monthly premiums, and your children gain insurance for life. In many cases, they won’t even need a health exam when they’re older unless they want a death benefit increase.

Enjoy Low Rates

Most life insurance policies use age to determine premiums. You’ll pay less to insure your young children, and permanent policies lock in the premiums for the life of the policy.

Eliminate Health Exams

Most life insurance policies don’t require kids to undergo a complete medical exam. Since kids are usually healthier than adults, they typically won’t be denied coverage. This benefit is especially important if a serious medical condition like diabetes or heart disease runs in your child’s family.

Gain Cash Value

The premiums you pay for permanent life insurance cover the policy and build cash value. That cash could grow at a variable or fixed interest rate. By the time your kids turn 18, they could have a healthy accumulation of cash to pay for college, buy a house or save until they retire.

Cover Final Expenses

Parents don’t expect their children to die young, but accidents happen. Life insurance covers final expenses and protects your family’s finances.

Evaluate Your Budget

Despite the benefits; your budget may not stretch enough to include life insurance for your kids. After you ensure you’re adequately insured, weigh the benefits of life insurance for your children and discuss your needs with your insurance agent. He or she can work with you to find a policy that’s right for you.

Consider Alternative Saving Tools

Roth IRAs and 529 Plans assist parents in saving money for their children’s futures. Investigate these saving options as you choose the best way to provide for your children.

Whether or not you plan to adopt a child during National Adoption Month, November’s a good time to consider life insurance. Your agent can discuss your options with you as you adequately care for your children.

Consider Seven Facts During National Epilepsy Month

By Life and Health

Epilepsy is a disease that affects 2.3 million adults and approximately 467,711 children in the U.S. In the epileptic’s brain, certain nerve cells send out erratic signals that cause the person’s body to seize for a few seconds or a few minutes. Whether or not you know someone with epilepsy, November is National Epilepsy Month and a good time to learn seven facts about this condition.

1. What Causes Epilepsy?

Doctors can’t identify the cause of almost two-thirds of known epilepsy cases. However, genetics often plays a role. Other causes include oxygen deprivation during childbirth, stroke and brain infections, traumas, injuries or tumors.

2. How is Epilepsy Diagnosed?

Doctors review a patient’s medical history and examine the results of a full neurological exam, EEG and CT or MRI.

3. What Epilepsy Treatments are Available?

Most insurance pays for medication that controls many epileptic seizures. Doctors prescribe specific medications based on the seizures’ type, severity and frequency. Patients may also benefit from brain surgery, nerve stimulation and a ketogenic diet that’s high in fat and low in carbs.

4. How Many Types of Seizures are There?

While seizures can vary from mild to severe, they’re typically separated into two groups. Primary generalized seizures start in and involve both sides of the brain. Partial seizures start in one side of the brain and spread to the entire brain.

5. Can an Observer Tell When Someone is Experiencing a Seizure?

Petit mal seizures are small and the sufferer will only blink fast or stare into space for a few seconds. Complex partial seizures cause a person to be confused, dazed and unable to respond for several minutes. A person, who falls down, loses consciousness or experiences muscle jerks is experiencing grand mal seizures.

6. How Can You Help Someone During a Seizure?

If you see someone having a seizure, don’t restrain the person. Loosen his or her shirt collar, and remove nearby sharp objects. Roll the person to his or her side after the seizure ends, and remain close by.

7. Is Epilepsy Fatal?

Fortunately, many epileptic people live full lives. Patients who die often suffer other health conditions like strokes or tumors or suffer fatal injuries during a seizure. Prolonged seizures or suddenly stopping medication can also cause death.

Have these facts taught you something new about epilepsy? Learn as much as you can during National Epilepsy Month and be prepared to assist the epileptics you know.