Blog
May 23, 2023
4 Things Employers Should Know About the State of the Workforce
While inflation has slowed down in the last year, its record highs in 2022 — which peaked at 9.1% last summer — will have lasting effects on employers and employees alike. According to global employment website Monster, 81% of workers report that their current wage has not kept up with the rising cost of living and inflation...
May 18, 2023
Commercial Property Rates Increase, Cyber Rates Moderate
Commercial property and casualty insurance rates rose 8.8% in the first quarter of 2023 (up slightly from 8.0% in the previous quarter) as property outpaced all other lines at an average of 20.4%, according to the latest Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB) market survey. As the market entered its 22nd consecutive quarter of...
May 17, 2023
Inflation, Labor Challenges Are the Biggest Risks Facing Construction Sector
Inflation’s impact on materials and labor challenges continue to be the biggest operational risks facing the construction sector, according to Selective Insurance’s General Contractor Risk report. “Construction is an inherently high-risk industry given its exposure to and reliance on macroeconomic factors, such as commodity pricing, supply chain, labor dynamics, and housing demand,” Jim Albi, assistant vice president,...
May 16, 2023
June is National Safety Month
June is National Safety Month. This month highlights efforts that can prevent injuries and death inside and outside the workplace, helps provide learning opportunities for employees, allows employers to share their safety pride and gives employees the opportunity to pledge they will work safely. Preventable injury-related deaths are the fourth leading cause of death in...
May 10, 2023
Data Privacy Lawsuits Nearly Doubled in 2022
Data breach litigation ramped up significantly in 2022, with more filings overall and filings in smaller data privacy events, according to BakerHostetler’s annual Data Security Incident Response Report. The law firm tracked a five-year trend showing a higher percentage of events resulting in at least one lawsuit—from four lawsuits out of 394 in 2018 up...
May 9, 2023
Nonprofit Sector Trends to Watch
Nonprofit organizations operate to fulfill their missions, benefit the community and serve the public. They are essential for maintaining a thriving society and contribute greatly to health care, higher education, environmental stewardship, human services, religious services, arts and culture, and other vital services. However, in the months and years ahead, the nonprofit sector could face...
May 8, 2023
Supporting Employees During Mental Health Awareness Month and Beyond
Employee mental health has become a workplace topic of increased focus and awareness in recent years. An employee’s mental health includes how they think, feel and act, and their emotional and social well-being. While mental health includes mental illness, these two concepts aren’t interchangeable. For example, an employee can go through a period of poor...
May 3, 2023
OSHA Starts a National Emphasis Program to Prevent Falls
On May 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that OSHA started a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to prevent falls. OSHA states that falls continue to be the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and one of the most frequently cited OSHA violations in the construction industry. The NEP went into effect on May...
May 2, 2023
Spring Cleaning in the Workplace for Better Mental Health
While springtime is often associated with cleaning and resetting one’s personal space, these principles can be applied to the workplace, too — and that doesn’t just mean reorganizing your desk. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, symptoms of depression and anxiety have continued to increase three years into the pandemic. In fact, 90% of U.S. adults believe the...
April 27, 2023
Business Risks in an Economic Downturn
Without a thorough evaluation of its business model, any manufacturer can be severely threatened by an economic downturn. While devising creative solutions to keep your business running despite unfavorable economic conditions, keep in mind that changes to your business can result in new liability exposure. Supply Chain Risks It’s no secret that the financial security...