Legislation surrounding the gig economy, single-payer health insurance and marijuana legalization all have the potential to impact the U.S. workers’ compensation system, according to a National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) report. Digital platforms such as Uber ushered in a modern gig economy and renewed public discourse on worker classification. Proposals in numerous states would...
One of the largest changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic to the workplace was the popularization of remote work. Industries that previously operated solely from offices realized almost overnight that they could operate without everyone under a single roof. With the pandemic on the wane and restrictions being eased, many workers have expressed interest...
All heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable. Yet, an average of 658 people die each year as a result of exposure to extreme heat. The summer before last, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) did an in-depth study on heat exposure. It revealed that more than one-quarter of the U.S. population suffered from symptoms such as nausea,...
A new report from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) has looked into the impact of inflationary pressures on commercial lines insurance in the US and identified three main drivers of commercial insurance rate increases. “Insurers and agents continue to look for ways to reduce costs while still meeting all obligations to policyholders, but as claims...
Workplace accidents are serious and frequently result in severe injuries – even death. As a business owner, you’d like to believe it couldn’t happen to you, but that isn’t always the case. Regardless of the stringent safety protocols, you have in place – never say never. How these incidents occur and the seriousness of an...
Employee benefits play a key role in helping organizations attract and retain employees. But not all benefits are valued equally by all employees. As the U.S. workforce becomes more diverse in terms of racial and ethnic background, native language, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, health, work location and more, employers need to respond by offering a...
On April 12, 2022, OSHA launched its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for protecting workers from heat hazards in indoor and outdoor workplaces. Through the program, OSHA will conduct heat-related workplace inspections before workers suffer preventable injuries, illnesses or fatalities. The NEP is effective on April 8, 2022, and will remain in effect for three years...
With health care costs continuing to rise, today’s consumers need to make smarter health care decisions to ensure they receive the care they need at a price they can afford. Unfortunately, most American consumers lack an understanding of health care, their own health plans, and how to effectively “shop” for health care coverage and services....
If 2020 and 2021 showed us anything, it’s that the unexpected can and will happen — whether it’s a global pandemic, a cargo ship blocking one of the world’s busiest trade routes or a storm creating a widespread power outage. These unforeseen risks are difficult to predict and insure against, which made captive insurance, with its ability...
OSHA keeps records not only of the most frequently cited standards overall but also within particular industries. An analysis of the most recent statistics from OSHA revealed the top standards cited in the fiscal year 2021 for the construction industry. Here are some of the sector’s most common (and expensive) violations from this past year...