Are you due for a workers’ compensation premium audit? Audits are how insurance rates are determined, and it’s possible that an audit will uncover information that can actually save you money. In any case, it pays to be prepared. These five tips can help you get ready.

1. Let your broker know when there are changes in your staffing, payroll or areas of operation. This is important not just at audit time but all the time. Your rates are based on variable rating information, including the number of employees, job classifications, the states in which you operate, etc. Updated information results in more accurate premium assessments.
2. Get your records ready. Your auditor will need to see records such as federal and state tax returns, ledgers, checkbooks, contracts and employee or contractor tax documents. If you prepare your records in advance, you’ll speed up the audit process.
3. Make sure you break out various types of compensation in your records. For example, to set your premium, your broker considers pay but not contributions to employee benefits packages and other perks, so it’s important to make sure your records are clear on the various types of compensation. Also make sure overtime pay is clearly defined since it’s classified as regular pay for workers’ compensation insurance purposes.
4. Ensure that contractors have their own insurance. This is important not only from an audit standpoint but from a liability prospective as well. If an uninsured contractor has an accident while performing work on your behalf, you can be held liable. If an audit identifies contractors for whom you don’t have certificates of coverage, you can be charged for their premiums.
5. Remain on hand to answer questions. As your auditor reviews your material, he or she may have questions or need additional data. If you are available to provide answers, your audit will be completed more quickly.

By following these tips, you’ll be more prepared for your workers’ compensation premium audit. A fast, efficient audit process can save time for both you and your auditor, so it pays to be prepared.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.  

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;   9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY) – We we have 50 insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages.  We help contractors set up proper risk transfer mechanisms.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer mechanisms, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs that lower them.    

New Jersey and Connecticut Contractors:  We have a fiercely competitively priced (savings up to 50%)  General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation program.  Want to lower these costs?  Get a quote today! 

Identity Theft – Over the past year hundreds of thousands of people have had to deal with identity theft.  This has become such a huge problem so we now offer Identity Theft Protection. We heard stories of kids going for car loans and learning they owe $200,000+ to companies they never heard of.  Under our program you can protect yourself, spouse and up to 10 children.  Anyone you know can purchase this protection though our plan!  Click here to learn more or sign up. 

Turn Homeowners, Business Owners, Building Owners, Restaurant Owners Into a Monthly Residual Income for Decades! This Can Be Such a Money Maker for ANYONE!   Click here then go to bottom of our website page to learn more! 

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

© – Copyright – BGES Group

One of the keys to managing risks when you first start a business is getting the right insurance to cover your operations, property and potential liabilities.

Unfortunately, many business owners fail to update their policies and just renew them year after year even if the company has grown, expanded operations and facilities, and added new equipment and property. If this is the case, the old coverage would be insufficient.

Business owners should review their policies every year to catch any omissions and make sure they are not underinsured. It is common for smaller businesses to secure a basic business owner’s policy (BOP) and workers’ comp when they first get started. A BOP includes:

• Property insurance for buildings and contents owned by the company.
• Business interruption insurance, which covers the loss of income resulting from a fire or other catastrophe that disrupts the operation of the business.
• Liability protection, which covers your company’s legal responsibility for the harm it may cause to others. This harm is a result of things that you and your employees do or fail to do in your business operations that may cause bodily injury or property damage due to defective products, faulty installations and errors in services provided.

Outgrowing BOP coverage

As your business expands, you may outgrow the BOP and need additional coverage to manage your risks. Some examples include the following:

• Workers’ comp. While you likely added a workers’ comp policy when you made your first hire, you will need to update it as you add more staff. If you don’t, when your insurer audits you, you may face a hefty bill for additional premium. Be diligent about your policy and inform your insurer as you grow.
• Excess umbrella or liability coverage. You should consider this insurance to cover claims that exceed your BOP’s limit, providing you with an added layer of protection to protect your assets.
• Professional liability insurance. These policies provide coverage for mistakes for any professional services you provide. This used to be mainly for doctors, attorneys and accountants, but as our service sector has expanded it includes services provided by coders and software developers, appraisers, consultants, real estate brokers, graphic designers and home inspectors, among others.
• Auto, non-owned and hired coverage. This protects business owners if an employee has an accident while driving a rental or personal vehicle on the job. 
• Employment practices liability insurance. This covers human resources issues related to discrimination, harassment and termination.
• Commercial auto insurance. This coverage protects autos that are not under a personal policy.
• Directors and officers liability coverage. This protects officers and directors in the event they are sued for wrongful acts while on duty.

Depending on the business, some or most of these insurance options may be required for adequate protection. Annual reviews with us are ideal for discussing your options. Make sure these elements are considered:

• If computers, equipment or other types of property have been added, this would be reason to increase policy limits.
• While revenue is an important consideration, it is also important to remember that it is a potential liability. 
• A general liability or BOP may be affected if the owner has moved, added or closed locations.
• Hired and non-hired auto insurance is necessary if workers are driving frequently in rented vehicles. 
• For specific types of work and services, employers may need additional endorsements for their general liability policies.
• People who are serving new industries or clients may have problems with their professional liability coverage if they have large amounts of high-risk industries or customers.
• If you experience an increase in the number of workers you have, or there is a higher turnover rate, it is important to think about employment practices liability coverage. And as mentioned, your workers’ comp policy should be updated to reflect any staffing changes and that you categorize your workers properly.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.  

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;   9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY) – We we have 50 insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages.  We help contractors set up proper risk transfer mechanisms.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer mechanisms, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs that lower them.    

New Jersey and Connecticut Contractors:  We have a fiercely competitively priced (savings up to 50%)  General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation program.  Want to lower these costs?  Get a quote today! 

Identity Theft – Over the past year hundreds of thousands of people have had to deal with identity theft.  This has become such a huge problem we now offer Identity Theft Protection. We heard stories of kids going for car loans and learning they owe $200,000+ to companies they never heard of.  Under our program you can protect yourself, spouse and up to 10 children.  Employees, anyone you know can purchase this protection though this plan!  Click here to learn more or sign up. 

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

© – Copyright – BGES Group

The average age of a construction worker is now in the 40s. Baby boomers – people born between 1946 and 1964 – represent 40% of the construction industry workforce, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training.

The nature of construction work presents many hazards for workers, many of which may not appear until late into a person’s career. Research suggests that long-term construction work impacts an individual’s musculoskeletal system. 

Also, any time an older worker suffers a workplace injury, they are more likely to be out of commission – and the road to recovery is longer. 

Because of the physical demands of the work, construction workers have to be healthier than the general population, but the same physical demands cause workers with injuries or illness to leave the industry.

Some 10% of construction workers do not return to work after an injury, and those with a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), lung disease or other serious injury are more likely to retire on disability than workers with the same conditions in less physically demanding types of work.

Compared to office workers, construction workers are also less likely to have health insurance and they have an increased likelihood of developing a chronic disease as they age. Their odds also increase for developing lung disease, stroke, back problems and arthritis.

Risk factors for older workers

Lower-back injuries are a common injury experienced among construction workers. Also, as people age, they naturally lose strength and muscular endurance, which could have an effect on their ability to carry heavy loads. They may also lack the flexibility of younger workers and experience trouble working in awkward positions, making them more prone to a workplace injury.

Physical workload is an important determinant of work ability among construction workers, and in turn work ability is highly predictive of disability among such people. A construction worker between the ages of 45 and 54 with a low work ability index and severe low-back pain has a 40-fold increased probability of disability retirement compared to a construction worker without those risk factors.

And if they are injured, it can take someone older than 40 twice as long to recover from a typical injury.

A study of U.S. construction roofers found that workers over 55 had lower physical functioning, and were more likely to have both a chronic medical condition and an MSD.

The study found that older age, reduced physical function, and lack of job accommodation among these roofers were each predictive of early retirement.

What you can do
The study also found that construction roofers who had received job accommodation for an MSD or a medical condition were four times less likely to retire than workers with similar medical status but without accommodation.

Some form of job accommodation was offered to more than 30% of the workers in the study, and many of the accommodations were relatively simple, such as allowing more time to accomplish a task or changing the work schedule. But, few employers provided new tools or equipment.

Using the proper tools and work practices is important. Employers should also recognize the importance of job rotation among workers to help prevent repetitive-motion injuries.

Shifting focus from hazardous to safe work practices will help reduce injuries and keep older and more experienced employees safe and healthy on the job.

Common excuses
Some of the common fallback excuses among baby boomer workers include:

• “I don’t need help!” – Some older workers won’t ask for help when lifting a heavy load that they think they could have easily hoisted when they were younger. This risks injury.
• “Deal with the pain!” – This old-school belief is that pain is part of the job, and that whining about it is for sissies. But if something hurts, the worker should stop and tell their supervisor.
• “I already know how!” – Many veterans are resistant to change in work processes or in using tools.
• “Get it done fast!” – A mentality of getting the job done quickly without following proper safety procedures, which can lead to injuries.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.  

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;   9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY) – We we have 50 insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages.  We help contractors set up proper risk transfer mechanisms.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer mechanisms, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs that lower them.    

New Jersey and Connecticut Contractors:  We have a fiercely competitively priced (savings up to 50%)  General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation program.  Want to lower these costs?  Get a quote today! 

Identity Theft – Over the past year hundreds of thousands of people have had to deal with identity theft.  This has become such a huge problem so we now offer Identity Theft Protection. We heard stories of kids going for car loans and learning they owe $200,000+ to companies they never heard of.  Under our program you can protect yourself, spouse and up to 10 children.  Anyone you know can purchase this protection though our plan!  Click here to learn more or sign up. 

Turn Homeowners, Business Owners and Building Owners Into a Monthly Residual Income Stream  – This Can Be Such a Money Maker for YOU! Hundreds of contractors across America are working this program!   Click here then go to bottom of our website page. 

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

© – Copyright – BGES Group

Are you, your spouse or children covered for Identity Theft? Now you can be! Click here to learn more.

Article:

As employers have found in the last few years, hiring has become more difficult as the labor market has tightened amid a strong economy.

With slim pickings, many firms are having to settle for workers they may not normally hire – but that can lead to issues.

Some employers even have a hard time finding candidates that don’t have substance abuse issues, while some people are serial workers’ comp filers, malingerers or have prior industrial injuries that can end up affecting your bottom line and X-Mod.

Here are some suggestions for helping you avoid someone who is likely to either suffer a workplace injury or file a fake workers’ comp claim:

Dig deeper in references

The difficult part is making sure employee selection meets your expectations. This may not be easy, particularly for smaller businesses, since vetting applicants is often limited to calling references they provide and perhaps a drug test.

Yet, even the basic step of contacting references can be made more effective by asking them if they know others who may have knowledge of the applicant. By extending the reach, it’s quite possible to obtain additional information that can be helpful in evaluating prospective employees.

The integrity test

This is one of the more effective tools for identifying job applicants who may be likely to file workers’ comp claims.

Employers often don’t use integrity tests in the belief that they are too expensive. But, a study by Cornell hospitality professors Michael Sturman and David Sherwyn of 27,000 employees of a national hotel chain highlighted the value of using such a test.

Using a test developed by American Tescor, the hotel hired 6,100 of 29,000 applicants. They then used the data from the test and compared the workers’ comp claims of the new hires to those of existing employees who did not take the test. The researchers concluded that the cost savings of screening the workers was considerable.

Based on the number being tested, the cost of testing appears to be $8 to $14 per applicant. The study also indicated that there was a notable reduction in workers’ comp claims among the new hires, which suggests that an integrity test can be a valuable tool for screening job applicants. Because of the nature of the test, it can be administered before a job offer.

Avoid ‘medical baggage’

You should try to give every applicant who has been given a job offer a pre-employment physical before being approved for hire. If someone has been out of the job market for some time, they are often out of condition for some jobs. 

Having been sedentary for a long time can lead to back and neck pain and repetitive motion injuries. Also, job applicants can be carrying “medical baggage” that may not be found on a job application but may be revealed with a thorough physical examination.

Background checks

You should consider a thorough background check by a private investigation firm, particularly for employees who will be driving their own or company vehicles. If they have a record of past traffic violations and DUIs, this can spell trouble. 

A background check can also reveal if a candidate has misrepresented their workers’ compensation history or medical condition. This can uncover a history of false claims or demonstrate that the applicant is a safety risk based on medical opinion.

Drug testing

This is not just a matter of identifying illegal drug use, as a test may indicate that an applicant is taking one or more prescriptions for a previous job-related injury. That’s information that would never be known on a job application. 

The goal is to obtain as much accurate information as possible regarding an applicant, so the picture is complete and reliable. While it takes more time and means additional costs, the expense pales against that of hiring someone with a propensity for filing a workers’ comp claim, or who is more apt to suffer a workplace injury.

Employers need to comply with state and federal laws when undertaking drug screenings.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.  

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;   9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50 insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages.  We help contractors set up proper risk transfer mechanisms.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer mechanisms, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs that lower them.    

New Jersey and Connecticut Contractors:  We have a fiercely competitively priced (savings up to 50%)  General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation program.  Want to lower these costs?  Get a quote today!   

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

© – Copyright – BGES Group

Employer misclassification of workers as independent contractors is a large and growing problem. Employers trying to keep their costs down may inadvertently or deliberately misclassify workers who should be classified as employees. They escape employment taxes, unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance costs, and paying overtime rates required by law for employees. They also cheat workers and gain an unfair advantage over their law-abiding competitors.

Federal and state authorities have begun to crack down. The U.S. Department of Labor won $79 million in settlements for 109,000 workers in 2014 alone. The employers caught breaking the rules come in all sizes and from many industries. To name a few examples:

– In 2013, a federal judge ordered a large provider of information services to pay $1.3 million to nearly 15,000 current and former employees. The employees had worked from home, answering text messages from customers. The company paid them a set rate for each message responded to, without regard to the number of hours they worked. The Labor Department determined that the company had misclassified the workers as independent contractors. Since they were actually employees, they were entitled to the minimum wage. The department calculated that their per-hour rate was below that. The judge’s order raised their compensation up to the minimum.

– Four related New York City plumbing and heating contractors paid a $1.4 million settlement in 2015 for, among other things, misclassifying 25 workers as independent contractors. The employers paid them a weekly wage that did not include the required time-and-a-half rate for hours worked beyond 40.

– A Kentucky-based cable, telephone and Internet installation company was found in 2013 to have misclassified 77 employees. The “independent contractors” performed the same work as others who were classified as employees. All workers were paid based on the pieces of equipment they installed, rather than the number of hours worked. Consequently, none of them received overtime pay. The company paid $1.075 million in back wages and damages to 200 employees.

– A Chicago home cleaning service classified 55 maids as independent contractors. This despite the fact that it forced the maids to sign non-compete agreements and forbid them to clean homes that were not assigned by the company. If the maids exceeded time limits for cleaning houses, they were threatened with disciplinary actions and having their pay docked. The company tried to skirt the overtime law by paying them a flat rate per house cleaned, regardless of how long the job took, and did not pay them for travel time. A federal judge ordered the company to pay the workers $184,505 in back wages and damages.

– A $4.5 million arbitration award to 16 misclassified limousine drivers forced a California car service into bankruptcy in 2012.

These companies suffered severe consequences for breaking the law. Any business that is unsure how to properly classify workers should check with federal and state labor regulators, the IRS and state tax authorities, or labor and tax attorneys. The short-term cost advantages from misclassifying workers are not worth the penalties that come with getting caught.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.  

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;   9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50 insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages.  We help contractors set up proper risk transfer mechanisms.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer mechanisms, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs that lower them.    

New Jersey and Connecticut Contractors:  We have a fiercely competitively priced (savings up to 50%)  General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation program.  Want to lower these costs?  Get a quote today!   

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

© – Copyright – BGES Group