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June 2016

Jun 17
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Are You Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

By Employment Resources

1606-ER-2Workers’ Compensation is a form of insurance offered by many employers. It covers employee wages and medical benefits if they are injured or become ill while on the job. In exchange, the employee cannot sue the employer for negligence except in certain circumstances. As an employee, you may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits in several instances.

Workers’ Compensation Eligibility Requirements

There are usually three basic requirements an employee must meet before he or she can be eligible for Workers’ Comp.

  1. The company for whom you work must carry Workers’ Compensation insurance or be required by law to do so.

    State laws vary, and your employer may be exempt from carrying Workers’ Compensation insurance depending on the number of employees, business type and type of work employees perform. Examples of companies that may be exempt include those that employ fewer than three people and certain charities.

  1. You must be a legitimate employee.

    In most cases, independent contractors and volunteers are not eligible for Workers’ Comp benefits. Consultants, freelancers and other independent workers are examples of ineligible employees. Check your classification as an employee to be sure you are eligible for Workers’ Comp.

  1. The injury or illness must be work-related.

    Hurt your back while lifting boxes at work, develop carpal tunnel because you type reports or become ill after you’re exposed to hazardous chemicals, and Workers’ Compensation should cover your medical treatment. You may even be covered if you trip on the sidewalk while picking up sandwiches for your boss or if you injure your knee while playing softball for your work team. However, injuries or illnesses that occur when you’re off the clock or performing duties that aren’t related to your job will not be covered by Workers’ Compensation.

Special Rules for Certain Workers

Certain employees may fall into special categories that make them ineligible for Workers’ Comp. Those employees include:

    • Domestic workers in your home, including housekeepers, landscape specialists and babysitters
    • Casual or seasonal workers who work intermittently, sporadically or only during certain times of the year
    • Agricultural and farm workers
    • Leased or loaned workers: Depending on where you live, you may be covered by the Workers’ Comp laws of the state in which your employing agency resides or the state in which you do the work.
    • Undocumented workers: Nearly a dozen states cover undocumented workers with Workers’ Compensation. Several do not provide coverage, and additional states are undecided. If you employ undocumented workers or are one, check local laws to verify your Workers’ Compensation eligibility.

Workers’ Compensation is important coverage. Find out today, before you get hurt or become ill, if you meet eligibility guidelines.

Jun 17
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Potential Legal Risks of Telecommuting

By Employment Resources

1606-ER-1Telecommuting offers both employers and employees several benefits. It increases productivity and morale, reduces turnover and is convenient, cost effective and eco-friendly. Before you suggest telecommuting, though, understand the potential legal risks.

    1. Wage and Hour Issues

      The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes strict rules for hourly wages and for overtime pay. Employers could be in hot water if they fail to follow the rules.

      Ensure compliance by:

      • Require telecommuting employees to sign a written agreement that outlines their work day hours and overtime details.
      • Require telecommuting employees to clock in and out with an online or paper time tracker and agree not to answer emails, return phone calls or perform other work-related tasks when they’re off the clock.
      • Limit telecommuting to exempt employees who are salaried, earn at least $23,600 per year and perform exempt job duties.

 

    1. Employee Privacy

      Even though an employee works from home, he or she is still subject to employee monitoring. It ensures employee safety and compliance with company policies.

      Potential telecommuting employees should realize that their email could be monitored to ensure productivity. Likewise, an employer may check internet history, limit time spent on certain websites or block certain websites during work hours. Telecommuting employees may also be required to prove that they use only company-provided technology and an ergonomic office chair.

 

    1. Confidential Information

      Telecommuting employees must maintain confidentiality. Any breach of privacy could result in a lawsuit for the company and employee.
      Have telecommuting employees sign a nondisclosure agreement that enforces confidentiality. They should understand that they are at risk if they share confidential information about a client, share company secrets or otherwise breach the confidentiality agreement.

      They should also:

          *Log out of their computers or employee accounts when they leave their desk.
          *Use secure Wi-Fi only when working.
          *Receive limited access to confidential information.
        *Not allow anyone to see confidential client files.

 

    1. Employer Liability

      If a telecommuting employee is injured in his or her home office, uses a company-issued computer to download child porn or sends harassing emails to a co-worker while clocked in, the employer could be liable. Write a policy that addresses these issues as you limit employer liability.

 

  1. Discrimination

    Be careful that all employees receive the opportunity to telecommute. It can’t be a perk given only to young men, mothers or employees of a certain nationality. Employers must also follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide reasonable accommodations.

Telecommuting is beneficial for employers and employees, but it does have several legal risks. Make arrangements to address these risks. Your precautions limit liability and protect everyone.

Jun 17
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Use Your Life Insurance Policy to Build Cash You Can Borrow

By Life and Health

1606-LH-4All life insurance policies give you peace of mind as they provide financially for your dependents and estate. However, you can use one type to build cash value that you can borrow against. Learn more about this option as you care for your loved ones.

Choose a Policy That Accumulates Cash

When you purchase life insurance, you can choose a term or permanent policy. Term life insurance covers you for a set time and pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries only if you die before the term expires. You cannot borrow against it, and you receive no cash payout when the term expires.

Permanent insurance, including whole and universal life, accumulates cash value that grows tax-free.

    • Whole life is the most conservative of the three since it accumulates cash at the slowest rate according to a formula determined by the insurance company.
    • Universal life accumulates cash value according to current interest rates, potentially increasing the return you receive.
    • Variable policies invest in funds that are similar to mutual funds, and your policy’s cash value will vary.

How to Borrow Cash

Once your life insurance policy has accumulated a certain amount of cash value, you may begin to borrow from it. It can take 10 or more years to accumulate enough cash value so that your policy still has a death benefit.

You will pay interest on the amount you borrow, which will be little to nothing if your policy is a whole life one, but you pay no tax on the loan. If you die before you repay the amount you borrow, the remaining balance will be deducted from your death benefit.

Borrow from a universal or variable policy, and you may also owe an opportunity fee. It’s determined by calculating the difference between the guaranteed rate the insurance policy holder pays and the current investment rate. Add that difference to the loan’s interest rate to figure out the opportunity fee you will owe.

Consider the Pros and Cons

It’s certainly easy to borrow from your life insurance policy, and it’s relatively affordable. However, premiums for permanent life insurance policies are more expensive than those for term life. You also need to calculate carefully so you do not borrow more than your policy is worth and then have no death benefit for your beneficiaries. Remember that the amount you borrow is also subject to attachment by your creditors.

You can buy life insurance that accumulates cash value which you can borrow for almost any reason. For more details and to find out which life insurance policy is right for you, talk to your financial advisor today.

Jun 17
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How to Maximize Your Life Insurance Policy

By Life and Health

1606-LH-3Life insurance gives you peace of mind since it can provide for the financial needs of your dependents after your death. The mature policy can also support a charity or fund a scholarship account at your alma mater. Maximize your life insurance policy when you take several steps.

    1. Choose a Term Policy

      Whole life policies build cash value, and you can use the money for future living expenses or as investments. However, you’ll pay higher premiums for this type of policy.

      If you’re on a budget, choose a term policy. It usually costs less and is a way to care for your dependents while sticking to your budget.

 

    1. Buy Young

      As you age, your health declines and your chances of dying increase. Your life insurance premiums increase, too.

      Purchase life insurance when you’re young and healthy. This way, you have enough coverage to meet your dependents’ needs. Additionally, if you purchase a whole life policy, you maximize the cash value you receive from your policy in the future and increase the value of your life insurance coverage.

 

    1. Reduce Coverage

      Professional financial advisors recommend you purchase a life insurance policy that includes a death benefit that’s equal to 10 times your annual salary. However, life insurance costs more as you increase the death benefit.

      Carefully consider how much coverage you really need. If you don’t have kids or debt, you may be better off with a lower death benefit. You should also run the numbers and compare the cost of policies with different death benefit amounts as you choose a policy you can afford. As your income increases, purchase another policy or invest the difference as you care for your family into the future.

 

    1. Skip the Joint Policy

      You and your spouse may decide to buy a joint life insurance policy. In many cases, you’ll receive only one pay out.

      Purchase two policies to ensure your beneficiaries receive the death benefit when both you and your spouse die. Separate policies also allow you to customize the coverage and account for income differences.

 

  1. Stop Smoking

    Smoking increases your life insurance premiums because it decreases your overall health and life expectancy.

Get more life insurance when you stop smoking. Talk to your health insurance provider about smoking cessation programs or tips. When you’re tobacco-free for 12 months, ask your life insurance policy to re-classify you as a non-smoker. You’ll enjoy lower premiums and may be able to pick up additional coverage for your dependents.

Life insurance is a wise investment. To maximize your coverage, follow these five tips. You’ll also want to talk to your agent today as you purchase the policy you need.

Jun 17
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Top 10 Men’s Health Risks

By Life and Health

1606-LH-2Men are less likely than women to visit the doctor, but men do face several serious health concerns. Learn the top 10 risks as you stay healthy this Father’s Day and all year.

    • Accidents and Unintentional Injuries

      Men tend to take more risks than women, and that increases their chances of being injured from accidents. Slow down while driving, don’t overestimate your abilities and think before you act as you avoid accidents and unintentional injuries.
    • Heart Disease

      More than one in three men suffers from a form of cardiovascular disease, according to the America Heart Association. Keep your blood pressure in check, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get routine physicals as you keep your heart healthy.

    • Respiratory Diseases

      Smoking, asbestos exposure and environmental toxins can lead to respiratory diseases like emphysema, COPD and lung cancer. Stop smoking, eat a balanced diet and avoid environmental triggers as you reduce your risk.

    • Liver Disease

      The size of a football, your liver digests food, absorbs nutrients and gets rid of toxins. Protect it from cirrhosis and cancer when you avoid alcohol and smoking.

    • Diabetes

      Anxiety, depression and sexual impotence result from high blood sugar. It can also cause nerve and kidney damage, vision problems and heart disease or stroke if it’s not treated. Exercise and eat a nutrition diet to combat this health risk.

    • Prostate Cancer

      One in six men develops prostate cancer. It’s not aggressive, but gets regular screenings as you protect yourself.

    • Skin Cancer

      Men over 50 face a high risk of developing skin cancer. Lower your risk when you wear long sleeves, pants, a hat and sunscreen while working or playing outside, and see your doctor about any suspicious spots.

    • Flu and Pneumonia

      Flu and pneumonia can affect any man, but it’s more common if you already have a compromised immune system. Get the flu shot and avoid anyone who’s sick as you stay healthy.

    • Alcohol

      Drinking too much alcohol can lead to chronic illnesses like oral, liver and colon cancer. It also interferes with reproductive health and increases aggressive behavior. Never binge drink, cut down on your alcohol consumption and address any underlying issues like depression that cause you to overindulge.

    • Depression As many as six million men suffer from depression, including suicidal thoughts, reports The National Institute of Mental Health. Stay connected to friends, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and seek professional help if you’re struggling with this health challenge.

This Father’s Day, give your loved ones the gift of health when you address the top 10 health risks for men. Visit your doctor for regular physicals, and discuss ways you can get and stay healthy.

Jun 17
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How to Choose the Right Exercise Ball

By Life and Health

1606-LH-1Exercise balls are popular with personal trainers and physical therapists because they strengthen your core muscles, improve your posture, relieve sore upper back muscles and improve flexibility. Because they’re available in several sizes, you need to choose the right one for you. These tips will help.

    1. Stand Beside It

      When you stand beside the exercise ball, it should come to your knees. This height chart can assist you in finding the ball with the correct diameter.

      • Under 5′: 45 cm
      • 5’1″ to 5’8″: 55 cm
      • 5’9″ to 6’2″: 65 cm
      • 6’3″ to 6’7″: 75 cm
      • Over 6’8″: 85 cm

      In certain instances, you’ll want to choose a larger or smaller ball. Select a larger ball if you have long legs, are overweight or have back problems. A smaller ball is a good fit if you have shorter legs or are at the lower end of the height range.

    1. Sit On It

      Sit on the ball before you buy it to make sure it’s the right size for you. If your ball is too small, you won’t get the full benefit of it because your pelvis and hips will be unaligned. If the ball is too big, you’ll be unstable.

      You’ll know the ball is the right size if your feet are flat on the floor for even weight distribution. Also, your knees must be slightly lower or level with your pelvis, and your ears, shoulders and pelvis should be aligned vertically.

    1. Stretch Your Arm

      The length of your arm from your shoulder to your fingertip can be another way to be sure you buy the right size ball, especially if you’ll be picking it up for aerobic exercises. Use this chart to help you choose wisely.

      • 22″ to 25-1/2″: 55 cm
      • 26″ to 31-1/2″: 65 cm
      • 31-3/4″ to 35-1/2″: 75 cm
    2. Buy Quality

      Most exercise balls range in cost from $20 to $40. While you may be tempted to choose a cheaper brand, keep the quality in mind. You don’t want a ball that will lose its elasticity or air quickly.
  1. Keep it Inflated

    As the exercise ball ages, it will naturally deflate. You can also deflate the ball slightly if it’s too big. However, deflation lowers its effectiveness. Keep it inflated to the proper pressure to provide the right resistance, balance and stabilization for you.

An exercise ball gives you a variety of benefits and can replace your office chair and sofa or be used during your regular workouts. Choose the correct size as you strengthen your body and get fit. For more information and to ensure an exercise ball is right for you, talk to your doctor.

Jun 17
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Keeping Your Team Safe With Conflict Resolution

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

1606-CON-4The easiest way to create an unsafe workplace: When you see a couple of employees butting heads, just turn a blind eye to it.

You can follow all the safety guidelines, you can wear your hard hat and your goggles and tuck your sleeves when you use the table saw, but if tempers are hot, if you’ve got people who just can’t work together, then it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. Part of being a leader means knowing how to bring your people together for a common goal without letting personal differences get in the way. Some conflict is normal, but you need your team to be able to handle disagreements in a mature manner. Here are some tips for ensuring that we all can just get along:

Don’t Be Afraid To Talk It Out

It can be tough getting hotheaded team members to sit down and talk it out, but this isn’t exactly marriage counseling. You don’t need to be best buddies with your coworkers, but starting a discussion can make a couple of things clear to everyone involved, the first of which being the root of the problem. Once you figure out why these guys are butting heads, you can do something about it. The second thing being that you can’t allow anyone to jeopardize the project, and they’re going to have to figure it out if they want to keep working here.

Don’t Pull Rank, But Be Clear About What Is And Isn’t Non-Negotiable

You’re not going to fire the other guy because he accidentally borrowed someone’s hammer without asking, but you can work something out. Try and come to an agreement that both parties, and you, can be happy with.

Follow Up On The Resolution

Keep tabs on your team and make sure that they’re still getting along. If they’re playing nice when you’re around but cussing each other out the minute you’re out of earshot, then the conflict hasn’t really been resolved, and if that’s the case, you may need to…

Just Split Them Up

If two guys really just can’t get along, move them around the jobsite so that they’re not going to be in one another’s way.

Should all else fail, there’s always the threat of the walking papers. You don’t want to have to resort to scaring your people into toeing the line, and it usually won’t come to that, but every now and then you’ll hire someone who’s ability on the job doesn’t quite make up for their hardheadedness.

Jun 17
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Staying Safe on a Multilingual Worksite

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

1606-CON-3Working construction, you tend to pick up a lot of people who may not speak English as a first language, if they speak much English at all. Getting the proper safety procedures across in this sort of work environment can be a little tricky. It’s easy enough to ask a Spanish-speaking gofer to grab three 2×4’s by pointing at the 2×4’s and holding up three fingers. Teaching them your 911 procedure is a little trickier. Here are some tips to ensure that everyone on staff knows how to stay safe and knows how to handle an emergency.

Keep Some Bilingual People On Your Crew

Keeping at least one or two people on your crew who can speak multiple languages fluently is always a good idea, ensuring that you’ll never be at a loss when you need to get some information across to your people. Tell your translator what your people need to know, and have them pass it on.

Distribute Multi-language Safety Material

You might not be able to explain how to safely use the SAWZALL to a Spanish-speaking worker, but the instructions were probably printed in multiple languages. Any safety material that you have, from signs to manuals to the instructions on the first-aid kit, make sure that you have a copy printed for every language spoken on your work site.

Teach, And Learn, Some Basic Phrases

“Estar atento” or simply “atento” is a Spanish phrase that basically means “Watch out!” It comes in very handy when someone drops a bucket off of a scaffolding. Failing that, there’s always the universal “AAAAAHHH!” when something goes wrong. You don’t need to be able to read Don Quixote in the original Spanish, but learning a few basic phrases may be a tremendous help in safety situations. The good news is that this will tend to happen naturally. It’s not uncommon for a job site to develop its own unique vernacular based on the languages of everyone on staff so that a basic working language is in play.

When hiring a crew for any job, you’re looking for people who are dependable, professional, and experienced. Construction work offers a great opportunity for people who don’t speak English as a first language to make a decent living in an English-speaking country. But,communication is key no matter what line of work.

Jun 17
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Covering Risks on the Way There and Back

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

1606-CON-2If an employee is in an auto accident while on the way to or from work, then that’s their insurer’s problem, right? And of course, if they have an accident while they’re driving a company car, then your commercial auto insurance provider is the one that foots the bill. Now here comes the tricky gray area: what if they’re in their own car, but they’re on company time, doing something that you asked them to do?

Here’s the short answer: Usually the driver’s insurance will wind up covering any costs incurred from the accident. But, there are plenty of exceptions.

Livery

“Isn’t that where the horses are stored for the night in the old westerns?” Yes, but also, in insurance terms, it refers to drivers who are transporting other people for a fee. If it’s two employees sharing a car, that doesn’t count. Livery just refers to transporting people who are paying for the ride (and not just “pitching in a couple bucks for gas”).

Delivery

Certain types of delivery services will invalidate the driver’s coverage, depending on their policy. Some providers won’t over pizza delivery men at all, for instance.

General Business Use

Picking up supplies, driving clients around, uprooting tree stumps, this is generally not covered under an employee’s personal insurance policy.

In short, here’s what you can be absolutely certain your employee’s personal insurance will cover: Themselves, their vehicle, and their passengers when driving around, whether that be on lunch breaks, to and from work, picking up another employee from their home, and meeting other basic transportation needs. If they’re on company time, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to be held responsible, but if they’re doing paid company work with their vehicle, then that may fall under your business insurance policy.

This is, in part, why it’s very important to ensure that safety procedures are followed off the job site as well as on the job site, and why you really do need to be careful about who you’re putting your trust into when it comes to even the simplest tasks. Turning a blind eye to an employee who has a beer with lunch might not be such a big deal, but you don’t want him picking up building materials for you.

Basic transportation is covered under your employee’s personal insurance policy, but make sure that you have the right provisions on your business insurance before asking a worker to tow the cement mixer back to the lot.

Jun 17
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People Who Walked Away From Extraordinary Disasters

By Construction Insurance Bulletin

1606-CON-1You should always make sure that your team is following safety guidelines as close to the letter as possible. But, if something does go wrong, maybe they’ll go lucky, like these people did:

Reshma Begum

When Reshma Begum was 19 years old, she was working as a seamstress in a building near Dhaka in April of 2013. The factory collapsed right on top of her. Seventeen days later, rescuers had all but given up hope, when they heard a banging sound amid the ruins. Begumhad survived for over two weeks on dried food and what little water she could find.

Howard Ulrich and Son

Howard Ulrich and his eight year old son were out fishing one night in 1958 when, like something out of a disaster movie, they heard a distant rumbling. Looking around they saw a literal wall of water racing towards them, the highest wave in recorded history at 1,720 feet, created by an 8.0 earthquake dislodging a rock face. Ulrich couldn’t get the anchor up in time before the wave hit them dead on, amazingly lifting them atop the wave and dropping them safely back into the bay.

Zahrul Fuadi

Indonesian Zahrul Fuadi has either the worst or best luck in the world, having survived first the Boxing Day tsunami in the Aceh province, and then, moving to Sendai, Japan, the massive tidal wave that hit the country in early 2011. Fuadi tells reporters that he’s still scared that another tsunami might come along to finish the job any day now, and we have to say that we can’t quite blame him for being a bit phobic on the subject.

Peter Skyllberg

Now, there’s a chance that this guy made the story up, we can’t be sure, but some scientists take him at his word: Trapped in his car under a snowdrift for two straight months in 2012, the Swedish man claims to have survived by eating snow. As crazy as that sounds, some experts believe that he may have gone into a hibernation state that kept him alive for 60 days, while taking shelter in the igloo-style insulation that the snow had created around his car. It seems as if Jack Palance should come out at this point and ask that you “Believe it… or not!”

Surviving a disaster unscathed can happen, but if it were the norm, they wouldn’t call them disasters, they’d call them “uh oh’s.” Don’t take this list as a license for carelessness, but as a reminder that people can persevere through the worst of conditions.

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