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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

The majority of employee thefts are occurring in organizations with 500 employees or less and the median loss is $357,650, according to a report by Hiscox, a specialty insurer.

The main types of theft are outright theft of cash and check fraud, with rogue employees writing checks to acquaintances and trying to cover their tracks in the firm’s accounting system.

According to the Hiscox Embezzlement Watchlist:

• 79% of cases included more than one perpetrator. The average number of people involved was three.
• 85% of cases were perpetrated by someone at the manager level or above.
• 70% of cases lasted more than a year.
• 31% of crimes went on for three years or longer.
• 39% of those who experienced embezzlement saw more than one case in their career.
• 33% of perpetrators worked in the accounting or finance department.
• 39% of embezzled funds were recovered on average, through settlements, restitution or insurance.
• Nearly 75% of total losses included direct theft of cash or misuse of bank deposits or transfers.

Rotten gatekeeper

In some cases, the fraud starts where the buck stops: the chief financial officer. In one such action in New Jersey, the accused CFO was suspected of diverting more than $6 million from the company to pay a host of personal expenses such as real estate taxes, motor vehicle costs and credit card bills.

For a full seven years, the CFO designated his own business as a company vendor, cutting checks for services that were never performed, which he deposited into his personal bank accounts. He was asked for copies of the invoices, prosecutors said, but he informed colleagues he kept them in his office.

Prime suspects

According to Hiscox, there are some typical traits that an embezzler may exhibit that you should be on the lookout for:

• An employee having a financial crisis.
• An employee whose lifestyle is out of proportion to their salary, such as fancy clothes or an expensive car.
• An inquisitive employee who wants to learn how everything in the company works, even if it doesn’t relate to their job.
• An employee arrives first every day and is last to leave. They may also not even take vacations. This could mean they are trying to ensure nobody goes through their files when they are not there.
• People who take risks in other parts of their lives.
• A disgruntled employee who may have been passed over for a promotion or feel underappreciated.

What to do

For small business owners, Hiscox recommends:

• Sending bank statements directly to your home for a review to ensure they can’t be falsified prior to reconciling accounts;
• Periodically reviewing payroll reports to look for anomalies; and
• Signing all of the checks yourself or keeping the signature stamp under lock and key.

For all organizations, the insurer recommends:

• Establishing best practices in accounting. Businesses should mandate dual signatures or dual review on disbursements (checks and wires). It is also important to create separation in key business processes.
  For instance, separate the money from record-keeping so that no single employee can control a process from beginning to end, and don’t let the accounts payable person reconcile bank accounts.
• Bringing fraud deterrence into the light. Provide a short training session for all employees to illustrate the damaging impact of fraud and abuse and provide practical advice on how to spot fraud.
• Setting the ‘tone at the top’. Have everyone from management, audit and the leadership team talk about fraud prevention. Be sure employees are aware of internal controls and ask them if they know of any weaknesses in the controls and how to improve them.
  Hotlines are an excellent way to promote reporting of misconduct and reflect a culture of integrity.
• Conducting comprehensive audits that specifically look for fraud. Surprise audits are particularly effective because fraudsters will not have time to alter, destroy or misplace records and other evidence.

The insurance solution

If you don’t have it already, your firm should seriously consider buying employee theft insurance, or employee dishonesty coverage. Employee theft coverage applies to loss or damage to money, securities or other property that results from theft committed by an employee.

Coverage applies whether or not you can identify the specific employee that committed the act, and whether the individual perpetrated the theft alone or in collusion with other people.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

In auto insurance there are two main areas of covered physical damage losses: collision damage losses and losses other than collision. These two categories are often referred to as collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.

What is comprehensive coverage?

Comprehensive car insurance is auto insurance that covers loss to the insured’s vehicle caused by an object, disaster or theft. In addition to theft, comprehensive covers fire, falling objects, explosions or other unexpected non-collision-related disasters.

Comprehensive insurance does not cover bodily injury. Collision reimburses the insured for the full cost of repairs or replacing the vehicle after an accident. Certain insurers won’t add comprehensive coverage to your policy unless you also buy collision coverage.

But, you can usually purchase collision insurance without comprehensive. Ask us for details.

Do you need it?

You may have heard that an older vehicle doesn’t need comprehensive coverage because it isn’t worth as much as before. If you have comprehensive coverage, you could end up paying more for the premium each month than you would get from the insurance company if your vehicle were damaged.

Comprehensive car insurance may be useful for owners of vehicles that are less than five years old. Comprehensive, along with collision, can account for 30% to 40% of your total premium.

Both are also cash value coverages. If your car is damaged beyond repair, you are entitled to recoup the “Kelly Blue Book” value of the car.

As your car ages, the KBB value declines. So, the general rule of thumb is if both your collision and comprehensive are more than 10% of the KBB value of your vehicle, you might want to drop these coverages.

If your car is only worth several thousand dollars, you might also consider dropping these coverages. But if you eliminate collision and comprehensive, in the event of an accident that is your fault or if your vehicle gets totaled or stolen, you will have to pay the repair bill.

Loans and leases require it

If you lease your vehicle or took out a loan to buy it, the dealership or bank probably required you to purchase comprehensive coverage. They might also mandate the deductible your policy includes. Be sure you understand these requirements when you talk to your insurance agent about coverage for your new vehicle.

Factor in the deductible

If you decide to carry collision and comprehensive (whether your car is five or 15 years old), you should consider choosing the highest deductible you can afford. This will lower your premium considerably. $1,000 is the most popular deductible for this type of coverage.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

With so many people having been relegated to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are now wrestling with how to proceed as it starts to wane. Many companies are considering implementing hybrid, flextime work schedules after seeing success with remote work.

Flextime is the use of flexible schedules in which employees spend a portion of their workday on the worksite, and the rest from home or another location. For example, a flextime schedule might require an employee to work on-site from 8 am to 2 pm, and complete the rest of the workday from another location.

Unfortunately, there is little legal guidance on the use of flextime schedules. Even the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs minimum wage and overtime pay for most employees, does not address flexible work schedules.

Alternative work arrangements are a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee.

Flextime considerations

If you decide that you want to extend flextime to one or more of your employees, you should start by drafting an official company policy on exactly how it works. It’s always good to get it down on paper.

Take your time to make sure you have all angles covered, including ensuring that you don’t run afoul of wage and hour laws in the process.

Among other considerations, you should address the following three issues when crafting your flextime policy:

• Which employees are eligible for flextime (management, sales or others);
• What hours employees are required to work on-site; and
• Whether prior approval is required from management or human resources.

Once you’ve written out your policy, it may be a good idea to pass it by your legal counsel to ensure you comply with all relevant wage and hour laws. When approved, include the new flextime policy in your company’s employee handbook, so that it is received by all employees who are or may become eligible for the alternative work schedule.

Benefits of flexible hours

Through the availability of smartphones and wireless internet, the amount of work employees can complete off-site has grown significantly. Utilizing available technology for this purpose can increase productivity, and even expand the geographic area in which a business operates.

Employees working remotely can also better attend to family and personal matters, improving their work-life balance and in some cases reducing the need for a leave of absence. They also don’t have to waste time commuting, which for some can be more than two hours or more on the road every day.

Creating a virtual workplace that allows a company to offer a flextime schedule can result in a number of significant benefits, including:

• Saving money on work space;
• Retaining valuable employees;
• Bringing on outside project teams;
• Expanding visibility; and
• Increasing efficiency and productivity.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

Drug abuse is costing U.S. employers some $81 billion annually due to employee illness, absences and lost productivity, and the problem has only gotten worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence found that 70% of the estimated 14.8 million Americans who use illegal drugs are employed, and workers who report having three or more jobs in the previous five years are about twice as likely to be current or past year users of illegal drugs as those who have had two or fewer jobs.

And now, with the changes in marijuana laws sweeping the country, employers are concerned that more people (read employees) will get hooked on drugs.

So far, 28 states have enacted laws on medical marijuana and two have legalized possession of small amounts of the drug. More states have pending legislation to legalize recreational marijuana use.

Additionally, the number of overdoses from other drugs has skyrocketed during the pandemic. In the 12-month period ending Aug. 31, there were 88,295 drug overdose deaths, a record high that is almost 19,000 more deaths (27%) than the prior 12-month period.

Drug use, abuse or addiction by employees can lead to a range of problems for businesses, such as lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, fatalities, theft and poor employee morale, and increases in health care usage, legal liabilities and workers’ compensation costs. Also, if workers are using drugs while on the job, the risk of those issues increases exponentially.

Some of the problems that drugs can cause in the workplace are:

• Sluggishness and impaired job performance.
• The employee setting up purchases or using drugs at work.
• Selling illegal drugs to or arranging purchases for co-workers.
• Psychological effects due to drug use by a family member, friend or co-worker that affects an employee’s job performance.

Signs of drug use in the workplace

According to the council, the following job performance and workplace behaviors may be signs of possible workplace drug problems:

• Inconsistent work quality.
• Poor concentration/lack of focus.
• Lower productivity or erratic work patterns.
• Increased absenteeism or on-the-job “presenteeism.”
• Unexplained disappearances from the job site.
• Carelessness, mistakes or errors in judgment.
• Needless risk taking.
• Disregard for safety of self and others.
• Extended lunch periods and early departures.
• Odd/socially unacceptable workplace behavior.

What can you do?

You should have a policy in place that strictly prohibits your staff from working while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You should treat drug use at work with the same severity as you would drinking on the job.

Document any complaints or concerns raised by co-workers or clients if they suspect one of your employees to be using drugs.

It is important that two people at management level also observe the individual’s behavior, with both of them documenting their observations in detail, which should include (but not be limited to):

• Odors
• Slurred speech
• Dilated or constricted eyes
• Emotional issues such as agitation or irritability
• Drowsiness
• Excessive sweating.

Once the situation is documented and everyone is in agreement, only then should you meet with the employee for a discussion of what has been observed.  And always have a second party at the meeting to act as a witness. You then have the options to follow whatever is stated in your company policy.

Drug testing is a legal issue and may depend on your company policy as well as any state laws prohibiting testing. Consult with your lawyers about the legality of testing workers you suspect of being under the influence.

Depending on your policy if they are found to be using on the job, you can use your discretion about how you want to handle it. If they are a valued employee, you may want to refer them to your employee assistance program as well as a drug-free workplace program, which help refer staff members and their families to community resources and services to help fight drug abuse.

Studies have found that employers with successful employee assistance and drug-free workplace programs reported improved morale and productivity, as well as decreases in absenteeism, workplace injuries and accidents, downtime and theft.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

As we have become more dependent on smartphones and computers to make many parts of our lives easier and more convenient, this connectivity and technology comes at a cost in terms of potential risks and liabilities.

We are more vulnerable to having our personal data being hacked, our identities stolen, our computer frozen and our data held for ransom. The cost of cleaning up after having your identity stolen by crafty online criminals can run into the thousands of dollars, and criminals may also demand a ransom to unlock your computer if you’ve been hacked.

And the risks keep growing in number with new forms of fraud cropping up. Recognizing this growing trend, more home insurers are adding personal cyber insurance to their offerings, usually as an endorsement — a rider — to a homeowner’s or renter’s policy.

For now, this market is in its infancy, but more insurers are adding coverage.

You face cyber risks in a number of ways, including:

• The banking app on your phone.
• The online accounts and passwords stored on your computer.
• Your 401(k) app on your tablet.
• Virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Home.

What’s covered

Here are some of the most common risks that cyber insurance policies cover. Some policies may cover more of the risks than others, but for the most part these are pretty standard:

Financial fraud — The coverage would reimburse you for any losses you sustained as a result of an unauthorized third party using one of your online payment services (like Paypal) or apps (like Venmo) to transfer funds.

Identity theft — If your personal data is breached online and someone steals your identity, the insurance would reimburse you for the cost of rectifying records with banks and authorities, as well as any time off from work you have to take to fix the problems. This includes the cost of a consultant who can restore credit records and personal identity.

Data restoration — If the data you store on your computer or laptop is compromised, deleted or rendered inaccessible, the policy could cover the costs for an IT specialist to clean your device of any malware and restore compromised data.

Ransomware — A growing type of cyber crime is ransomware, where criminals gain access to your computer if you click on a malicious link in a bogus e-mail. Once that link is clicked, they can gain access to your computer and freeze it, rendering it unusable until you accede to their demands of paying them a ransom, usually in Bitcoin.

Cyber insurance would reimburse you for the ransom payment and pay for the costs of IT specialists to mitigate the cyber-extortion attempt.

Cyber liability — If you are sued because someone accuses you of facilitating a transfer of data that was orchestrated by a cyber attack on your device without your knowledge, the insurance would step in to provide coverage.

Cyber attack — If a cyber attack results in you being unable to access your home or needing to replace an electronic device, the coverage will reimburse you for the costs associated with resolving the event.

Cyberbullying — This coverage is twofold: It would cover the costs if you are sued if your child is cyberbullying, or if one of your family members is the victim of cyberbullying and they need psychological counseling or legal advice. It could also cover the costs of online reputation restoration, where an IT specialist would attempt to remove or suppress offensive online content directed at your family member.

The takeaway

Want to know more about personal cyber insurance and if it’s right for you and your family? Call us and we can walk through your risks with you and see if there is a policy that would fit your needs.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

Did you know that home thefts increase dramatically during the holiday season? Thieves expect people to be shopping for new toys and electronics and stashing them in the house.

Not only that, but cyber criminals also up their game during the holidays, increasing your risk of identity or credit card theft.

While you might be planning your next big score at a great sale, burglars are looking for ways to break in while you are out and distracted from the home.

Similarly, online thieves are out in full force ready to capitalize on the millions of online shoppers who are submitting their private credit card information.

Whether you do your shopping online or in the stores, it’s important to remember these basic Christmas safety tips to protect yourself against holiday season theft.

Lock everything – Many burglars get into homes just because a door or window was left open or unlocked.

Secure valuables – Never leave anything of value out in plain sight. Consider placing any jewelry, extra cash or other valuables in a safe deposit box, or even a secure hidden safe within the house. Remember, one of the first places burglars look is the master bedroom.

Leave the light on – The more it looks like someone is home, the less likely that someone will try break into your home. If you’re going to be gone for more than a day, buy a timer for your lights so they come on at various times during the evening and turn off in the morning.

Activate your alarm system – Don’t forget to arm your security system, as this simple step will go a long way to protecting your home.

Online shopping tips

About 7% of American adults have had their personal identities stolen or otherwise misused. Here are some tips to avoid that happening to you:

• Invest in identity protection software. There are many products available that range in their coverage of protection of your personal information.
• Install anti-malware software on your PC.
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card. You can often dispute charges you didn’t make on a credit card and you won’t be liable for them. But if someone gets your debit card information, they can drain your bank account.
• Before you purchase anything from a website, verify that the vendor has encrypted its payment form, such a secure socket layer (or SSL , as it’s known).

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

While most companies focus on driver training to help reduce the chances of accidents pushing up their insurance premiums, many executives have been frustrated to see their rates climb.

The top two factors affecting your commercial auto premiums are your history of claims and the driving records of your individual drivers. To get a handle on your insurance rates you should focus on hiring on mature, experienced, responsible drivers.

Once you have selected solid people, the next step is to enforce safety standards and provide them with adequate rest and the tools they need to drive safely.

New technologies and advances in underwriting are making it possible for employers to take a more proactive approach to risk management and claims reduction. The ultimate goal is to lower your premiums. Here are some steps you can take to keep your premiums down:

Monitor your drivers’ records – Consider using an automated service to monitor your drivers’ records. Drivers don’t always self-report their tickets, accidents and DUIs. Automated driver record monitoring systems can routinely check for new violations, DUI or DWI convictions, license suspensions, revocations, and approaching license renewal dates. You get a report each month, and you can take action, if warranted.

Add GPS tracking to your vehicles – Advances in GPS tracking and displays enable you not just to track your vehicles’ whereabouts and control malingering, but also monitor for speeding.

Turn the public into your eyes and ears – You’ve certainly seen those signs on the backs of commercial vehicles that say “How Am I Driving? Dial 555-555-5555.” They work. But if you do get complaints, it’s important to follow up on them, and in writing.

Pre-screen all new hires – Before hiring, pull an applicant’s DMV records. You want people with one point or less on their licenses. Incidents happen. But if a driver has two or more points, you don’t want them driving for you.

If you find a DUI, don’t hire them – You don’t want someone with a drunk-driving arrest on the road for you, and you don’t want to be paying their insurance premiums.

Raise your deductible – For best results, keep your deductible above $2,500 or so. This keeps the fender-benders off the books. The deductible is usually trivial compared to the potential claim if your driver causes bodily injury to someone else, anyway.

Use the savings on your premium and bank them for future use in case of fender-benders. Or you can funnel it into more liability or umbrella coverage.

Maintain an ongoing safe-driver program – Set up an incentive program to reward or give bonuses to drivers when they reach milestones like a certain number of miles of incident-free driving. You can also provide bonuses if their safe driving helps reduce your premiums.

Safe-driving clause – If your state allows, consider a safe-driving clause in the employment agreement.

Don’t overspend on vehicles – The more expensive the vehicle, the higher the premiums.

Consider whether you need collision coverage – If you have an aging fleet, or you can afford to replace one of your vehicles on occasion, consider cancelling collision coverage on your policy.

The takeaway

Employers that put in the effort to ensure they employ drivers with good records, and can show insurers they have put programs and measures in place to control their claims experience, have a better chance at taming their premiums.

Besides lower premiums, there are other benefits: Your business will pay out less in deductible charges, you have a safer workforce, and you spend less time and maintain productivity when you don’t have to deal with the aftermath of accidents and the insurance claims process.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

As the economy continues expanding, companies need to be careful about properly managing their risk, according to a report by Advisen Inc., an insurance research and data firm.

Increased activity typically means proportionally additional losses. For example, more trucks driving more miles will inevitably result in more accidents. However, there are other kinds of risk that can actually increase more than the jump in business activity. We look at three such areas here.

Workplace safety

Workplace injuries can increase as firms hire workers that have less experience. Typically, when employers expand their workforce to meet the growing demand for their products and services, the number of workers’ compensation claims tended to rise disproportionately.

New employees with less experience typically are more likely to sustain a workplace injury. At the same time, experienced staff may look for new job opportunities as compensation begins to take priority over job security.

What you can do: One option is to hire a temporary-staffing firm to fill positions. In these relationships, the client company is not responsible for covering temporary workers.

But you should be aware that OSHA requires what is known as the “dual employer doctrine”, under which temps are considered employees of both the agency and the company using them. And you are also not off the hook for providing them with a safe work environment and safety training specific to their job.

And remember: Check to make sure the temp agency has workers’ comp insurance.

Litigation increases

The risk of being sued rises as employees make mistakes due to pressure on existing staff to increase production, and again when less experienced workers are added to the payroll.

Your workers may be putting in extra hours. But fatigued workers make mistakes. For example, some of the worst industrial disasters have been in part the result of tired workers. Bhopal, Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez oil spill all involved decisions made late at night or extremely early in the morning by people working long hours.

In addition, inexperienced employees are more like contribute to incidents where outsiders are hurt.

What you can do: Conduct thorough interviews, check references and carry out background investigations when appropriate to avoid hiring people with known problems. You are responsible for the actions of your employees.

Also, make sure that you are not overworking your staff. Provide proper breaks so they can rest, especially in jobs that require attention and strength.

Labor law violations

Trends in litigation and regulation make it more likely that companies will be charged with labor law violations. Employees are braver now about filing complaints, thinking they have a good chance of landing a new job if they are fired.

In addition, the federal and many state governments have cracked down on wage and hour law violations.

As well, some companies may try to add to their worker pool by using more independent contractors, in order to avoid hiring new workers. But the federal government has mounted a serious crackdown on companies that inappropriately classify employees as independent contractors.

What you can do: Pay close attention to your payment systems and audit your systems to make sure you comply with wage and hour laws as well as meal and rest break laws.

The takeaway

The lesson is to increase your vigilance in managing your risk and review your existing risk management strategies for gaps due to business growth.

You can take the following steps to reduce your chances of increased claims:

• Maintain high standards when hiring new employees, such as conducting thorough interviews, checking references and, where appropriate, investigating backgrounds;
• Properly train and supervise new employees during a growth phase;
• Consider your current policies on temporary workers, and weigh the benefits of a flexible workforce against liability issues that temporary workers pose;
• Revisit your policies about independent contractors, especially in light of the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to ferret out misclassification;
• Pay attention to overtime rules to ensure compliance with the law; and
• Keep shareholders informed as much as possible about any mergers or acquisitions, including terms of the transaction.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group

Workers who are 55 and older are 50% more likely to be killed in vehicle accidents than drivers who are younger than them, a study by the Centers for Disease Control has found.

The reason, according to the CDC, is declining cognition, which can lead to errors while driving and avoiding potential collisions, as well as a greater susceptibility to injuries and more difficulty in recovering from injuries.

Because older workers have invaluable experience and are usually safer drivers, the solution is not to take them off the road. There are other ways to accommodate older workers who drive as part of their job so that your company can still enjoy the benefits of keeping them on staff.

Both employers and workers should be aware that it is normal for physical and mental abilities to gradually decline with age — putting them at greater risk of dying if they are in a motor vehicle crash.

Some challenges that drivers over 55 may face include:

• Worsening eyesight —Older eyes need more light and more time to adjust when light changes, so it can be hard to see clearly, especially at dawn, dusk, and night. Older drivers may become more sensitive to glare from headlights, street lights and the sun.
• Peripheral vision — The ability to see to the side or up and down while looking ahead often declines as people age, increasing their risk of crashes.
• Eye diseases — Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration become more common with age, making it harder for older drivers to read signs and see colors.
• Age-related hearing loss — This can make it harder to hear horns, sirens, and noises from cars, which warn of possible danger.

Several diseases and conditions can affect the ability to drive.

• Diabetes can make blood sugar levels too high or low, which can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures.
• Arthritis can make joints swollen and stiff, making it hard to grasp or turn the steering wheel, apply the brake and gas pedals, fasten a seat belt, or look for hazards.
• Sleep apneacan increase the risk of drowsy driving.
• Parkinson’s disease can affect balance and movement, diminishing a driver’s ability to safely operate motor vehicle controls.
• Other chronic diseases and the use of multiple medications may interfere with sleep quality, increasing risk for drowsy driving.

Mitigating your risks

Obviously, you don’t want to sideline career drivers as they are likely invaluable to your operations.

There are a number of ways to mitigate the factors through prevention and wellness programs, and workers can help by getting regular health exams and screenings.

You can address a number of contributing factors in your safety training and Injury and Illness Prevention Plan, including avoiding long hours behind the wheel to reduce fatigue and occupational stress; not pressuring drivers to drive too fast in order to meet time-sensitive delivery promises; reducing the probability of distracted driving; and enforcing the use of seatbelts.

The CDC recommends the following additional interventions of particular benefit to all older drivers, although some of these points may not be feasible:

• Select and adapt vehicles to better accommodate them.
• Institute policies that encourage less driving overall and less night-time driving.
• Require route and trip planning to reduce stress and fatigue.
• Provide your workers with information about medical conditions and medications known to affect driving ability.
• Allow your drivers to use their judgment to reschedule travel or stop driving in cases of fatigue, illness, bad weather or darkness.

The takeaway

Companies with driving employees who are older than 55 can usually count on them being safer drivers overall, however, they may also be dealing with some age-related issues that can affect their driving.

By taking the above steps to work with those older drivers, you can help reduce the chances of them having a serious accident while on the job.

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.

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.  If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

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.

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 – 2021 – BGES Group