BEWARE of Fake Comp

A really good read from from our sister blog, The PEO Broker.

Historically, when hard markets occur or when comp carriers drop a PEO's policy, "fake" workers' comp providers seem to pop-up like weeds after a spring rain.  Unfortunately, this seems to be a consistent trend within the industry. As Work Comp markets dry up and coverage costs rise, the temptation can lure some PEO operators to the dark side.  PEO Agents and Brokers need to be on guard against questionable or downright fake work comp carriers for PEOs.  

Here are a few of tips for you to bear in mind as you search for PEO solutions for your clients: 

 

Click Here to Keep Reading!

 

 

Keeping Safe In Spring Weather

As most of the country is still waiting on Spring to arrive and the cold weather to go away, one thing we can all count on is Spring will get here. This Spring could be a very volatile for some parts of the country as the weather heats up quickly. We all know that Spring weather can be very unpredictable, and just as unstable, but not everyone understands the dangers that accompany severe weather. Severe weather affects everyone with the potential for tornados, thunderstorms, lightning, flooding, and even hurricanes in some parts of the country. Severe or violent weather threatens everyone, but the truth is, the majority of people and businesses are not prepared. Having a game plan can save lives and property when Spring weather turns violent.

THUNDERSTORMS

Some people think these are no big deal, but thunderstorms are dangerous. There are several associated dangers of thunderstorms including tornadoes, strong winds, hail, lightning, and flash flooding. The most dangerous situation arises when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended period of time. Thunderstorms typically produce rain for a brief period, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. A severe storm produces hail at least three quarters of an inch in diameter, has winds of 58 miles per hour or higher, or produces a tornado.

A “Severe Thunderstorm Watch” tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to a radio or television for information. A “Severe Thunderstorm Warning” is issued when severe weather has been witnessed by spotters or by radar. A warning indicates danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm. You should take cover immediately.

Remember the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you can’t count to 30 before hearing thunder. If possible, stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder. Stay alert to your surrounding and always use good judgment when making decisions that could have lasting effects on friends, families, and co-workers.

LIGHTNING

On the average, 90 people die each year in the United States from lightning strikes. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from lightning: 

1. Get inside a building immediately. If you have to stay outside, keep away from metal objects and stay below ground level. Avoid hilltops, open beaches, or fields; most importantly, stay away from open water and tall trees.
2. Seek shelter inside your car. If you feel your hair standing on end, squat with your head between your knees. Do not lie flat.
3. Avoid using the telephone or other electrical devices. Do not take a bath, shower or stand near plumbing.

FACT: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. “Heat Lightning” is actually from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard. Lightning kills more Americans than tornadoes and hurricanes each year. 

FLOODING

We have all seen the news about vehicles which  tried to cross a flooded street, often with tragic results. Even a four-wheel drive vehicle isn’t safe in high water areas. Flash floods have surprising lifting power. Water displaces 1,500 pounds of weight for every foot it rises. If a car weighs 3,000 pounds, it takes only two feet of water to send it downstream. It only takes 6 inches of water to sweep a person off his/her feet. One foot of water can cause a compact vehicle to lose control and “float” away. Once the car is swept away, the vehicle may become a death trap because the electric windows and door locks can short out when water reaches them, trapping the occupants inside. Do not drive through high water or flooded areas. Observe all warning signs and don’t take any chances with your or life.

TORNADOS

Spring is a prime time spawning ground for tornadoes. If a tornado is spotted in your area, here are some tips to follow and help keep you safe: 

1. Go low and get low. - Go to the lowest level of the structure you are in. If you are at home when a tornado strikes, go to the innermost part of the home on the lowest floor such as a bathroom or closet, preferably an enclosure  with no windows.
2. Crouch or lie down, cover and protect your head. If you live in a mobile home, go outside, and lie flat in a ditch or ravine.
3. If you are in an office building, go to the designated safe area for tornadoes. If you can’t get there in time, stay in an interior hallway or basement.

Do not take cover in your car. If you are driving down the road and see a tornado, leave your car immediately. If you have time, get inside a building. If not, lie flat in a ditch or ravine and cover your head with your arms.

FACT: A “Tornado Watch” watch means “watch” the sky. Weather conditions are right for tornadoes to form. A “Tornado Warning” means a tornado has been sighted or identified on radar. Take cover immediately. 

  

If you have any questions any information found in this posting, please contact the LL Roberts Group PEO Risk Management department (toll free) at 877.878.6463. You can even talk to us on Facebook!

Visit Our "Obamacare" Page for Weekly Updates to Stay Informed!

 

Make sure you check out our "Obamacare" page on our website devoted to providing our current and prospective clients, agents and affiliates with news, updates and opinions concerning the Affordable Healthcare Act. We continue to update and get information as it is released to help you try to navigate the massive amounts of information and regulations as they are passed down to the public. We have gotten a great deal of feedback from clients, business owners, and employees and we thank you for the great compliments we have received. Our goal is to make easy for everyone to try to understand how it will impact everyone moving forward. 

As we stated earlier, since the initial passing of the Affordable Healthcare Act their has been a great deal of concern, fear, and anxiety with this new program. Many of those we have spoken with have numerous concerns about how this will impact their businesses’ bottom-line or even their ability to survive.  While it is likely premature to worry about our ability to exist as business owners once Obamacare is kicked into full gear (January 1, 2014), however it is not unreasonable to except numerous governmental compliance and administrative challenges moving forward. 

It is our opinion that Professional Employer Organization  or a “PEO” will become increasingly attractive to small and midsized employers who are simply looking for guidance and support with the many compliance requirements in store for their businesses and workforces.  We are already seeing many companies in our industry beefing up their systems, resources, and benefit departments to properly administer the many facets of Obamacare compliance, that will not only impact their client companies’ businesses, but their workforces as well. PEOs are poised to become even greater resources in the future than they are today for business owners concerned with properly managing the countless employee administration and governmental compliance challenges confronting their businesses.

Add this page to your favorites and visit it often for regular updates and opinions concerning Obamacare and how it will impact your business or your clients in the months and years to come. If you have any questions on how a PEO can assist your company with the Afffordable Healthcare Act, please contact a LL Roberts Group PEO Consultant (toll free) at 877.878.6463. You can even talk to us on Facebook!

No Insurance Exchanges…For now?

The Federal Government has announced that it will delay implementation of the insurance markets known as exchanges until 2015.  Earlier mandates associated with the Affordable Care Act or "Obamacare” required an October 1, 2013 open enrollment period, followed with January 1, 2014 effective dates for coverage. The Obama administration cited “operational challenges” as a reason for the delay.

Some of the buzz from several insurance representatives has said that the Obama administration has greatly contributed to the delay because it did not provide details, guidance, or final rules on administering the Exchanges.

Supporters of the law said they were disappointed by the delay and that prolong and rising health care costs are crippling 29 million small businesses. Some supporters also believe that the delay will be another reason that small business will be weary of Exchanges moving forward.

On the other hand, opponents are viewing the delay as a small victory with many saying “I told you so” to the difficulty in enacting such a massive initiative.  With this delay many group’s opposing the National Healthcare Reform Initiate will likely mount another attack on the plan. Countless opposing groups will surely see this development as an opportunity to renew their fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

So, what does this delay really mean? No one knows for sure, but it continues keep the waters cloudy and will surely cause more confusion then is already out there. I'm sure more questions will arise with little answers in the short term.

Be sure to check back for more information and updates concerning Obamacare and how it might impact your business. Also, check out our Obamacare page for The LL Roberts Group. For more information on how a PEO can address your company’s employee benefit needs, feel free to contact a PEO Representative at the LL Roberts Group (toll free) at 877.8578.6463. 

Keeping Your Jobsite Safe From Visitors

The old song lyrics by Soul Asylum really are true. “Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd” and it happens at jobsites across the country everyday. It doesn’t matter if you are at a construction site (big or small), trenching or shoring, or working at a make shift jobsite on the side of a road. The public are very curious. That is why companies create and sell a wide variety of pedestrian safety equipment. Barriers and cones are not enough to keep unauthorized visitors out. Ever seen curious kids on a closed jobsite on weekends? Here are some tips to help eliminate accidents or injuries after your jobsite has closed.

• Lock or secure all powered equipment so it can’t be started &  de-energize electric panels.
• Lower all machinery that have moving parts to ground and lock them.
• Do not park heavy equipment on or near a slope where it may roll if the brakes or clutch are released.
• Store gasoline and other chemicals in areas where others will not have access to them.
• Place highly visible and secure barricades around all trenches and pits, or erect a fence around them.
• Remove, store and lock ladders when not in use.
• Inspect fences and repair any openings that would create access to the jobsite.
• Make sure all gates and areas of access are locked when not in use and follow up those whose job it is to lock gates to ensure they know what their responsibility is.

It is important to be aware of the potential for injuries at your jobsite. Not just your co-workers, but the curious people around you as they may create safety hazards to themselves or to you.

If you have any questions concerning work place safety and how you can improve your employees safety, please contact the LL Roberts Group PEO Risk Management department (toll free) at 877.878.6463. You can even talk to us on Facebook!

Obamacare Update Page

The LL Roberts Group is pleased to announce we have added a page to our website entirely devoted to providing our current and prospective clients, agents and affiliates with news, updates and opinions concerning the Affordable Healthcare Act (referenced to on this site as “Obamacare”).  Feedback that we have received from business owners since the initial passing of the Affordable Healthcare Act has almost totally been one of concern, fear, and high anxiety. Many of those we have spoken with have numerous concerns about how this will impact their businesses’ bottom-line or even their ability to survive.  While it is likely premature to worry about our ability to exist as business owners once Obamacare is kicked into full gear (January 1, 2014), however it is not unreasonable to except numerous governmental compliance and administrative challenges moving forward. 

It is our opinion that Professional Employer Organization  or a “PEO” will become increasingly attractive to small and midsized employers who are simply looking for guidance and support with the many compliance requirements in store for their businesses and workforces.  We are already seeing many companies in our industry beefing up their systems, resources, and benefit departments to properly administer the many facets of Obamacare compliance, that will not only impact their client companies’ businesses, but their workforces as well. PEOs are poised to become even greater resources in the future than they are today for business owners concerned with properly managing the countless employee administration and governmental compliance challenges confronting their businesses.

So keep this page bookmarked under your favorites and visit it often for regular updates and opinions concerning Obamacare and how it will impact your business or your clients in the months and years to come. If you have any questions on how a PEO can assist your company with the Afffordable Heathcare Act, please contact a LL Roberts Group PEO Consultant (toll free) at 877.878.6463. You can even talk to us on Facebook!

It's Time to Post Your OSHA 300A Summary....Again!

Can be that time of year again? I know what you are thinking, "Seems like we just did this!" Yet, every January we must start to prepare the previous year's 300A Summary using the previous year's OSHA 300 Log. The 300A contains all the information of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses in your 300 log in a condensed version. Employers with 10 or more employees must post a summary of the previous calendar year’s injuries and illnesses. If your company location has fewer than 10 employees, OSHA may still require your organization to complete the OSHA 300 log and summary if your total organization has more than 10 employees. Not all businesses must complete the OSHA log. Click HERE for a list of the exempt businesses.

To complete the 300 log, which contains all the information you need for the 300A Summary log, employers must classify work-related injuries or illnesses. The basic parts to the 300 Log that are recordable are death, loss of consciousness,  days away from work, restricted work activity or job transfer, and medical treatment beyond first aid. You must update the OSHA 300 log within seven days after each injury or illness. To complete the 300A Summary log, total up all the events from the 300 Log and complete the 300A. An employer subject to this requirement must post the OSHA 300A Summary log even if the employer had no reportable injuries/illnesses in the prior year. In addition to the posting requirement, employees with no fixed work site or no access to posted sites must be provided with a copy of the report.

While every injury on the job should be taken seriously, not every incident is “recordable” for OSHA record keeping purposes. For example, an employee may receive only first-aid treatment or the incident may be an exacerbation of an earlier injury already reported. If you need more details, the OSHA/ Department of Labor  Web site is very informative and can be very helpful.  Click HERE for "step by step" 300 & 300A record keeping information.

The 300A Summary Log must be posted from February 1st to April 30th. The log must be posted in a visible place that your employees can easily view. The break room or by the time clock are two good places that have a lot of employee traffic. The highest ranking company executive at each location must sign the 300A certifying that he or she agrees with the 300A Summary. The OSHA 300 log and the posting of the OSHA 300A Summary is a complex process. After they are completed, do not send the forms to OSHA unless they specifically request them. However, any inspection will no doubt include a review of the forms.  

Should you have any questions concerning, your OSHA 300 and 300A Summary log please contact your LL Roberts Group PEO Risk Management or Workers Comp. department (toll free) at 877.878.6463. You can even talk to us on Facebook!