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November 27, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

Special Coverage for Jewelry and Other Valuables

Jewelry losses are among the most frequent of all homeowners content-related insurance claims. Taking these four steps will ensure adequate protection for your new ring:

1. Contact your insurance professional immediately.

Find out whether you will need additional insurance. Most standard homeowners and renters insurance policies include coverage for personal items such as jewelry; however, many policies limit the dollar amount on jewelry to $1,000 to $2,000. With the average engagement ring costing nearly $6,000, according to The Knot, that is unlikely to be enough coverage.

To properly insure jewelry, consider purchasing a floater or an endorsement policy. In most cases, these add-ons to a homeowners or renters policy would also cover you for “mysterious disappearance.” This means that if your ring falls off your finger and is flushed down a drain, or is lost, you would be financially protected. And, unlike a homeowners policy, floaters and endorsements carry no deductibles, so there is no out-of-pocket expense to replace the item.

2. Obtain a copy of the store receipt.

Forward a copy of the receipt to your insurer—so that your company has a record of the current retail value of the ring—and keep a copy for your own records. It’s also a good idea to get a copy of the appraised value of the item.

3. If you received an heirloom piece, have it appraised.

Antique jewelry will need to be appraised for its dollar value. You can ask your insurance professional to recommend a reputable appraiser.

4. Add the item to your home inventory.

An up-to-date inventory of your personal possessions can help you purchase the correct amount of insurance and speed up the claims process if you have a loss, so remember to add your new ring to your inventory.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Get Insurance for That Ring and You’ll Be a Cut above the Rest” http://www.iii.org website. Accessed November 27, 2020. https://www.iii.org/press-release/proposing-on-valentines-day-get-insurance-for-that-ring-and-youll-be-a-cut-above-the-rest-021116

© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Commercial, Miscellaneous, Personal, Theme 21

November 27, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

Holiday Parties & Liquor Liability

Did you know that many states hold you or your company liable for accidents and injuries caused by party attendees having too much to drink. Not only that, in many cases, you or your company may have insufficient insurance – or no coverage at all – under your existing liability insurance policies.

What to do? Implement one or more of the following steps and ensure everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season:

  • Do not serve alcohol at your party and adopt a zero-tolerance policy for consumption on your premises. If zero tolerance is too harsh, consider a “key bowl” presided over by a sober third-party. If a party attendee is impaired the third-party calls a cab and their car keys stay in the bowl.
  • If your event is off-site, make sure your party venue has liquor liability insurance. Ask if it covers you or your company – or have them add you or your company as an additional insured for the party.
  • Limit party attendance only to people you know – friends, family, neighbors, employees. After all, even significant others can be under age, and who will check?
  • Off-site venues for parties should offer a cash bar if a bar is present at all. Another option is a “ticket” system where each attendee gets one or two tickets for free drinks and the remainder is cash.
  • If this is a company party, consider renting transportation for the event. While it may be expensive, it will be cheaper than the loss of an employee.

No matter what, you should designate a person/s who understands your rules and the potential liability. And give that person permission to call a cab for a party attendee – on your tab if necessary.

© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Commercial, Miscellaneous, Personal, Theme 21

November 27, 2020 By Insurance News Editor

IN: Preparing For a Safe & Healthy Holiday Season

Dear Valued Customer,

In this issue of “——————” we focus on how to ensure everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season.

Sorry to be a party pooper, but did you know you or your company can be held liable for accidents and injuries caused by party attendees having too much to drink? Read on to learn what to do to protect yourself…like obtaining liquor liability insurance! In addition, read on regarding insurance for jewelry you may be giving or receiving at this time of the year.

Look, this may not be the year for holding a party at all, but if you do take the plunge we urge you to remember that social distancing should be practiced in combination with other everyday preventive actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, and frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. All this, plus make sure you stick by your county rules for the number of people in your gathering.

With our best wishes for a fun and safe holiday season. We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

Filed Under: Commercial, Miscellaneous, Personal, Theme 21

August 6, 2014 By Julian

Wage & Hour Division: Frequently Asked Questions

  • Misc_QuestionMarkSignAdditional Information/Complaints
    • Who do I contact if I need additional information or I want to file a complaint?

    Airline Flight Crew Employees

    • Does an employer have to return an airline flight crew employee to work after a period of FMLA leave?
    • How would an employer calculate FMLA leave for an airline flight crew employee who takes less than a day of FMLA leave?
    • How much FMLA leave may an airline flight crew employee take?
    • How do collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) affect airline flight crew employees under the FMLA?
    • Does an airline flight crew employee’s military service count towards his or her FMLA eligibility?
    • How is the number of hours paid determined for an airline flight crew employee?
    • What are an airline flight crew employee’s duty hours?
    • How is the number of hours worked determined for an airline flight crew employee?
    • What is the applicable monthly guarantee?
    • How do you determine the worksite for an airline flight crew employee for FMLA eligibility?
    • How do airline flight crew employees qualify to take leave under the FMLA?
    • Who is an airline flight crew employee?

    Birth and Bonding

    • When can a parent take leave for a newborn?
    • Are there any restrictions on when an employee can take leave for the birth or adoption of a child?

    Caregiver Leave

    • Can I take qualifying exigency leave when my military member returns from deployment?
    • How much leave can I take if I need leave for both a serious health condition and a qualifying exigency?
    • How much FMLA leave may I take for qualifying exigencies?
    • Are the certification procedures (timing, authentication, clarification, second and third opinions, recertification) the same for qualifying exigency leave and leave due to a serious health condition?
    • What type of notice must I provide to my employer when taking FMLA leave because of a qualifying exigency?
    • (Q) What if my covered service member receives a catastrophic injury and the military issues me travel orders to immediately fly to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to be at his bedside. Do I have to provide a completed certification before flying?
    • How is leave designated if it qualifies as both military caregiver leave and leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition?
    • Can I care for two seriously injured or ill service members at the same time?
    • Can I take military caregiver leave for more than one seriously injured or ill service member, or more than once for the same service member if he or she has a subsequent serious injury or illness?
    • Who is a service member’s next of kin for purposes of military caregiver leave?
    • Can I carry-over unused weeks of military caregiver leave from one 12-month period to another?
    • May I take FMLA leave to both care for a covered service member and for another FMLA qualifying reason during this “single 12-month period?”
    • How much leave may I take to care to for a covered service member?
    • Can I take military caregiver leave if I am the stepson or stepdaughter of the covered service member or if I am the stepparent of a covered service member?
    • Are families of service members in the Regular Armed Forces eligible for military caregiver leave?

    Certification

    • What happens if I do not submit a requested medical or fitness-for-duty certification?
    • Can employers require employees to submit a fitness-for-duty certification before returning to work after being absent due to a serious health condition?
    • How often may my employer ask for medical certifications for an on-going serious health condition?
    • Do I have to give my employer my medical records for leave due to a serious health condition?
    • Must I sign a medical release as part of a medical certification?
    • May my employer contact my health care provider about my serious health condition?
    • How soon after I request leave does my employer have to request a medical certification of a serious health condition?
    • Can my employer make me get a second opinion?
    • What happens if my employer says my medical certification is incomplete?
    • Am I required to prove that I have a serious health condition?

    Coverage

    • What types of businesses/employers does the FMLA apply to?

    Eligibility

    • Who can take FMLA leave?

    Employee Notice

    • Is an employee required to follow an employer’s normal call-in procedures when taking FMLA leave?
    • What and when do I need to tell my employer if I plan to take FMLA leave?

    Employer Notice

    • How soon after an employee provides notice of the need for leave must an employer notify an employee that the leave will be designated and counted as FMLA leave?
    • Does an employer have to provide employees with information regarding their specific rights and responsibilities under the FMLA?
    • How soon after an employee provides notice of the need for leave must an employer determine whether someone is eligible for FMLA leave?
    • Are employers required to tell their employers of the existence of FMLA and the employee’s right to take FMLA leave?

    General

    • What does the Family and Medical leave act provide?

    Hours of Service Requirement

    • Does the time I take off for vacation, sick leave or PTO count toward the 1,250 hours?

    Intermittent/Reduced Leave Schedule

    • Can an employer change an employee’s job when the employee takes intermittent or reduced schedule leave?
    • Does an employee have to take leave all at once or can it be taken periodically or to reduce the employee’s schedule?

    Job Restoration

    • Can my employer move me to a different job when I return from FMLA leave?

    Military Provisions

    • What is the definition of deployment of a member with the Armed Forces to a foreign country?
    • What is covered active duty?

    Miscellaneous Questions

    • How do collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) affect the FMLA Regulations?
    • Can I use my paid leave as FMLA leave?
    • My medical condition limits me to a 40 hour workweek but my employer has assigned me to work eight hours of overtime in a week. Can I take FMLA leave for the overtime?
    • Can my FMLA leave be counted against me for my bonus?

    Prohibited Acts

    • What happens if I am mistreated for taking FMLA leave or if I am denied FMLA leave?

    Qualifying Conditions

    • When can an eligible employee use FMLA leave?

    Serious Health Condition

    • Can I take FMLA leave for reasons related to domestic violence issues?
    • Can I continue to use FMLA for leave due to my chronic serious health condition?
    • What is a serious health condition?

    USSERA-FMLA Questions

    • Where can I get more information about USERRA and the FMLA?
    • How should the 1,250 hours-of-service requirement be calculated for returning service members?
    • How should the 12-month FMLA requirement be calculated for returning service members?
    • What effect does USERRA have on FMLA-eligibility requirements?
    • What is the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)?

    Unpaid Leave

    • Is my employer required to pay me when I take FMLA leave?

Source: United States Department of Labor, “Wage and Hour Division: Frequently Asked Questions” https://www.dol.gov website. Accessed November 28, 2015. http://kb.dol.gov/DOLFAQLandingPage?agency=WHD

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Commercial, Employee Benefits, Health & Benefits, Miscellaneous, Personal, Theme 122

July 14, 2014 By Julian

May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Misc_WindingCountryRoadShare The Road

All motorists are reminded to safely “share the road” with motorcycles and to be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe. Motorcyclists are reminded to make themselves visible to other motorists.

Ride Sober

Statistics show that the percentage of intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on our roads. This is why NHTSA urges all motorcycle riders to always ride smart and sober.

Latest News

  • Prioritized Recommendations of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety
  • Model National Standards For Entry-Level Motorcycle Rider Training

Did you know?

  • Motorcycle helmet use increased from 48% in 2005 to 67% in 2009.
  • Motorcycle helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists’ lives in 2008.
  • Motorcycle helmets do not interfere with the rider’s vision or hearing.

Motorcycle Safety Campaigns

  • Share the Road with Motorcycles 
    Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the roadway.All motorists are reminded to safely “share the road” with motorcycles and to be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe. Motorcyclists are reminded to make themselves visible to other motorists.
  • Drunk Riding Prevention 
    Alcohol affects those skills essential to riding a motorcycle – balance and coordination. So it plays a particularly big role in motorcycle fatalities.Statistics show that the percentage of intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on our roads. This is why NHTSA urges all motorcycle riders to always ride smart and sober.

Source: NHTSA. “May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.” http://www.safercar.govwebsite. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/Motorcycles

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Events, Miscellaneous, Personal, Theme 46

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