Industry News
Risk Management and the Virtual Workforce
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As American employers navigate the Coronavirus Pandemic, many business leaders quickly adapted to a virtual office and virtual workforce. While many organizations anxiously wait for the day employees can all safely head into the office Monday through Friday, employers must adjust risk management practices to account for the virtual workforce.
New Hires Pose Hidden Exposure
Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Hiring is never an easy task, especially during a pandemic. Dealing with COVID-19 has made finding the right employees much more difficult for many business owners in the construction industry. Now is the perfect time to evaluate your hiring practices to ensure you don’t make a costly hiring mistakes that can affect your Experience Modification Rate (XMOD) and workers’ compensation premium long after the pandemic has passed.
CA Anti-Harassment Training Deadline Quickly Approaches
Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Lately, we've been getting a lot of questions about California's required anti-harassment training, who has to complete it, when it's due, and how much it costs. This article will clear up any confusion; covering the history of the requirement, training conditions and deadlines, and the online training offered to Rancho Mesa clients.
COVID-19 Workers Comp Surcharge Coming to California
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Adding frustration to the growing concerns for businesses dealing with COVID-19, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has recommended California employers pay a COVID-19 surcharge on their 2021 workers’ compensation policies.
AB 685 Creates New Notice and Reporting Requirements
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President of the Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc.
On September 17th, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 1159 (SB 1159) and Assembly Bill 685 (AB 685), both COVID-19 related bills. Both pieces of legislation will impact how employers respond to incidents of COVID-19 infections. This article will help business owners understand AB 685’s heightened occupational health and safety rules. Employers also need to understand how AB 685 grants California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) greater enforcement powers.
Safe Cloud Computing for Contractors
Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many construction companies were utilizing some form of cloud-based systems to effectively streamline business operations and increase accessibility of information. While hosting sensitive data in the cloud has many benefits like shared access to data, applications and storage, there are some risks contractors should take into account before relinquishing their data to the cloud.
SB 1159 Is Now Workers’ Compensation Law
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As expected, California Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1159 (SB 1159) into law Thursday, September 17, 2020 and it will have several impacts on workers’ compensation and the presumption of the claim. Below is an outline of some of the more important elements of SB 1159. In simple terms, just remember three numbers, 4/4/14 - I’ll explain, later.
Strengthen Your Risk Profile During COVID-19
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
While the effects of COVID-19 on the workers’ compensation marketplace vary among the different business sectors, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has approved a filing that will increase the 2021 pure premium advisory rates by 2.6%. With impending rate increases on the horizon, it’s more important now than ever to be proactive when it comes to your company’s risk management program. Carriers are already tightening up their underwriting guidelines and limiting schedule credits. In order to earn the most competitive pricing possible, a business must differentiate itself from other businesses. Below are three strategies you can use to strengthen your risk profile during COVID-19.
Employers Enlist Assistance from HR Experts while Navigating Perils of COVID-19
Author, Chase Hixson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a slew of unknowns to employers across the country, especially as it relates to human resources questions and Employment Practices Liability (EPLI). Rancho Mesa’s RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal has been a favorite of our clients ever since its release in 2019. The portal continues to grow in popularity as employers face new challenges as workplace standards and employee interaction changes, almost daily.
Common Sense Strategies for Lowering Risk and Managing Liability
Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
While business owners spend thousands of hours becoming experts in their own field, most know very little about the intricacies of purchasing commercial insurance. Consider exploring these topics further as you prepare for your upcoming renewal cycle.
The Importance of Timely Workers’ Compensation Claims Reporting
Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Injuries, accidents, and mistakes happen. When a work-related injury occurs, a common reaction from many business owners is an instinct to NOT report the injury to their workers’ compensation carrier for fear of increasing their company’s Experience Modification (EMR). However, they couldn’t be more wrong. Timely reporting of all claims is the first step in controlling claim costs and lowering their EMR.
Court Agrees Temporary COVID-19 Standards Are Not Needed
Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On June 11th, 2020, the D.C. Circuit Court denied the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations’ (AFL-CIO) lawsuit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for not issuing an emergency temporary worker safety standard due to COVID-19.
California Workers' Comp Carriers React to Commissioner's COVID-19 Amendment Approval
Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
With California Insurance Commissioner Lara’s recent approval of a special regulatory filing introduced to alleviate the burden COVID-19 workers’ compensation (WC) claims threaten to have on California employers, we reached out to several prominent carrier executives to share their thoughts.
OSHA Recording Requirements for COVID-19 Cases
Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As businesses begin to reopen across the country, employers are now faced with the real possibility that one or more of their employees may be diagnosed with COVID-19. Those who are familiar with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recording requirements may be wondering how to handle an employee COVID-19 case on their OSHA logs.
Commissioner Lara Approves WCIRB Proposed Amendments Addressing COVID-19
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
California Insurance Commissioner Lara has approved, as filed, the proposed special regulatory filing submitted by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) concerning proposed amendments addressing the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). The special regulatory filing is effective July 1, 2020 and will apply retroactively starting March 19, 2020, the day California Governor Newsom issued the Stay-at-Home Executive Order N-33-20. Those amendments are as follow…
Topics Your COVID-19 Training Should Cover
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As states begin to lift COVID-19 restrictions and move into later phases of reopening plans, and companies begin to bring back their employees, it is important to take the necessary health and safety precautions in the workplace. Your staff should be well informed about safety precautions and resources to keep one another safe. When choosing a COVID-19 employee training, make sure it is comprehensive and includes all the necessary topics recommended by local, state and federal agencies.
Nonprofits Eligible for Free Digital Advertising
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
To help avoid a decrease in private donations due to the Coronavirus pandemic, nonprofit leaders have turned their attention to a powerful tool used to increase website traffic and online donations: Google’s Ad Grant Program.
Critical Elements of a COVID-19 Safety Plan
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As businesses re-open across the country, it is important that we all do our part in preventing and slowing the spread of COVID-19. For many companies in construction and those in the service industry, employees often work in close proximity with others. Keeping your workforce and the public safe should be priority number one.
COVID-19’s Impact on the Non-Profit Insurance Marketplace
Author, Chase Hixson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Businesses of all sizes across the country have been impacted by COVID-19 in some way or another. As we begin to phase back into the “new normal,” the insurance industry is seeing several changes within the non-profit sector that will significantly impact pricing and coverage, moving forward.
Special COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Filing and Executive Order Imminent
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) voted unanimously this past Friday, April 17, 2020, on a special filing and sent it to the Insurance Commissioner for signature. If approved, this order would…