Workplace injuries are a reality that many small businesses face — especially those in higher-risk industries such as manufacturing, construction and transportation. Workplace accidents happen, regardless of the industry, so it’s important to understand the benefits of efficient reporting of workers’ comp claims. The amount of time it takes to report claims can have a...
The beginning of the year marked the return of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with the theme of “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”. For more than 50 years, the Davos Forum has brought together business leaders, governments, academics, and civil society experts to address and discuss the world’s most pressing challenges. Coinciding...
Workers compensation claims involving long COVID may rise this year, though cost projections are hard to come by, experts say. In January, the Workers Compensation Research Institute reported that comp claims with long COVID had higher-than-average medical payments and indemnity payments and longer durations of temporary disability than regular COVID-19 claims. “In particular, we found...
Since organizations rely heavily on email to communicate and conduct business operations, cybercriminals commonly target email as an entry point to access networks and breach valuable business data. In fact, 94% of malware is delivered by email, according to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report. Following a cybersecurity breach, organizations may suffer financial, reputational and intellectual...
While the signals are mixed, there are signs that inflation is finally easing. We can debate the measures the Fed and the Biden administration have taken to push back against rising costs, but inflation control would undeniably be a good thing for the bottom lines of investment real estate properties. Job market and supply chain...
The perfect storm of inflation, supply-chain disruptions and ongoing labor shortages is adding additional risk factors to construction projects in 2023. Despite year-over-year growth, the construction industry is still facing a 400,000-plus worker deficit.[1] At the same time, inflation is contributing to the rising cost of construction materials, and supply-chain bottlenecks continue to affect the timely...
Strategic planning and goal setting are incredibly important for businesses of all sizes, as well as for business owners themselves. This process should connect your goals with “why” that goal is important to the activities that people do within the company. A good business coach will guide you through the goal setting process, facilitate the...
Despite all the headlines about layoffs hitting Silicon Valley and Wall Street, most employers will be feeling the tailwind of the war for talent in the new year. The labor market has remained stubbornly robust in the face of recession forecasts and the Federal Reserve’s campaign to raise interest rates. Hiring is especially competitive for small businesses. More...
Insurance experts often examine how outside influences and trends affect the insurance marketplace, and businesses should follow suit to determine what factors may impact their insurance coverage. For 2023, there are a number of sweeping market developments to consider. Labor ShortagesThe last few years have seen widespread labor shortages. According to a recent survey conducted...
Insured natural disaster losses hit an estimated $120 billion in 2022, with North America making up the bulk of the tally due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, according to Munich Re. Economic losses reached $270 billion, down from $320 billion in 2021. While overall losses were close to average, insured losses were well...