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Monthly Archives: October 2020
Rates Too High – Believe it or not, there are insurance companies whose rates are up to 40% higher than others. If you’re an auto service, contractor (we have THE BEST PROGRAMS for contractors), limousine service, local trucker or manufacturer, we can offer you low rates. 
Protecting Your Firm as an Additional Insured
IN THE course of doing business, you may sometimes find yourself entering into contracts requiring that your firm be named as an additional insured on another party’s insurance policies.
This is often done to make sure that your own insurance is not depleted by defense and indemnification costs for losses for which you may be legally liable as a result of the business relationship you have with the other party, but that are not due to your own firm’s direct negligence.
Definition: An individual or entity that is not automatically included as an insured under the policy of another, but for whom the named insured’s policy provides a certain degree of protection.
When to Be an Additional Insured
There are many times when you may want your firm included as an additional insured on another’s policy. Here are just a few examples:
- If you are a building owner, you want to be an additional insured on the property and general liability insurance of your tenants in case one of them damages your building or in case a visitor to the property is injured.
- If you are the owner or a contractor on a construction project, you want to be an additional insured on the general liability insurance of your contractors and subcontractors in case there is an injury to one of their employees.
- If you are a distributor or a retailer, you may want to be an additional insured on the insurance programs of the manufacturers of the products that you sell.
- If a contractor comes onto your property to perform work of any type, including erecting displays or maintenance or structural work, you will want to be named as an additional insured on their policy in case the display falls on someone, or someone is injured due to the work they are performing. You don’t want to be held responsible for any dangers or injuries created by their work.
If you are to become an additional insured on another company’s policy, confirm that the other party has indeed named your company as such with their insurance company.
You should ask for a copy of the policy that explicitly lists your company as an additional insured. You want to see a copy of the policy and the certificate of insurance, although the latter is not sufficient proof that your company has been added.
Additional insured status is effectively conferred through an additional insured endorsement to the other party’s original insurance policy.
An endorsement serves as an amendment to the terms of the policy that is incorporated into the relevant insurance policy. These amendments can take the form of an endorsement that specifically names a particular additional insured, or a general endorsement that identifies some class of parties as additional insureds.
If there is a dispute about your company’s status as an additional insured, you will want to have in hand not only the other party’s certificate of insurance, but also a copy of the policy itself and the endorsement that makes your company an additional insured.
There are a few best practices that you can implement to help make certain your firm’s status as an additional insured has been properly secured:
- At a minimum, always insist on receiving a copy of the relevant additional insured endorsement, as this is the instrument that establishes additional insured status;
- An additional insured endorsement does not, however, state an insurance policy’s terms and conditions. In order to avoid being surprised by unexpected policy terms (such as strict notice requirement or unfavorable notice of cancellation provisions), you should ask for and receive a copy of the entire insurance policy under which you are an additional insured, and be sure to read it;
- Retain additional insured endorsements and the relevant insurance policies for as long as there is any potential that claims triggering those policies might be made.
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.
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
Need More Work, Customers, a Plan B To Generate Massive Cash Flow To Cover Business and Personal Expenses? Click here 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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
© – Copyright – 2020 – BGES Group
Injury and Illness Prevention Plans Save You Money, Period!
Employees are your most valuable assets, but many businesses overlook the importance of having a workplace safety program in place to protect them.
Loss control is about employers caring for their workers’ safety. Successful loss control programs are means of reducing injuries and the severity of a potential accident.
If you want to reduce the costs and risks associated with workplace injuries and illnesses, you need to address safety and health right along with production. You should start by writing a plan and see that it is put into practice. Specifically, that means creating and implementing an Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
The IIPP will identify what has to be done to promote the safety and health of your employees, and the safety of your worksite. Elements of your IIPP should include:
- Assignment of responsibility
- Communications
- Compliance
- Inspections
- Investigations
- Correcting unsafe conditions
- Training
- Record-keeping.
Taking this approach to loss control will make the workplace safer, decrease workers’ compensation and overtime costs, reduce turnover rates, and minimize the risk of Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines – all of which in turn will increase productivity and profits.
Loss control starts with an authentic commitment from management. You should also ensure that supervisors, managers and employees are all on board and, together, the collaborative teams will achieve success.
Hazard assessment, evaluation, action-planning, problem-solving, implementation, record-keeping and documentation are the steps for a successful loss control plan.
Open communication is vital
Open communication with employees is important to facilitate a successful loss control program. Employee cooperation is connected to everyone understanding what the program is all about, why it is important to them and how it personally affects them.
Consider different channels via which your workforce can be informed, including meetings, e-mails, newsletters or text messages. Training is an important aspect of your program to ensure everyone has a good understanding of workplace safety.
Records are an important part of your safety plans. Records that should be maintained include:
- Training
- Employee injuries
- Accident/injury investigations
- Inspection records/corrective actions
- OSHA 300 logs (where required)
- Job analysis
- Safety meetings
- Equipment and vehicle inspections
- CPR/first aid training
- DMV driving records.
The takeaway
Remember to update and maintain all your programs at least once a year and/or if there are any changes.
If you are ready to make the commitment of reducing injuries and illnesses and managing claims, you can expect your costs to go down and your profits to go up.
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
Need More Work, Customers, a Plan B To Generate Massive Cash Flow To Cover Business and Personal Expenses? Click here 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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
© – Copyright – 2020 – BGES Group
Why Slips, Trips and Falls Are So Hard to Avoid
Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents, cause 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.
With those stark realities, any employer that fails to guard against these preventable accidents is asking for an injury to occur. And despite all of American employers’ best efforts, slips trips and falls:
- Result in more than 95 million lost work days per year (or about 65% of all work days lost).
- Account for nearly 25% of all reported injury claims every year.
- Accounted for a 17% increase in the number of deaths from such accidents in 2018, compared to the prior year.
Obviously, there is a disconnect between employer safety measures and the outcome.
A December 2018 survey of almost 1,300 safety professionals, carried out by Safety Daily Advisors, found the “big three” causes of slip, trip and fall incidents are:
- Human factors – 54%
- Wet or slippery surfaces – 25%
- Poor housekeeping – 16%
While you can put in place stringent safety procedures, require fall-protection equipment and install non-skid surfaces, there is one thing that is hard to control: the human factor.
That’s why it’s important to instill in workers the importance of:
- Immediately cleaning up spills,
- Closing file drawers when done,
- Picking up loose items from the floor,
- Keeping aisles and walkways free from clutter, and
- Keeping their personal workspace clean and orderly.
But it doesn’t pay to tell them once. Regular reminders can help instill safety mindedness like the above.
Slippery surfaces a major challenge
Slippery surfaces are one of the biggest challenges a business faces in protecting its employees – and customers, for that matter. It’s important, then, that you know in which types of area slippery surfaces are likely to occur. You should pay special attention to these high-risk areas:
- Parking lots, especially in areas where water is pooling,
- Sidewalks,
- Food preparation areas, where grease and water can cause hazards, and
- Non-carpeted entryways or lobbies.
Conduct walkway audits to identify safety issues, so that you can develop plans to eliminate them. The plans need to account for varying weather conditions.
Besides those physical aspects, also remind employees to wear proper shoes when it’s raining and not to rush when walking in those areas during rainy days.
The problem is that walking is something we do almost automatically and these days many people are distracted, reading and texting on their smartphones while walking, or maybe lost in thought about their weekend plans.
Distraction results in blindness to their surroundings. Moreover, their emotions, sense of urgency, fatigue or complacency can take over.
But training your employees to be more mindful in areas with slip, trip and fall hazards is not as simple as telling them to “pay attention” or “don’t get distracted.”
Behavior-based safety approach
Changing behavior is not easy and it takes time and commitment, but the best solution is a behavior-based safety approach.
The first step you need to take is to help your employees become aware of unsafe habits and analyze their mistakes. They should:
- Walk with caution and make wide turns at corners.
- Test footing before committing weight.
- Open doors with caution.
- Use railings on stairs.
- Ensure there are three points of contact on ladders and equipment.
- Look before moving.
- Wear appropriate footwear.
- Be aware of weather forecasts.
- Push (rather than pull) carts to allow a better line of sight.
- Keep eyes and mind on the task in hand; no multitasking.
- Not text or talk on phone while walking.
- Be alert for trip hazards.
- Recognize dangers of walking on ice.
- Take designated walkways, rather than shortcuts.
- Not wear sunglasses in low-light areas.
- Report all potential hazards.
It will take time and effort to change employees’ perception of risk and personal responsibility. But with a proactive approach that builds a culture and fosters an attitude and behavior that puts safety first, workplace injuries will be reduced.
On your end, you can:
- Implement good housekeeping practices.
- Provide proper lighting, traction aids and require safe footwear.
- Keep walking surfaces clean and in good repair.
- Install railings and guards.
- Display warning signs in high-risk areas (‘slippery when wet’-type signs).
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
Need More Work, Customers, a Plan B To Generate Massive Cash Flow To Cover Business and Personal Expenses? Click here 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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
© – Copyright – 2020 – BGES Group
More Firms Urge Workers to Get Seasonal Flu Shots
As the Centers for Disease Control and other health authorities have recommended that everyone get a flu shot this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are wondering if they can require seasonal flu vaccinations for their staff.
The CDC and the medical community recommend it in order to minimize the chances of double-infection of both the seasonal flu and COVID-19.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission more than a decade ago issued guidance asserting that employers can require their workers to get influenza shots. But, employment law specialists recommend that the need for vaccinations be job-related (think nurses, doctors and emergency medical technicians) and, if it’s not, that employers strongly recommend it instead.
A recent study by Mercer LLC found that:
- 62% of employers are providing special communications on the importance of flu shots this year.
- 60% of employers will cover 100% of the flu shot cost, be that at the provider’s office, a pharmacy or other location.
- 34% said they would provide indoor on-site flu shots.
- 10% said they would provide on-site drive-up flu shots.
- 8% said they would provide outside on-site flu shots.
Besides the risk of double-infection, health care practitioners say flu shots are extremely important this year because the symptoms of the two viruses are so similar that it would be difficult to tell if someone has influenza or COVID-19.
Additionally, if someone contracts the flu, they will be more susceptible to also catching COVID-19 ― and perhaps dealing with worse symptoms as a result.
Past experience
Some employers have experience in administering and recommending flu shots among their workers during a pandemic: the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. While that flu strain was not as deadly as the coronavirus, many employers set up flu vaccination programs.
Mostly they recommended but did not require that their workers get vaccinated. The successful companies offered the vaccinations for free.
The CDC estimates that some 60 million Americans contracted H1N1, and 12,000 of them died from the disease. Comparatively, as of mid-October this year, 210,000 Americans had died from COVID-19, according to the agency.
What you can do
The biggest takeaway from the EEOC and employment law specialists is that companies can and should recommend that their employees get flu shots, but not require them to.
If you require them to do so, you could have conflicts with personnel for different reasons.
If you can’t show that the vaccinations are a business necessity, you may find yourself in a difficult position if an employee refuses due to medical reasons or religious belief. At that point, you could be violating the Americans with Disabilities Act or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Also, some of your employees may be “anti-vaxxers” who believe that vaccines are harmful. That could set up a fight you may not want to get embroiled in.
If you decide to strongly recommend shots, you may want to consider incentivizing your employees by making the vaccinations free.
Large companies can organize flu shots on-site for their staff much more easily than small companies, and many larger players set up clinics that employees could go to for their inoculations.
If you have the resources, you can also contract with a clinic or hospital to have staff come to your facility and administer vaccinations. Or you can offer to refund employees the cost of vaccinations they get at the doctor’s office, pharmacy or other location. Many health plans will also offer free flu vaccinations.
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.
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
Need More Work, Customers, a Plan B To Generate Massive Cash Flow To Cover Business and Personal Expenses? Click here 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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
© – Copyright – 2020 – BGES Group
Proposed Rule Makes Independent Contractor Classification Easier
The federal Department of Labor has proposed a regulation that would make it easier for employers to classify workers as independent contractors.
The regulation would use an “economic reality” test to determine a worker’s status. This means that if worker is an employee of a hiring entity “as a matter of economic reality, the individual is economically dependent on that employer for work.”
Conversely, the individual is an independent contractor “if the individual is, as a matter of economic reality, in business for him- or herself.”
The proposed rules are a looser standard than current DOL regulations and would allow employers to classify outside workers as independent contractors more easily.
Whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor is critical when it comes to important issues such as benefits eligibility (health insurance, vacation), workers’ compensation coverage, wage and hour laws, and many other matters.
The department said that the rule is designed to “bring clarity and consistency to the determination of who’s an independent contractor …” Currently, courts, the DOL and other agencies consider numerous factors when making that determination. For example, the Internal Revenue Service looks at as many as 13 factors.
The proposed rule
To determine whether the individual is “economically dependent” on an employer, the proposed regulation employs five factors, with the first two being the “core” factors and none of them on their own tipping the balance. The core factors are:
- The nature and degree of the individual’s control over the work – This means how much control the individual has over work hours, project selection, and the ability to work for others who might be competitors of the employer.
- The individual’s opportunity for profit or loss – This looks at the individual’s opportunity to make or lose money “based on his or her exercise of initiative” and spending on materials and labor to further the work.
The other factors, called “additional guideposts,” are:
- The amount of skill required for the work – This means “the extent the work at issue requires specialized training or skill that the potential employer does not provide.”
- How permanent the working relationship is between individual and employer – If the relationship is “by design definite in duration or sporadic,” the regulation would tend to classify the individual as an independent contractor.
- Whether the work is part of an integrated unit of production – This means whether the individual’s work is separate from the employer’s production process or a part of that process. Separate work implies independent contractor status.
It is important to note that the regulation does not mention as a factor the form the employer uses to report income to the IRS. The mere fact that an employer reports an individual’s compensation on Form 1099 has no bearing on whether that person is an independent contractor. This is contrary to the belief of many employers.
The takeaway
The proposed rule would make it easier for employers to designate individuals as independent contractors.
Groups such as the American Trucking Association have praised the proposal, while a workers’ advocacy group said that “construction workers, agricultural workers, janitors, home care workers … all stand to lose from this rule.”
The public has the opportunity to send comments to the DOL on the proposed regulation until Oct. 26. The department reportedly wants to make the regulation permanent before the end of the year.
The concern is that President Trump may lose his bid for re-election and that his opponent, Joe Biden, may block the regulation from taking effect.
If you are an employer, it is unclear whether the workers you hire are independent contractors. Depending on the outcome of the presidential race, it may not be much clearer in the future.
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
Need More Work, Customers, a Plan B To Generate Massive Cash Flow To Cover Business and Personal Expenses? Click here 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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
© – Copyright – 2020 – BGES Group
Home-Based Business Not Covered by Homeowner’s Policy
With recent advances in both technology and the internet, and many people working from home or having been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have or are planning to start a home-based business.
But will your homeowner’s policy cover the risks of a home-based business? In nearly every case, the answer is no.
Exceptions exist in the form of special endorsements, such as an endorsement to run a child-care operation from your home, but fewer and fewer companies offer such endorsements.
Even with a special endorsement, policies may give a very limited amount of coverage for business property, like computers and other electronics. The bottom line is, nearly all homeowner’s policies clearly exclude business operations and not having a proper coverage in place can leave you with uninsured exposure. This is why you need separate business insurance to cover your home-based business risks.
Business insurance
Home-based business owners may feel that they don’t need coverage because nobody steps foot on their premises. Even if this is true, liability claims often happen away from the business premises. Business insurance covers you in situations where someone takes action for information on your website, or if someone is injured by the product, or service, you provide.
Off-premises injury can occur when someone trips on or is injured by property you have taken into the field, such as to a trade show or event. A business policy will cover these injuries as well as meet the insurance requirements of most trade shows and events you may attend.
Competitors and customers both may sue a business owner for personal injury. Business policies include coverage for personal injury lawsuits, should someone take legal action against you for things like libel or slander.
From a property standpoint, any business property you may have in your home is usually excluded or has very limited coverage under a homeowner’s policy. Getting coverage to protect your computers, equipment, furniture, inventory and any other physical assets helps keep your business in operation with minimal disruption and financial loss.
A business policy also usually covers loss of income, which is payment for income you did not earn as a result of a loss covered under your policy. Policies may also include coverage for things like valuable papers, damage to property of others, property coverage off-premises and a number of other additional coverages.
A business owner’s policy includes the coverage described above and is specifically designed to protect the unique interests and property of the owner of a business. This package policy includes nearly all of the coverage you need.
Other coverages
However, if you are providing some kind of professional advice, consulting or other non-tangible professional services, you may also need a professional liability policy. This is also known as errors & omissions insurance. In addition, if you have any employees, you are probably required by law to get workers’ compensation insurance.
Depending on the type and size of business you own, you may have yet further insurance needs.
The takeaway
Hoping that your homeowner’s policy is going to cover you in the event of a claim will leave you frustrated if your business experiences a loss.
Businesses have a much higher risk than a homeowner’s policy allows for, and homeowner’s claims adjusters will quickly deny coverage for business-related claims in the event of a loss. Talk to us today to explore your home-based business insurance needs and options.
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
Need More Work, Customers, a Plan B To Generate Massive Cash Flow To Cover Business and Personal Expenses? Click here 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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
© – Copyright – 2020 – BGES Group
10 Potential Causes of Employee COVID-19 Lawsuits
The novel coronavirus that broke out in the winter has caused immeasurable suffering, both physical and economic.
For employers struggling to stay in business, this is a fraught time where mistakes in managing their workforces could lead to employee lawsuits. Here are 10 potential trouble spots to watch for.
Workplace safety – Businesses that still have employees working on-site run the risk that a single infected worker may send the virus ripping through the entire workforce.
While workers’ compensation laws may prevent employees from suing, their family members who become ill or suffer through a worker’s illness face no such constraints.
Sick time and paid leave – Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March, guaranteeing full-time employees of small businesses 80 hours of sick leave (part-timers get a prorated amount.)
State and local laws may entitle workers to additional leave. Mistakes in administering these benefits could prompt lawsuits.
Workplace discrimination – Because the coronavirus originated in China, there have been reports of Asian-Americans being targets of racist actions. Employers must take care to avoid the appearance of making workplace decisions based even partly on employees’ race.
Americans with Disabilities Act – The ADA prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for these workers.
Employees who become ill from COVID-19 (the illness caused by the virus) may suffer after-effects that include trouble breathing, speaking and working at their former pace. Employers must accommodate these workers to the extent that is practical.
Wage and hour violations – Non-exempt employees working remotely may be working more than their regular hours, missing rest and meal breaks, and using their own equipment.
Employers must keep careful records, reimburse employees for their use of personal equipment where warranted, and remind employees to take mandatory breaks.
Battered retirement plans – Stock markets have cratered since the beginning of the year, taking retirement account balances down with them.
Questions may be asked about whether fund managers did enough to limit the damage. Employees who are not satisfied with the answers may go to court.
Health information privacy – Employee health information privacy is protected by law. Employers must secure the records of infected employees from unauthorized access by individuals within and outside the company.
Union contracts – Collective bargaining agreements may contain provisions that go beyond federal requirements for breaks, paid leave, layoff notices, and workplace safety.
Employers must keep their CBAs in mind and work with their unions to avoid contract violations.
Disparate impact from layoffs – If layoffs are necessary, employers must take a thoughtful approach when deciding which employees to part company with.
An appearance of singling out older workers or other protected classes under discrimination laws could invite lawsuits.
WARN Act – The Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires some employers to provide at least 60 days’ notice before layoffs. Many businesses’ revenues fell off the cliff so quickly that they were unable to provide that much notice.
A final thought
The pandemic is a crisis that few businesses foresaw. The effects, including the litigation, may haunt them for a long time to come.
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) Replacing policies that are 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.
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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
website: http://www.bgesgroup.com
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