commercial insurance

The US has 10 million job openings

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

This is a first: The US has 10 million job openings

CNN | Job Openings |

New York (CNN Business) It’s a hallmark sign of this strange pandemic labor market: America had a record 10.1 million jobs available in June, as businesses struggled to hire enough staff to support the full reopening of the economy. That mismatch between worker demand and supply has been a defining characteristic of the pandemic recovery. Hiring is rampant across industries, as businesses are still rebuilding the capacity lost during last year’s lock-downs. Professional and business services, retail, hotels, and restaurants added the most job openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Monday.

But many jobless workers are facing complexities. Some continue to struggle with finding child care, while others are concerned about the risk of contracting the virus at work.

“If we want to sustain our economic recovery, we have to get serious about removing barriers to filling these open jobs,” said Neil Bradley, executive vice president, and chief policy officer of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Specifically, Bradley added, “that includes addressing childcare needs, rightsizing unemployment programs, skills training, and increasing legal immigration.”

Economists expect that at least the child care aspect will be addressed when schools reopen in person after the summer. But the rampant spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant is adding exposure risk. Meanwhile, the generous pandemic-era unemployment benefits that have already ceased in multiple states will run out in September, which could affect the rate of hiring as well.

Hires, layoffs and voluntary quits

Click here for the rest of the story…

More great articles

Read More

Keeping it lean: 6 strategies for contractors to help reduce overhead

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Reduce Overhead | Business Insurance | Get A Quote!

Liberty Mutual > Business Insurance > Insights > Keeping it lean: 6 strategies for contractors to help reduce overhead

It’s been a volatile year in the construction market. In March 2020, dozens of major cities and some entire states put a moratorium on construction to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile, hold-ups in the global supply chain drove up the cost of materials by as much as 80%. Many businesses tabled their construction projects to prepare not only for a possible global recession but also for a fundamental change in the use of commercial real estate.

For many contractors, this market turbulence has led to anxiety – and a temptation to chase business outside their normal territories or areas of expertise. But this is a mistake, according to Matthew Campbell, a Liberty Mutual Surety Plus underwriter specializing in the small to mid-size contractor space. Instead, he advises companies, “if the market does not present itself, keep it lean.”

In this article, we’ll dive into six strategies contractors can use to help get lean, avoid unnecessary risk, and survive an unpredictable market.

6 strategies to “get lean” and reduce overhead

Since March 2020, we’ve seen a steady decline in non-residential construction spending, and current indices suggest that the slowdown of work will continue. Today’s lean market is largely due to a volatile global economy, uncertainty about the future of commercial real estate, and anticipated corporate tax hikes under the Biden administration. And some construction markets have been hit harder than others. Hotels and lodging, for example, have seen a more than 25% decrease in growth in the last year. Many companies stayed afloat by relying on backlogs, but even those are drying up after a year of pandemic.

Rather than diving into risky projects, Campbell and the surety team recommend taking a leaner approach, focused around these six strategies:

Reflect on compensation structure

The cost of labor is a huge expense for many contractors, particularly if they offer employees healthcare and other benefits. It might make sense to take a different approach to your compensation structure during lean times, particularly if your team doesn’t have a lot of work on their plates.

Paying employees a lower fixed or base salary and compensating them with bonuses or incentives is one strategy to reduce labor costs. With this model, you still compensate employees for their hard work, but it costs the company less during slower periods.

If your business is really struggling, doing universal pay cuts across the board is also an option. Although this will be unpopular, it will feel more palatable if managers and leaders are also part of the plan. With slowdowns in the market, savvy contractors should consider what size labor force they really need to get the job done.

Optimize your workforce

Click here for the rest of the article…

More great articles!

Read More

What commercial insurance is required in Michigan?

Posted on by admin

Protecting your business takes the right commercial insurance. Your policy can be customized by your insurance agent to give you all the protection you need and none that doesn’t apply to your business. At Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan, we have the commercial insurance policy experience you are looking for. We will make sure you have the commercial insurance mandated by the state of Michigan. 

Mandated insurance

Commercial auto insurance

In the state of Michigan, all business-owned vehicles must be covered by commercial auto insurance. The required amount of commercial auto insurance you must carry is 20/40/10. That is $20,000 for injuries to one person in an accident with a total of $40,000 for the entire accident with $10,000 property damage. While this is the required amount, it may not be the correct amount for your business. 

Workers’ compensation insurance

If your business has one or more full-time employees, you must have workers’ compensation insurance. 

While these are the mandated commercial insurances, they are not the only ones that can benefit your business. 

Not Mandated but a good idea

Commercial liability insurance

Between 36% and 53% of small businesses are sued every year. That means that your chance of being involved in litigation is pretty high. Not only could there be a judgment against you, but you would also be responsible for the legal fees that go along with defending yourself. Commercial liability insurance can make the difference between surviving and having to close your doors. 

Commercial property insurance

If a covered peril hits your business, it could destroy everything you need to do business. Your inventory, your machinery, your raw materials, your office equipment, and your records. Without commercial property insurance would you be able to replace all these things and get back to work? If the answer is no, this is the insurance you need. 

Contact Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan when you are ready to customize your commercial insurance.

Check out more great articles at Shield Agency

Read More

Don’t Wait to Renew Your Passport

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Americans planning international travel face processing delays

by Larry Bleiberg, AARP, Updated July 19, 2021 | Renew Your Passport | Shield Insurance

En español | If you’re planning an international trip, check your passport’s expiration date now. It could take more than four months to get a new one.

The U.S. State Department projects a wait of up to 18 weeks for renewals, and some customers are reporting even longer delays. Those paying an extra $60 for expedited service can still expect to wait up to 12 weeks for their document. Those processing times begin the day the department receives your application, not the day you mail it.

And appointments for last-minute, in-person processing are extremely limited.

The problem is — what else? — COVID-19.

In March 2020, when pandemic restrictions were first imposed, the State Department sent most employees home, and severely scaled back processing applications. When workers began to return to the office, in June 2020, they faced a backlog of applications. Now, a year later, they still haven’t caught up with the demand, a State Department spokesman said. There are also mail delivery delays, according to the State Department website, which notes that the 18-month processing-time estimate includes up to six weeks for mailing.

As more people get vaccinated and begin to plan international trips, the backlog is likely to grow, resulting in even longer processing delays. “Put your forms in as fast as you can,” says Jeremy Scott Foster of TravelFreak.com, a travel advice website. “Unfortunately, there is no workaround. All queues are long.”

The passport delay has caused some travelers to cancel trips. For example, Samantha Meabon, a physician assistant from western Pennsylvania, needed a new passport because of a name change. The process took four months, forcing her to cancel a planned trip to St. Lucia and Martinique in the Caribbean in May. “Although we planned much further ahead of time than we normally would, we ended up having to continue to postpone international travel,” she says.

Another reason to renew early: Some countries won’t admit travelers with passports that expire in less than six months.

How to apply for or renew a passport

Click here o the rest of the story…

More great articles!

Read More

Insurance solutions for your industry

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Liberty Mutual Small Commercial: Insurance solutions for your industry

As an expert in your business, you know your operation inside and out – from how to market during your high-selling season to what equipment is best to use in your production lines. At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we know how to protect your business. With industry expertise in areas such as underwriting, risk control, and claims, we know how to keep your specific type of business and employees protected. Whether you manage a clothing store, operate a farm, or run a publishing house, you need the right coverage to ensure your business is protected.

Read More

Careful when choosing your deductible

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Choosing Your Deductible | Shield Insurance Agency Blog | Start A Quote Today!

Careful when choosing your deductible

A high deductible is often a great way to keep your insurance premiums down.  However, you shouldn’t set a deductible that is so high that you cannot afford to pay the deductible when you have a claim.  I’ve seen people change their collision deductible from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible because money was tight and this allowed them to save about $10 per month on the premium.

Wouldn’t you know it, but not even 2 months later they ended up in an At-Fault accident.  Money was tight so they didn’t have that $1,000 to get the vehicle repaired. It took forever to save up that $1,000 so they were down to one vehicle which made it tough getting back and forth to work.

Please make sure you have something in savings for an emergency.  Whether it’s a car accident or your furnace breaks down. Emergencies will happen, but if you’re prepared, you can transform that emergency into an inconvenience.

submitted by Joe

Recent Blog Posts

Read More

Injured Worker Advocacy Matters

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

3 reasons why injured worker advocacy matters

INJURED WORKER COMP TRENDS  •  3 MIN READ

Experiencing a workplace injury is understandably stressful for any employee and trauma can be exacerbated when employers focus on medical costs and missing staff hours instead of the employee’s well-being. With today’s advocacy-based worker’s compensation model, however, employers are seeking to fix this inherent conflict, with many now intent on changing the relationship – from adversary to advocate.

“The way you treat an injured worker can have a material impact on the life of the claim,” says Wesley Hyatt, Senior Vice President, Workers Compensation Claims, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Helmsman Management Services LLC. “Injured worker advocacy is a mindset that starts with the goal that ‘we’re here to help this injured person’ versus just moving claims along by checking boxes.”

Here are three reasons why injured worker advocacy is driving a paradigm shift in how forward-looking employers manage the claims process.

1. Open communication builds trust and confidence in the process

Creating consistent, clear, and open communication in a way that puts an injured worker’s needs first is a key part of the advocacy approach. Every outreach should reassure injured workers that their claims and clinical teams are working in their best interests. After all, along with recovering from the injury, an employee must also work through the complex worker’s compensation (WC) claims process – often for the very first time.

To achieve the goal of open communication, employers are changing the language used throughout the process to eliminate jargon and replace negative wording with positive terms. For example, “covered” is now substituted for “compensable,” and “claims examiner” is replaced by “claims representative.”

Another example of improving the employee experience is Liberty Mutual’s SmartVideo, a personalized, two-minute video that’s automatically sent via email to an injured worker whose claim meets certain WC criteria. Accessible via computer, tablet, or mobile device, the video outlines important claims information and available tools.

“The idea is to expand on the human connection between adjuster and worker, alleviating an employee’s stress and fears of the unknown,” Hyatt says. “It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it and deliver it.”

The takeaway: the tone used and ease of information provided from the very first contact with an injured worker sets the course for the entire claim.

“The way you treat an injured worker can have a material impact on the life of the claim.” – Wesley Hyatt, Senior Vice President, Workers Compensation Claims

2. Responsive follow-up leads to faster return-to-work

With data showing that as many as 18% of injured workers never reach the ability to return to work in the same capacity, connecting frequently with progress check-ins and additional resources can inform a proactive – and realistic – post-recovery evaluation.

Anticipating a worker’s needs in a holistic way demonstrates that their well-being is a priority, says Debbie Michel, Executive Vice President, National Insurance Risk Management, Liberty Mutual Insurance. “Think about the whole person, not just the specific injury,” she says.

3 Reasons Why Injured Worker Advocacy Matters, Shield Insurance Agency Blog

“Anticipating a worker’s needs in a holistic way demonstrates that their well-being is a priority.” – Debbie Michel, Executive Vice President, National Insurance Risk Management

Nurse case managers can use motivational interviewing and therapeutic listening to help identify other factors that may affect an employee’s return to work – and coordinate additional services if needed.

Another way to reinforce employer support is by empowering the employee with a range of choices, Michel says. Options can include a gradual part-time to full-time transition, providing temporary limited duty or alternate work tasks, and temporarily working remotely.

The takeaway: returning to work full time after an injury doesn’t always have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Keeping an injured worker engaged and empowered through the recovery process can strengthen the employer-employee relationship and better prepare for a successful return to work plan.

3. Compassionate strategies improve overall claims outcomes

Click here for the rest of the story

Read More

Employee Risk in a Virtual Workplace

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Understanding employee risks in a virtual workplace

EMERGING RISK TRENDS  •  2 MIN READ

With many employees working remotely over this last year due to the ongoing pandemic, the shift to a virtual workplace has presented new challenges for some businesses. As companies continue moving away from the traditional work settings, now is the best time to reassess and mitigate work-related risks to remote workers.

From confirming business objectives to adjusting your processes and resource allocation, here are the key ways to prepare for new remote risks. 

Conduct a risk assessment

Have your risks changed with virtual workspaces? As you assess and prioritize work-related risks for each workgroup, consider if these new remote-work locations will be short or long-term.

A few top concerns may include:

  • Ergonomics – repetitive stress injuries from desk set-up, cords, and more
  • Same-level fall – slips, and trips in the employee environment
  • Mental health – stress and isolation compounding from the ongoing pandemic

Revise operational processes

To better understand and address risks, revisit your existing safety programs and strategies. What gaps need to be covered in this new workplace model? If the necessary programs do not currently exist, formalize an approach to assess and reduce risks to workers. While short vs long-term strategies may look different, it is important to treat employees consistently and effectively.

As you begin your strategic planning:

  • Create an assessment or feedback process for your organization
  • Develop a process to make decisions about resources
  • Identify measures of success, e.g. number of touches to online help resources; the number of equipment/peripheral purchases

Adjust resources against risk

What can you do to limit risks for your workers? If you have accumulated real estate savings as a result of virtual work, consider reallocating that budget to employee safety. Provide easy access to resources for employees to get help during this unprecedented time, to eliminate cumbersome barriers to the process:

  • Check and reallocate resources to support your remote-work strategy
  • Develop a purchase/delivery process for equipment, furniture, and supporting tools, keeping ease of order process in mind
  • Define methods to provide training and knowledge sources for workers

Consider the ergonomic and environmental risks associated with your employee’s virtual workplace as well. Environmental risks can include walking surfaces, stairs, and overuse of power strips and outlets in the home. Check our library of resources to help manage your team’s safety as you adjust to the new normal:

Click here for the story

Read More

Telematics and managing commercial auto risks

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Commercial | AUTO FLEET MANAGEMENT  •  2 MIN READ

Telematics and managing commercial auto risks: 3 steps to success

More cars on the roads, rising medical costs, distracted drivers, and higher repair costs are just a few of the factors driving the increase in commercial auto losses. In an effort to help minimize risks and better control costs, more businesses are exploring telematics technology. According to the most recent Fleet Management Technology Report, 44 percent of fleets now use some form of telematics.

However, to get the most return on investment from telematics, businesses need to consider a variety of factors. Here are three steps that can help companies successfully adopt and implement telematics in their operations:

Select a vendor that can help solve your business challenge.

Certain vendors are better at certain things, so it’s important to know in advance the problem your company is trying to solve to help ensure your vendor’s capabilities will meet your needs. For example, a company with a fleet of service vehicles that charges by the hour may want to track exactly when a commercial vehicle arrives at and departs from a specific location to help avoid billing discrepancies. A delivery operation may want to optimize routes to improve productivity and manage fuel costs. A business that is experiencing an uptick in vehicle accidents may prefer to review driver performance by individual, location and vehicle type to identify potential issues.

Translate data into useful information.

The high volume of data, notifications and detailed reports generated from a telematics system can be overwhelming. A business wishing to develop a successful program must know how to transform the data into information that can be applied strategically. For a company that uses telematics to track driver performance, getting an alert for every “aggressive” driving event (speeding, hard braking, etc.) may not provide much value. However, being able to review event rates (number of events per 100 miles driven) for individual drivers could be a better way to compare performance and identify outliers. Establishing suitable reporting parameters to create driver rankings or “scorecards” can help a fleet manager understand “average” performance, set realistic goals that support company objectives, and develop action plans for drivers in need of improvement.

Click here for the rest of the story

Read More

What Will Business Leadership Look Like This Year?

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

What Will Business Leadership Look Like This Year?

Business Leadership and Executives’ expectations for 2021 are high. Many hope to make up for everything that was lost, cancelled or postponed in 2020.

Overcoming the pandemic and political turmoil next year won’t be easy, and these challenges have a way of bleeding into the workplace. Internal leadership will be every bit as important as external needs.

Business leaders must be ready to support their teams mentally, professionally, financially and in every area in between. In 2021, the best leaders will:

Keep Their Spirits High

The events of 2020 were debilitating, distressing and downright exhausting. To keep employees not just motivated but excited to come to work, leaders have to set the tone.

Show up every day with a positive attitude. Make it a point to clock in before your team so you can greet each member as they arrive. Set calendar reminders to provide words of encouragement throughout the day.

Motivating people takes more than daily pick-me-ups, though. Set aside time with each team member to discuss their goals. Start with personal ones, and then discuss professional milestones that support both your business and their own objectives. Making progress together will be uplifting and inspiring for everyone.

Offer Radical Flexibility

One of the biggest trends to come out of 2020 is the sharp increase in remote work. Working from home allowed companies to continue operations while their employees stayed safe from COVID-19. 

The pandemic is far from over, and employees know other employers are also offering flexible scheduling. Going into 2021, radical flexibility will be required.

Some employees will feel more comfortable working from home all the time. Others may need just one day a week outside of the office. Others might want to work in the office, but only at night. Cater to as many different schedules as you can.

You can embrace flexibility in additional ways as well. Give employees freedom to decorate and rearrange their desks. Provide additional sick days to help them manage their mental health. As long as their productivity stays high, so should your willingness to be flexible.

Rethink Their Workflow

It’s one thing to let your team work a hybrid schedule or move into a home office. More difficult but just as important is revisiting their workflow.

Learn to do all that you can over digital platforms. If you have to send everyone home again in 2021, you don’t want it to be as much of a disruption as it was in 2020. 

Lean on project management systems like Asana and instant messengers like Slack to facilitate remote communication and file sharing. Look for efficiencies, such as writers self-editing their content, to reduce the number of people involved in each process.

Refine Their Culture

Company culture will be more important than ever in 2021. The economy is fluid right now, meaning that many employees are evaluating other opportunities. Make sure you give them a reason to stick with you. 

A strong culture is stickier than a larger paycheck. When a team feels like family, team members won’t want to leave simply because some other employer made them a slightly better offer.

Boost your company culture through regular activities that build relationships. Volunteer together. Sponsor an after-work activity, such as a happy hour, every once in a while. 

Take a Stand

Employees and consumers alike want to see companies take a stand on current issues. The challenge for business leaders is to know when, where and how to make a statement.

Look for worthy causes that everyone can get on board with. Nobody is going to object to a food drive. Everyone wants to see communities get access to shelter, education, food and clean water. 

Once you’ve identified a worthy cause, pause. Explain not just why you support the cause, but how it relates to your company’s mission and values. Otherwise, people might be suspicious or confused about the nature of your partnership. 

What if somebody does get upset? Welcome the discussion. Respectful communication helps teammates and customers better understand one another — and isn’t that what leadership is all about?

Business leadership has never been easy, but 2021 will put your leadership skills to the test. The good news is, you’ve already made it through 2020. Meet the new year’s challenges with grace, and you’ll cue your team to do the same.

Read More