(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
Loading ...Does your employee handbook have a hands-free cell phone policy yet?
By July 1, 2008 it should, becuase motorist will no longer be permitted to drive while talking on their handheld cellular phones. The new law going into effect will fine drivers $20 for their first infraction and $50 there after. Drivers 18 and over are permitted to use a hands-free device or BLUETOOTH device as long as both ears are not covered. Click here for DMV website and link to video
$20 bucks? Who cares right? I'm a sales guy, so I know that if I am talking to a prospective client on my company cell phone that the risk of getting pulled over and shelling out $20 is relatively low and the reward/commission for making the sale far out weighs the penalty right?
Wrong!
This is where is real problem starts. Here is some food for thought:
- What happens if I am talking on a work related phone call and fatally drive into another vehicle? Who's responsible? Me or my Company?
- What happens if your company needs employees to be available in their cars via mobile phone, such as with salespeople? Should employees be supplied with a hands-free device?
- What if an employee uses a cell phone for personal use while driving to work and gets injured? Is the employer liable for workers’ compensation benefits?
The answer to these qeuestions can vary based on the details of each situation so the best advise is to always consult with expert legal council.
Employers take action!
- Adopt a policy in your employee handbook that clearly prohibits use of cell phones while driving a vehicle.
- Train supervisors and managers to communicate to their staff about the company’s policy prohibiting the use of mobile phones while driving.
- Discipline employees who violate the policy.
Posted June 25th, 2008 by Vincent - Posted in Human Resources, Safety, Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5) Loading ...Work Comp Fraud Caught on Tape
What better way to get over hump day Wednesday than a good chuckle?
We watch videos like like this and laugh but the harsh reality is that workers' compensation insurance fraud is no laughing matter.
In today's world, risk management departments and insurance companies have staff solely responsible for investigating your workers' compensation claim if foul play or a fish story is detected. We do too. To learn more about our risk management program visit our website here.
So if you are thinking about planting a banana peel in your company lobby and orchestrating an injury for the sake of hitting it big with your workers' compensation claim, take a look at these 3 con men who thought they could out wit the system.
Otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy today's feature presentation.
Posted April 22nd, 2008 by Vincent - Posted in Human Resources, Insurance Fraud, Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Launch a Wellness Program for Your Employees
Creating a wellness program for your company can mean more than just getting in shape. It can mean a whole new lifestyle for all your employees. When you are feeling healthy, you are more energetic and motivated to face each day. Who wouldn't what all their employees to feel great and perform at their best?
In an article from Business Week, "Some companies hand out small cash bonuses or gift certificates for reaching predetermined milestones. Others offer discounted insurance premiums. Still others make it a “team thing” and set up competitions between departments. "
By making heath exciting, everyone will want to join in and be a part of the new family. Make it a priority in your company and watch the benefits exude from your employees.
Posted March 14th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting, Workers' Comp | | 3 Comments
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Some like it HOT!
Every change in season seems to bring on new "wars" in the office. The AC War. For the most part, we can laugh at it. But these constant changing of the temperatures in the office could be adding to an influx of colds and other ailments. You know you have seen it. One employee is "freezing" in their office and bumps the control up to warm it up. Two offices down the hall all the sudden wonders why they are sweating and gets up to adjust the thermostat down to "his" comfort level….and the war begins.
Some offices will lock a box around the control box to keep this from happening. That is fine, but what about the person sitting in the office that happens to have poor circulation? You're wondering if I mean the vents or the blood flow of the employee. Well, I mean both. Are companies obligated to purchase heaters and fans to keep their employees happy? What about the "warmer" employee falling asleep on the job, being lathargic from the heat? Or the "freezing" employee with the sniffles, sneezing all day. How does this affect productivity? Should we be worried?
Really, I am just wondering. Just wondering while I am typing away with my frozen fingers.
Posted February 8th, 2008 by Camille - Posted in Customer Service, Health, Human Resources, Productivity, Safety, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp | | 1 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...A Puff A Day Keeps The Boss Angry
Is there an answer to the question of if an employee that smokes is less productive than a non-smoking employee?
With the amount of smoking breaks taken throughout a day, it’s hard to think otherwise. I’ve also heard the other side of the story where the smoker says the non-smokers spend just as much time complaining about the smoker being on break, so they must be even.
Take a look at this graph, you can decide for yourself.
Reason for Excess Cost
Cost Per Smoker Per Year
Source of Information
Excess Medical Expenditures
$2295
CDC
Smoking-attributable mortality
$206
MMWR
Missed Work Days due to Sickness
$466
JOEM
Smoking Breaks
$2574
EPIC/MRI
Worker's Comp
$176
JOEM
TOTAL EXCESS COST PER SMOKER PER YEAR = $5,717
Posted January 4th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Health, Human Resources, Productivity, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp | | 1 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...A Workers Comp Money Pit!
For a business owner, finding the right workers comp provider can mean the difference in thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, there are many different "cost drivers" to workers comp. An obvious one is how well the assests of the carrier are managed. That affects rates and discounts that play into the cost of workers comp premium.
Recently, I read this quote regarding an investigation into one of the largest work comp providers in the west, known to charge exorbitant rates: "The report paints a picture of an obscure rogue operation with more than $22 billion in assets, little oversight, minimal public checks and balances, and indiscriminate spending with little attention until recently from top state officials such as the governor and the insurance commissioner." With findings like this, would you trust your workers comp coverage to this company?
To read the entire article…and to discover who this company is, click here. But here is the point: as a business owner, you would be well served to thoroughly check out a prospective carrier before placing coverage with them. Or better yet, outsource your HR functions to a PEO who employs experts to manage workers comp, taxes, medical insurance plans, etc. for you! Why hang on to that headache!
Posted December 27th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...My Neck…My Back! My Neck and My Back!
This title comes to me in a moment of sheer genius and was taken from an except of an movie some of you may or may not know. In this movie, a customer fakes an injury in the local corner store to try and sue the owner of the business. It didn't work for the guy in the movie and it didn't work for the employee you're about to read about.
According to this article, "a former prison guard was convicted of 14 counts of fraud Monday after a Sacramento County jury agreed with prosecutors that she faked injuries to qualify for workers' compensation and a state disability pension." Back in 1999 she fell 16 ft from a watch tower and had to have surgery on her shoulder and jaw. She complained of ongoing back pain which meant she could no longer do some of the things she loved to do such as ride a personal watercraft or more importantly work.
Call me Paul Harvey because it's time for the rest of the story…
She was placed under surveillance one month after her surgery and seen on video at a local lake. Two years later she was video taped going down water slides and even operating a personal watercraft on choppy waters. So much for giving up the things she loves in life…one thing she definitely gave up was the idea of ever working again.
In 2002, she was awarded, a tax free $2,400 per month for her permanent disability pension from the state and the total loss of her claim has peaked over the 300K mark.
Kudos to the investigation team and exposing this fraud. She is facing somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 years of prison time. Now this former prison guard faces the harsh reality of sitting behind the bars that she once guarded.
Posted December 5th, 2007 by Vincent - Posted in Human Resources, Insurance Fraud, Safety, Workers' Comp, pensions | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Oh…My Aching Back!
Business owners beware! OSHA has just mandated that employers are responsible for providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees! According to Business and Legal Reports, "This final rule will clarify who is responsible for paying for PPE, which OSHA anticipates will lead to greater compliance and potential avoidance of thousands of workplace injuries each year."
In the world of loss control, we can agree that proper PPE reduces injuries and severity, and is a good cost control measure. But does crying out "Oh, my aching back," entitle such employee to the latest and greatest in back support apparel?
There is no clear cut answer to that question. However, if an employee is crying out, "Oh, my aching back," you can count on this: you will likely "buy" a work comp claim for that person eventually! Will back support prevent such a claim? If so, the cost of providing it may not be so bad after all! If not, do you really want to keep that worker assigned to that task?
Posted November 29th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Safety, Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Wanted: New Employee Willing to Lose a Limb
Here's what I see: over 25% of work-related injuries happen to workers on the job less than 90 days, and many of those injuries are severe. My assumption is that those workers are not fully trained, they are not given proper equipment, they are not properly supervised…or it was a bad hire to begin with! Is it my imagination, or should employers invest more time and effort in the proper training and orientation of new employees?
Posted October 26th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Punch the boss, get workers’ comp?
Are you serious? So now the law is encouraging more violence in the work place, just what we needed. “Punch the boss, get workers' comp” is the title of an article I came across in the Arizona Republic. It goes on to state that regardless of who is at fault in an office brawl in Arizona, an injured party can be eligible to collect workers’ comp. Judge Jon W. Thompson stated in a decision on Sept. 6, “Assault-related injuries are compensable…regardless of who was the aggressor, because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system.” Another astonishing fact about the law is that the fight can be about anything. It doesn’t even have to have anything to do with work to make it compensable. I guess they assume if you’re at work, that’s enough reason to fight anyone.
Posted September 27th, 2007 by admin - Posted in Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
