It’s been quite a couple of years for the insurance industry, with the impacts of COVID-19, inflation, and fundamental changes to the labor market taking their toll. Despite all this, however, the workers’ compensation system is booming – it remains one of the most profitable segments of the US property and casualty insurance industry. According...
Earlier this month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a new initiative to conduct surprise safety inspections for fall hazards. A day later, the agency announced $32,113 in fines for a Florida construction company where a 19-year-old worker died after falling from a clubhouse roof. The fines were far from unusual, but the juxtaposition...
A research note out of Marcus & Millichap on the office market claims there are “bifurcated fundamentals.” Central business district (CBD) offices are seeing faster climbing vacancy rates than those in suburbs, so preliminary second quarter data suggests. What’s causing the unhealthy disparity? Concerns about health. “This is in part due to the increased emphasis...
Fire and explosion, natural catastrophes, and faulty workmanship or maintenance have been the major causes of loss by value of insurance claims over the past five years, according to a new study from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). “Insurance claims from companies have become more severe over the past five years due to factors such as...
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...
The past year has seen a rapidly hardening cyber insurance market as cyberattacks have surged in both cost and frequency. This increase in attacks has, in turn, resulted in a rise in cyber insurance claims and subsequent underwriting losses. Amid these market conditions, most policyholders experienced higher cyber insurance rates at their 2022 renewals, with...
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,...
The U.S. inflation rate has increased by 8.3% over the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This has led to significant price increases across various consumer goods as well as employee benefits such as health insurance. In fact, one-third of U.S. employees have already seen an increase in their health costs...
In order to mitigate the risks associated with construction, it is essential to assess the risk accurately and have a control mechanism in place once the threat has been identified. Being able to manage risks effectively will lead you to higher profits and good relationships with the clients. For contractors, the most significant risk...
The presence of unemployment-related scams has grown in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Current unemployment scams include both fraudulent claims and unemployment-related phishing attempts. As many employers are currently dealing with the reality of a high amount of unemployment claims, organizations can take steps to prepare for fraudulent activity and to accurately...