The definition of Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) provides your company with protection against many kinds of employee lawsuits, such as sexual harassment suits, discrimination suits, wrongful termination actions and breach of employment contract lawsuits. The escalating frequency and severity of suits alleging employment related wrongful acts comes from a variety of factors, including employee's heightened awareness of their rights under the Myriad laws and regulations. In addition, there is a more aggressive and growing body of plaintiffs' lawyers specializing in employment law. Also, economic downturns and resulting job losses also spike liability suits. Here are the top ten reason why a business owner should carrier EPL insurance;
- Employment Practices Liability covers not only actual, but also alleged acts of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and other similar acts
- 3 our of 5 employers are sued by former employees every year.
- Over 40% of EPL claims are against firms with fewer than 100 employees.
- Some Federal and State employment laws apply to all employers - any size company has exposure!
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recorded nearly 76,000 charges in 2006 and obtained more than $274 million in settlements for claimants.
- The Financial ramifications of not having EPL insurance can be crippling, especially for small firms because they do not have the operating budgets to handle the defense costs, let alone the settlement or judgements, of an uninsured claim.
- The medium cost of an EEOC lawsuit in 2006 exceeded $200,000.
- There is no EPL coverage under other insurance policies such as General Liability (GL). Any endorsement to another policy general provides insufficient limits, does not provide the breadth of coverage of a separate EPL policy and erodes the limit available for the GL exposure.
- Since 1997, wage and hour litigation's have tripled. More wage and hour collective / class actions have been filed in recent years than any other type of employment class actions combined.
- Gender discrimination, age discrimination and retaliation claims are on the rise. There are more woman and "baby boomers" in the workplace than ever before. Recent Supreme Court decisions have lowered the standard of what constitutes retaliatory treatment.
For more information contact us at 1-800-332-9044 or email us at aholland@bbbins.com Thank you , April Holland Commercial Lines http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boca-Raton-FL/Burke-Bogart-Brownell-Inc/164230330171?v=app_2373072738Labels: Discrimination, Employment Practices Liability, Insurance, Sexual Harassment
Our partner, the Florida Retail Federation (FRF) provides valuable, money-saving services and benefits that can reduce your day-to-day business expenses. Additionally, FRF aggressively lobbies and advocates for your rights as business owners to lower your cost of doing business. FRF offers true money saving membership tools and benefits including;
- Lower credit card and check processing fees
- Up to 66% discount on shipping costs with nationally recognized transportation companies, including FedEx.
- On staff Attorney who can provide individual members legal representation before state departments and agencies.
More Importantly, with your FRF membership, you'll gain the power of a large association advocating for your rights as a business owner. In fact, you can see the results every month on your financial statement. Here's some of the ways the Federation has already helped Florida business owners see bottom-line savings;
- Reduced Work Comp premiums by more than 60% since October 2003
- Reduce unemployment comp tax by $2 Billion in 2010
- Lowered Utility rates by $2 Billion - a reduction of more than 75%
- Avoided $100 Million in business litigation costs through tort reform legislation form 'Joint and Several' reform to 'Slip and Fall' reform.
When it comes to safety there's also strength in numbers - because RetailFirst is offering members of the FRF an exclusive workers' compensation safety program! Now, their policyholders have the opportunity to participate in a dividend plan designed to reward the employers who have made a commitment to safety and are dedicated to lowering their losses. Through this safety group, you will be eligible to receive a bonus safety dividend based on group performance in addition to any individual dividend for which you may qualify. FRF offers tailored loss control services, including customized safety programs and online safety webinars to help you achieve long-term savings on your workers' compensation costs and to maximize your dividend potential. FRF offers a guarantee on their membership costs. That means if your membership in the Federation does not save you at least the cost of your initial dues, then FRF will refund your dues. For more details contact our office or visit their website at http://www.frf.org Thank you, April Holland Commercial Lines Account Manager http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boca-Raton-FL/Burke-Bogart-Brownell-Inc/164230330171?v=app_2373072738Labels: Benefits, Discounts, Florida Retial Fund, Workers Compensation
Avoid Turkey Fryer Dangers
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, thoughts turn to turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie. Delicious deep-fried turkey, historically prevalent in the southern states, is growing in popularity around the country, thanks to celebrity chefs such as Emeril Lagasse. The only problem is that the turkey fryers used to create this succulent dish are unsafe and not certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Turkey fryers are devices, resembling a large commercial coffee pot, that are filled with oil heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Turkeys are placed in this hot oil to fry the birds. The big problem, though, is that people often fill the fryers too full of oil, and it overflows when the bird is placed inside. This cascading oil hits the heating flames below, causing an instant fire. In addition, the turkey fryers are often quite unstable and easy to tip over. Lastly, many of these fryers lack adequate thermostat controls. Thus, the units have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion. For these reasons, UL does not certify any turkey fryers with its trusted UL mark. UL and other safety organizations strongly urge people to discard their existing turkey fryers. But for those people who insist on using their turkey fryers, UL offers the following tips: Always use turkey fryers outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other burnable materials. Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages. Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce the chance of accidental tipping. Never leave the fryer unattended since most units lack proper thermostat controls. If people do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow children or pets close to the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot for hours after use. To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer. Test it beforehand with water. Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect eyes from oil splatter. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Copyright 2010 International Risk Management Institute, Inc.
Spring is often the time of year when boat lovers start to consider purchasing a sailboat or powerboat. Many people, however, are unaware of the significant loss exposures associated with boat ownership, and some people mistakenly believe that there is coverage available under their personal auto policy (PAP). Virtually all PAPs, though, do not provide any liability or physical damage coverage for boats. Other people may look to their homeowners policy for coverage. But most homeowners policies only cover losses arising from certain low-valued or low-powered boats. You should thus contact us before buying a boat to discuss the proper insurance protection for it. Consider the following tips to assist you in this process. If you purchase a boat valued over $1,500, you probably lack proper coverage under your homeowners policy for physical damage losses to the boat itself. A separate watercraft or boatowners policy is necessary to cover the physical damage to boats over this value. If you are considering the purchase of a sailboat, inquire about its length. If the length is 26 feet or more, there is no liability coverage under your homeowners policy. For motorboats, there are severe horsepower restrictions under the homeowners policy for liability coverage. For example, only insureds who own or lease boats with outboard motors of 25 horsepower or less have liability coverage under most homeowners policies. Yet most powerboats have motors with horsepower far exceeding this amount. This liability coverage restriction also necessitates the purchase of separate watercraft insurance. Ask us about the types of boats you are considering. Some insurance companies, for example, decline to insure personal watercraft such as jet skis and wave runners, since some of these crafts can reach speeds of 60 mph. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, personal watercraft account for a disproportionately high number of accidents. Many insurance companies also refuse to cover houseboats, homemade or kit boats, competition bass boats, and speedboats. You may have to pay a steep premium through a specialty insurance company to insure these types of craft. Be wary of purchasing older watercraft. Many insurance companies reject boats over 15 or 20 years of age because they experience a higher loss frequency than newer boats. You may have trouble finding insurance coverage for older boats or end up paying an extremely high premium. If you do purchase an older boat, consider ordering a marine survey or inspection of it prior to the sale. Marine surveys point out deficiencies in watercraft that may cause you to reconsider the purchase or renegotiate its price. If you don't already have one, procure a personal umbrella policy in addition to a watercraft policy, particularly if you purchase a speedboat, a boat designed for water skiing, or some other craft with a higher potential to cause damage or loss of life. Umbrella policies are relatively inexpensive, and since most forms do not have limitations with respect to watercraft, they will provide excess limits above the liability coverage in the watercraft policy. In addition, the watercraft liability limits should meet the underlying limits requirements of any applicable personal umbrella policy. Lastly, you should use the same insurance company that writes your homeowners and personal auto policies for your personal umbrella policy. Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI. Copyright 2010 International Risk Management Institute, Inc.
Reduce Your Social Host Liquor Liability Exposure
This Month's Tip Reduce Your Social Host Liquor Liability Exposure The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ estimates that nearly 13,000 people per year (about 35 per day) are killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Many of these tragic accidents happen after an inebriated person leaves a party -- an event in which the host of that party might be held liable for injuries and deaths to innocent parties. Although there might be coverage under your personal auto policy or homeowners policy if you (as the host) are held legally responsible for such a terrible accident, a wiser risk management strategy is to avoid or reduce the chance of loss altogether. With that in mind, here are some tips to consider if you (or a resident family member) occasionally host social events involving alcohol. Surveys of youth indicate that the most common source of alcohol is the young person's own home. Thus, closely monitor social events your youth hosts to make sure there is no drinking allowed -- particularly any type of illegal underage drinking. It is wise to not allow your teenager to host a party when you are out of town. Limit the amount of alcohol at your event. If alcohol is served at your party, make sure that there is plenty of food. The consumption of food slows down the absorption of alcohol. Encourage designated drivers and provide nonalcoholic drinks for these guests. Look for signs of intoxication. An intoxicated person often has trouble walking, has slurred or loud speech, or is atypically uninhibited. There is not, however, a fool-proof method of determining whether someone is intoxicated because exceptionally tolerant individuals often do not show signs of tipsiness even though they are intoxicated. Restrict alcohol to any near-intoxicated or intoxicated persons by offering instead some food or alternative nonalcoholic drinks. Consider hiring trained bartenders. As they are trained to recognize and deal with intoxication, using professional bartenders can significantly reduce the risk and may help in defending a claim should there be one. If you have a cash bar, use tickets and issue a limited number. Don't price alcohol too low because this encourages excessive drinking. Do not allow the intoxicated guest to drive away from the event even if you have to take away his or her car keys. Instead, offer to drive them home or provide a free cab service. Soliciting the help of the guest's spouse or a close friend may help. Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI. Copyright 2009 International Risk Management Institute, Inc.
Interesting article from today's South Florida Sun-Sentinel regarding the liability risks of blogging and tweeting (Click on the Blog Headline to link to the article). Are you covered if you get sued because of something you or a family member posted. Personal Injury protection provides coverage- check your homeowners policy to make sure you are covered. You should also check your umbrella- also referred to an excess personal liability policy. Call Burke, Bogart and Brownell to review your coverages- (561) 392-8888. Labels: Liability Coverage
Microwaving Water
We received this blog from across the great internet. I am not sure where this originated, but it seems important enough to post. A 26-year old man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but suddenly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand, but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc.., (nothing metal). General Electric's Response: Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it. To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds! before moving it or adding anything into it. Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the matter: 'Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a cup). What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point. What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken.
Shop and Beware!
Is your policy being dropped?...If your policy is being non-renewed you may want to contact Burke Bogart & Brownell and speak with one of our agents. We represent a number of companies that can tailor coverage from a number of sources, including state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens). And...we can often obtain other discounts available for your other exposures like auto, boat, or personal umbrella—thus lowering your total premium for all three.
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