Asero Insurance Services

Workers’ compensation insurance rates will likely continue sliding in 2020 after California’s rating agency submitted its recommendation that the state insurance commissioner reduce the average benchmark rates by 5.4%. https://lnkd.in/f8X9GtE

A recent appeals court decision denied coverage to a company on its directors and officers liability insurance policies for taking too long to file the claim. In this case, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with an insurer that had denied a claim a company had made after being sued for failing to pay overtime wages to nonexempt employees. The case illustrates the importance of filing claims in a timely manner. https://lnkd.in/f4ChvA5

Does your injury and illness prevention program spell out the disciplinary action your company will pursue if its safety rules are not adhered to? Addressing disciplinary issues can be a very sensitive and stressful process for most managers, supervisors and employees. However, if disciplinary issues are avoided or handled poorly, it can lead to serious consequences such as property damage, injury or even fatality. Here’s why a disciplinary process should be part of every workplace safety program. https://aseroins.com/discipline-should-be-part-of-your-saf/

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that will make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees and job applicants based on their hairstyle if it is part of their racial makeup. https://aseroins.com/new-law-bars-hairstyle-discrimination/

Cal/OSHA has issued emergency regulations that require employers of outdoor workers to take protective measures, including providing respiratory equipment, when air quality is significantly affected by wildfires. Here is all you need to know about the new emergency regulations that are slated to take effect in early August 2019. https://aseroins.com/cal-osha-issues-emergency-rules-to-pr/

Workplace injury rates rise during the summer months. When summer rolls around, companies in many sectors, including agriculture and construction, significantly increase production. What are the factors that contribute most to summer workplace injuries and what can you do about it? https://aseroins.com/why-workers-comp-claims-spike-in-the-/

Companies in states that have legalized marijuana are wrestling with how to deal with employees that use, particularly if they did so the night before and are still feeling the effects the following day. A new survey found that one-third of business owners are not prepared for managing the effects of legalized marijuana in the workplace. With no clear guidance, some employers have responded by relaxing their drug policies to allow for employee consumption outside the confines... of the workplace, while others have kept the zero-tolerance rules in place to thwart employees who may try to use cannabis during the workday. Here is a guide for handling it in your workplace. https://aseroins.com/is-your-business-prepared-for-recreat/

Cal/OSHA is developing regulations that would require employers of outdoor workers to provide respiratory equipment when air quality is significantly affected by wildfires. https://aseroins.com/cal-osha-working-on-rules-to-protect-/

After R&B star SZA said she had security called on her while shopping at a Zefora store in California, the chain closed all of its U.S. stores for an hour to conduct inclusion workshops for its 16,000 employees. Unfortunately, Zefora is not an isolated incident and employees regularly cross the line when dealing with colleagues, vendors, customers and more. And in the age of people video-recording these encounters, a rogue employee could sink your company if the target decides to take legal action. What can you do? https://aseroins.com/conduct-diversity-training-to-head-of/

Under a new decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, employers who want to have a discrimination complaint dismissed because the lawsuit allegations differ from those in the EEOC filing must act quickly or lose the right to challenge the case. Here’s what’s at stake, and why. https://aseroins.com/if-your-firm-is-sued-for-discriminati/

Many businesses that produce some type of pollutant throughout the course of daily business operations don’t know they are doing so. Others know they are producing pollutants and have processes and safeguards in place to reduce their release into the environment. A business can be held liable for some very costly damages when these byproducts pollute another property or harm another individual. Is your business at risk? https://aseroins.com/why-your-business-may-need-pollution-/

PG&E has announced that when there are high-wind conditions during the dry fire season, it may be forced to shut down power to large swaths of the state to avoid sparking another wildfire. https://aseroins.com/how-to-prepare-for-possible-pge-power/

As the economy continues expanding, companies need to be careful about properly managing their risk, according to a report by Advisen Inc., an insurance research and data firm. Increased activity typically means proportionally additional losses. For example, more trucks driving more miles will inevitably result in more accidents. However, there are other kinds of risk that can actually increase more than the jump in business activity, including workplace safety, an increase in lawsuits, and labor law violations. This item has advice on how to minimize these risks as the economy continues its strong run. http://aseroins.com/business-growth-can-lead-to-increased-/