Protecting Your Workers in the Rain

Posted on June 13, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

Employees working in the rain face specific hazards, such as poor visibility and wet, slippery surfaces.

When it’s wet and windy, potential hazards at a worksite can be exacerbated. Rain can cause slippery surfaces and limited visibility. It’s also riskier to use heavy equipment in the rain, particularly when moving heavy loads, putting workers on the ground – and even the public – in danger.

However, steps can be taken to mitigate such hazards.

It’s imperative that you as an employer ensure your employees’ safety, especially during this heavy year for rain. When working in the rain, train your employees to:

Move cautiously – While workers may be tempted to move fast in the rain to avoid getting wet, this can be dangerous, especially on slippery surfaces. If anything, they should work more slowly and deliberately in all of their tasks.
Use the correct equipment – If workers must use electrical tools or equipment, they need to check that they are specifically rated for outdoors. Also, the tools should have textured, no-slip grips and handles.
Don proper footwear – Workers should wear footwear with heavy treads that can reduce the chances of slipping.
Remember rain gear – Proper rain gear includes rain pants and a raincoat. The best clothing is ventilated to help your workers stay comfortable. If it’s cold and rainy, they should also wear wool or synthetic materials that can stay warm even when wet.
Wear non-slip gloves – Workers should wear gloves that provide a sticky grip even when wet. Gloves should be snug and long enough for a jacket sleeve to prevent water from entering.
Keep vision clear – Workers who wear glasses (if they must wear goggles for certain jobs) should apply anti-fog spray to them. It’s also advisable to wear a hat to keep rain from their eyes. They shouldn’t use headgear that narrows their field of vision.
Work in proper lighting – When working at night, workers should make sure lighting is adequate and the lights used are rated for outdoor use.
Ensure visibility – When it’s raining, visibility decreases and it’s easy for motorists and machine operators to have trouble seeing properly. Workers should wear high-visibility clothing, especially in areas with vehicle traffic and heavy machinery. Don’t wear rain gear or vests that have become dull or are no longer reflective.

Cold stress

When it rains, it’s often cold, too – and wet clothing can exacerbate the cold.

Employees working outdoors for prolonged periods of time when it’s cold must be protected from cold stress. Cold stress can cause frostbite, hypothermia and trench foot.

OSHA advises that cold stress is not limited to freezing temperatures, but can occur in outdoor temperatures in the 50-degree Fahrenheit range when rain and wind are present.

OSHA requires addressing this hazard by using protective clothing, in particular the use of layers with an outer material that protects against wind and rain. Although OSHA generally requires employers to pay for their workers’ protective equipment, employers are not required to pay for ordinary clothing such as raincoats.

Heavy-work dangers

Rain makes operating cranes, derricks and hoists more dangerous as well, particularly when moving large and heavy objects. Heavy rain combined with wind speed can make loads difficult to control.

Also, if a rainstorm is accompanied by lightning, equipment such as a crane can become a lightning rod.

If you feel you cannot adequately protect your workers during a storm, you should not conduct operations in the rain.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

About BGES:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]
BGES Group’s officeis a full service agency offering funding, property, liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, inland marine, worker’s compensation, New York State Disability and health insurance coverages too.
BGES Group are worker’s compensation specialists (NY, NJ, CT) insuring contractors, limousine services, auto services, local truckers, manufacturers and staffing agencies (Note: we can insure any business). Workers Compensation issues we address: 1) Lowering rates – our specialty programs have been able to save businesses up to 40%; 2) Being non renewed? 3) Audit disputes; 4) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 5) Misclassification of payrolls; 6) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits; 7) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 8) Covering multiple states under one policy; 9) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 10) Timely issuance of certificates; 11) 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 to.

ALERT NEW JERSEY & CONNECTICUT CONTRACTORS: We have an extremely competitively priced General /Excess Liability program. You want to lower these costs, get a quote today! Call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here.
To Speak With Us Call 914-806-5853, click here to email or click here to visit our website .
http://www.bgesgroup.com or http://www.workerscomp.store
Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538
e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

Helping Your Workers Care for Ageing Parents

Posted on June 11, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

As the costs of nursing homes and assisted living services soar, the financial burden of paying for those services often falls on the elderly individual’s adult children.

Many families cannot afford these services, so they are opting for their ageing parent to live with them. Unfortunately, as those parents get older and need more care, it can take a toll on their adult children and has forced many of them to quit their jobs and take care of their parents full time.

A recent survey by Unum Insurance Company found that 39% of caregivers end up quitting their jobs to take care of their sick or ageing family members. They are forced to quit because their employers did not accommodate their disrupted work schedule.

Unum’s survey found that:

18 % of working adults are primary caregivers for sick and elderly loved ones.
25% of caregivers are millennials.
The average age of caregivers is 40.

With the job market tightening, it is wise to consider offering voluntary caregiving benefits to your staff. Studies have shown that people who juggle work and caregiving responsibilities have a higher likelihood of developing chronic health conditions.

That translates into higher health care insurance spending for their employer. Increased stress also lowers employee productivity by almost 20%, and can cost companies thousands of dollars.

For some, caregiving is akin to a second job. The 2017 “Family Caregiver Journey Report,” published by Caring.com, surveyed 2,767 family caregivers of older adults and found:

38% of respondents spend more than 30 hours per week on caregiving.
68% said their caregiving duties have had a negative impact on their job.
55% had missed one or more weeks of work.
31% often arrived late or had to leave early.
44% spend $5,000 or more per year on caregiving expenses.

What you can do

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act entitles workers to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for qualified family and medical reasons, including caregiving. But many people are reluctant to take advantage of those rights because the leave is unpaid.

It pays for employers to be more flexible. The Unum survey found that absent employees cost the U.S. economy around $25.2 billion a year. You can reduce any fallout on your business by working with your employees.

Now, an increasing number of companies offer paid and/or unpaid leave for caregiving beyond what’s required by the FMLA. They may include benefits such as:

Flexible work arrangements,
Information resources and referrals, and
Emergency backup care.

The most common complaint by caregivers is that they just want their employer to be flexible. They don’t always need a full day off to take care of someone. Sometimes, they need a few hours to get away to assist them or drive them to a doctor’s appointment.

Flexible work arrangements could also include allowing them to do work from home in some capacity part of the week. Another option is flexible time. So if they have to leave for three hours during the day, they can come in early and/or stay late to make up for the lost time.

The key is working with your employees to find a way to accommodate their needs while still keeping them in their job and allowing them to be productive. If you decide to offer some assistance, you should meet with employees who are currently caring for elderly parents to find a solution that works for both of you.

You may also want to consider allowing staff to use sick time to care for family members.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

Why Your Business May Need Pollution Insurance

Posted on June 9, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

Many businesses that produce some type of pollutant throughout the course of daily business operations don’t know they are doing so.

Others know they are producing pollutants and have processes and safeguards in place to reduce their release into the environment. A business can be held liable for some very costly damages when these byproducts pollute another property or harm another individual.

Pollution liability clauses were once part of general liability policies, but the extensive asbestos problems in the 1970s spurred most insurers to remove pollution protection from their general liability policies.

Today, pollution liability coverage is obtained through a separate pollution insurance policy. Pollution insurance policies are written for businesses of all sizes, shapes, and forms – from pig farms and printers to apartment complexes, salons, and dry-cleaning businesses.

Why pollution insurance?

Many businesses run the risk of creating pollution during normal daily operations.

There’s also a risk from any existing pollution already on a business’s site of operation. In either case, a business could be held liable if its pollution ends up on a third party’s property, causes damage to the property or harms an individual.

Without insurance, the business would be on the hook for paying for those damages out of pocket.

What do policies cover?

The basic premise of a pollution policy is that an insured party gets a claim related to damages caused by pollution it caused.

This insurance will protect your financial interests in the event a clean-up becomes necessary. Buying pollution liability insurance will cover your interests against lawsuits where a third party could be injured by a toxic substance produced as a result of your work.

Like most types of insurance, the specifics of a pollution policy can vary somewhat from insurer to insurer.

Depending on the insurer, a pollution policy will typically cover

Damage to properties and individuals
The cost of cleaning up pollution on a third party’s property
Pollution incidents that occurred after the policy was
Investigative, legal, and court costs should the claim enter the legal system.

Who needs coverage?

Businesses that have risks related to the handling of pollutants and hazardous materials, design professionals who work with projects where there are environmental issues as well as those who own and occupy premises that have environmental issues need pollution liability insurance.

This includes:

Property owners and tenants whose buildings and land have a history of having pollutants on the property or premises. This would include a building on land that had an underground storage tank that leaked fuel oil before it was removed, contaminating the soil.
Contractors such as roofers who handle pollutants like tar as a part of their operations need contractors pollution liability insurance to cover damage resulting from a pollution incident.
Architects and engineers who are involved in projects that have issues related to pollutants need to add pollution liability to their errors and omissions insurance policy to manage the risk of making a mistake regarding the presence or absence of pollution issues as they plan and execute a project.

The takeaway

Don’t overlook pollution insurance as an important element of risk management. Should any questions or concerns about pollution insurance and insurance requirements arise, call us.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

If You are a NY, NJ, CT Contractor Who Is Unhappy With Their General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Workers Compensation or Bond Rates, Coverage, Exclusions –>

Posted on June 6, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

1. Let us market your account to our network of fifty (50) insurance companies and find you lower rates, better coverage, less restrictions. Insuring contractors is our #1 expertise. We insure hundreds of contractors and DAILY have a pulse on which insurance companies insure your type of work, pricing, coverage and change in carrier appetite.

2. Commercial General Liability – We represent the TOP ten (10) New York programs. Insured with a surplus lines carrier? We represent one of the lowest priced, best coverage surplus lines carriers in NY. Only a handful of agents can offer this program. We are one of them. If you fit we will get you in. We also have companies that offer special discounted packages combining general liability, umbrella liability, business auto and worker’s compensation coverages. Because of policy exclusions, restrictions and contracts you sign it is critical you work with a construction insurance expert. We are one of New York’s leading experts.

3. Subcontractor Insurance Screening – Are you using subcontractors? Do you require them to sign hold harmless and insurance agreements? Are you checking their insurance to make sure they carry required coverages? Are you a sub signing hold harmless and insurance agreements? Do you know if you are contractually liable to cover certain claims and that your insurance policies cover such claims? We have a program that will help you screen subcontractors insurance. We also can help screen contracts you enter into to make sure you are in compliance.

4. Has your Umbrella Liability policy pricing increased dramatically over the last few years? Do you know the exclusions in your policy? Have a “Labor Law – Action Over” exclusion? Employee injury exclusion? Contractual liability coverage? Height limitation? Type of work restriction? Subcontractor restriction or NO coverage if your subs fail to carry the proper coverages? Is your policy subject to audit? For New York contractors we offer the TOP umbrella liability policies.

5. Business Auto Policy – Unhappy with your rates? We have up to ten (10) companies to market your account to.

6. Worker’s Compensation – Unhappy with your pricing? In a state or assigned risk plan and wondering what other options you have? In the middle of an audit dispute? Do you operate in multiple states (if insured through a state plan you may not have the right coverage)? Payrolls assigned to proper class codes? Receiving all the credits you are entitled too? Being charged a 10% service fee? We offer a policy that has a low deposit and no renewal deposits. Provides THE RIGHT COVERAGE if you operate out of state. (do you know NJ medical benefits are higher than New York’s?) Payrolls get classified correctly. Payroll caps get applied automatically. Simplified audits. No 10% service fees. Certificates issued within minutes. Immediate phone, text and email replies.

7. Property/Builders Risk – Need help in this area. We represent all the right carriers.

8. Bid & Performance Bonds – We have a department set up specializing in this area. Need better pricing? Increased bonding limits? Better service? Give us a call and see how we can help.

9. NYS Disability – Need a quicker turnaround getting certificates? Better claims paying? Have questions about paid family Leave Act? Try us.

10. Group Health – We have a benefits department that specializes in group health/drug/dental/life/other. Looking for better rates, coverage? How about dealing with someone who is an expert, can address your questions, who you can turn to when there’s a claim problem? Try us if you are unhappy with your current situation.

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 and Personal lines.

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.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

Light-duty Can Help Reduce Workers; Comp Claims Costs

Posted on June 6, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

By implementing a program that offers a good incentive to return, you can reduce the risk of paying more benefits than necessary.

Recent research shows that employers lose about 80 million work days annually due to workplace injuries or illnesses. The number of employees who remain away from work more than seven days because of injuries or illnesses stretches into the millions.

This means that employers are left to deal with the high cost of workers’ compensation premiums, lost productivity and disability benefits. But, by creating a special incentive program, you can greatly reduce these costs.

Light duties

When an injured worker is off work healing, a physician will regularly examine them. These exams will in part determine whether the worker is ready to return to their previous tasks.

In some cases, it may be possible to get the individual back to work sooner with light duties.

For example, consider a worker who is injured while lifting boxes in a warehouse. The attending physician will be examining the employee to determine whether he or she is ready to lift boxes again.

If the employee has a back injury, it could be several weeks before they can return to work.

But, if the employer offered the worker an easy temporary job in the office, they may be able to return much sooner. To make something like this happen, a light-duty program must be put in place. A solid program should have the following features:

Addresses environmental, physical, knowledge and emotional factors that may prevent employees from returning to work.
Makes the transition to full-time work easier.
Focuses on employees’ abilities instead of their disabilities.

Light-duty programs improve employee morale by increasing incentives for returning to work and staying safe. For the employer they maintain productivity by lowering the number of lost work days.

These programs help speed up employees’ recovery processes. Recent research shows that 50% of workers who stay out of work for more than six months will never return to their jobs. If they stay out for more than one year, the likelihood of returning to work is about 10%.

Getting employees back to work as quickly as possible is the best way to bring about feelings of being part of the team. It also lessens the financial impact on the employee and their family.

The elements of a solid plan

To make sure a program is as comprehensive as possible, include the following elements:

Performing meaningful tasks instead of simple busy work.
Coordination with the doctor about work restrictions.
Alternative work assignments that benefit the employer and employee.
Descriptions of duties the injured employee must perform.
Provisions for situations where employees may have to take additional medical leave time after returning to work.
Stated conditions and time parameters for temporary assignments.

Benefits of return-to-work programs

Making it easier to keep valuable employees, who are productive while recovering.
Making communication happen between employees, employers and doctors, instead of between employees and their doctors.
Making it difficult for employees to stay out of work longer than necessary.
Reducing the need to recruit, hire and train new workers.
Reducing the cost of workersí comp disability payments to injured workers.
Showing your concern for the injured employeeís health.
Reducing claims costs, which can help reduce your rates.

The takeaway

Workers’ compensation consumes a sizable portion of overall personnel costs. A solid return program can reduce those costs, including intangible ones, like the absence of an experienced worker. Also, it helps keep employees happy. To learn more about return-to-work programs, discuss the options with us.

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 and Personal lines.

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.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

Annual Insurance Review is Crucial to Your Growing Business

Posted on June 1, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

One of the biggest mistakes owners of growing businesses make is not keeping up their insurance coverage to account for the expanding assets and potential liabilities.

Let’s say you started your business 10 years ago with just a small space and computer desk. Today, you have an office full of employees and equipment. If you still have the same insurance coverage as you did a decade ago, or even three years ago, the chances are high that you are underinsured.

To make sure you have all of your assets covered, you should review your business insurance program annually. Circumstances change, and without a yearly review, you could be faced with substantial expenses if you suffer a loss.

It’s common for small businesses to start out with basic insurances, such as commercial property and general liability policies. However, as they grow, most owners need other types of insurance, such as:

Excess liability or umbrella – This covers claims exceeding your standard policy’s limits.
Workers’ compensation – After your business hires its first employee, this type of insurance will be required in most states to provide payments for an employee’s lost wages and medical expenses following a workplace injury.
Professional liability – This form of insurance covers your service-provided mistakes, and usually your attorney fees.
Auto, hired and non-owned – This protects your business should an employee cause a vehicle accident in their personal or rented auto.
Commercial auto – This provides coverage not under personal auto policies, such as to your business and for employees unloading and loading.
Employment practices liability – Coverage for HR issues, such as those related to termination, harassment and discrimination laws.
Directors and officers liability – Financial protection for directors and officers should they be sued for wrongful acts stemming from performance of their duties.
Employee benefits liability – This insurance covers liability issues from an omission or error in the administration of an employee’s benefits that results in the employee incurring a cost, such as a terminated worker losing benefits after not being provided with COBRA information.

Depending on your business, many of these coverages may be essential to adequately protect your firm. An annual insurance review is an ideal time to discuss your needs with us.

Ensure the following elements are considered as you begin the review:

Revenue – More business is good, but it also means a greater potential for liability. Have your annual sales changed?
Property – Have you added equipment, computers and such that would create a need to increase your commercial property policy’s limits?
Location – Your business owner’s or general liability policy could be affected if you’ve added, closed or moved locations.
Travel – A hired and non-owned auto policy may be needed if your employees are frequently driving rented vehicles.
Employees – Have you had an increase in your workforce, turnover rate, or use of contractors? Consider employment practices liability insurance for high turnover rates. The more employees you add, the more you’ll pay for your workers’ comp coverage.
Services – Are you offering additional services? For certain types of work, you may need additional endorsements to your general liability policy.
Customers – Are you serving new clients or industries? This may cause problems with your professional liability policy if you’re servicing high concentrations of high-risk clients/industries.

The takeaway

The answers for each of the above won’t remain the same over a business’s life, and that’s why insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all, unchangeable product.

Annually review your business for exposures and insurance needs. Insurance may not cover everything, but it can certainly mitigate your risks.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

What Is a Workers Compensation Rating and Why Does It Matter?

Posted on May 23, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

Most business owners and executives understand the value of workers compensation insurance not just to protect the worker, but to protect the company as well. Fewer, however, are aware of the mechanics of how premiums are arrived at, and how their own company’s safety track record figures into their rating. Understanding the process, however, may well enable you to qualify for lower premiums down the road, saving your business money and making you more competitive.

Industry underwriters set workers compensation premiums using a process similar to how most companies price group health insurance: They look at the actual claims experience for similar workers in your area, and if there is a history of claims, at your company specifically. Where there is insufficient local claims experience to look at, underwriters turn to the National Council on Compensation Insurance, a clearing house of workers injury and compensation data.

Generally, underwriters will take your payroll and multiply it by an average claim factor for that type of worker. This produces a baseline average of the total number of expected claims, which they subdivide as claims per $100,000 of payroll, claims per year, or claims per time unit. The frequency of claims is considered to be a close proxy for the safety culture of the individual business. They then account for the average severity of claims for that type of worker in your industry and combine the two to arrive at a baseline prediction for expected losses.

Underwriters must then try to assess your business and answer the following question: Given the policies and procedures in place at your business and your claims history, is your company likely to produce losses that are higher than the industry baseline or lower?

Over time, underwriters have discovered that the most likely future claims predictor is a past history of claims at your company. Therefore, to save money on workers compensation premiums, it behooves the company to invest aggressively in preserving the safety of the work environment, both in terms of resources and management focus.

Your workers compensation agent and underwriting team will assign your company an insurance rating, with 1 deemed equal to the average claims experience in your industry for the area.

Any rating higher than 1 indicates a worse-than-average risk for workers compensation claims. If your rating comes out higher than 1, you may be able to qualify for lower rates in future years by reviewing your safety program and the types of losses your company has incurred. Identify any patterns and refcurring themes. You may benefit from bringing in a risk management consultant for an outside set of eyeballs. Some investment in equipment or improved training may be needed, or you may need to be more vigilant for workers compensation fraud in a few cases.

Best Practices

In the long run, your safety record is a reflection of your overall safety culture. That’s not something limited to the rank and file worker and shop foremen, though. The most important link in the safety culture chain is at the top.

Invest in training your workers in all aspects of safety relevant for their jobs.
Appoint a senior manager with clout to monitor your safety and OSHA compliance, and empower him or her to enforce it throughout the company.
Empower any worker to halt work activities if he or she becomes aware of an unsafe work condition, until that condition can be corrected.

Everyone is part of your workplace safety culture – but senior management is the most important link in the chain, because management sets the tone throughout the organization.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFmjYirlkw[/embedyt]

Performing a Thorough Background Check

Posted on May 22, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

Employment background checks are not just for executive-level management. A thorough background check should be performed to avoid making any assumptions about an employee’s history.

To help you get started, here are some essentials of a complete background check:

Current address – Confirm a current address through a telephone directory, confirmation with landlord, rental or mortgage company, or county tax office.

Former addresses – Confirm prior addresses through former employers, credit agencies, or by contacting landlords of former residences.

Other detailed information you might choose to verify is the amount of rent or mortgage paid, whether it was paid on time, details of complaints made against the applicant, whether their former residence was left in good order when vacated, whether they left on their own accord, and any eviction details, if applicable.

Current and former employers – Employers are reticent about providing too much information on current or former employees, since negative references occasionally result in lawsuits.

Most employers will verify an employee’s job title, length of employment, starting and final salary, and reason for leaving. You might obtain resume’ data on old application forms to compare with the resume’ of the person you are considering for the position.

A more detailed background check might include trying to establish contact with the applicant’s immediate supervisor or manager. Again, there are legal limits on taking this route and there is a fine line between gathering information and invasion of privacy.

Obtain the applicant’s permission in writing if necessary. Protect your liability exposure by discussing the legality of the background check with your company’s lawyer beforehand.

Education – Transcripts from most secondary institutions can usually only be obtained either by the applicant themselves or through a signed release that includes enrollment dates, department and subject of study or major, student identification number or Social Security number, and date of birth.

A photocopy of the degree or certificate should be obtained for verification, if possible. Contact the applicable registrar’s office and they will be able to specify what is required to release information.

Additionally, verify that the college is legitimate. Fake diploma mills offer degrees from fictitious institutions possessing names very similar to known established educational institutes, so do not automatically assume you recognize the name.

Credit check – This is not legal in all states, so check your local laws or with an attorney before acting. Usually there are exceptions to the rule for certain fiduciary positions, even in those states.

A credit check is usually required in those situations where the position involves security, fiduciary responsibility, or bonding. Verify that all information provided in the credit check conforms to the information provided on the application.

Poor credit references should be cross-referenced and authenticated.

References – All personal references listed by the applicant should be contacted. If it is a basic employment check, the integrity of the applicant’s personal character can be established by phone.

Detailed checks may necessitate personal contact to meet with the references face to face, as the references given might provide information prejudicial in favor of the applicant.

Miscellaneous – Additional items which may be of relevance include drug tests, criminal records check in all states listed on the application form, driver’s abstracts and records check on civil suits.

The takeaway

Be methodical and take the time to perform a thorough background check that satisfies the need of your business.

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, Funding for the Construction Industry, Worker’s Compensation, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance and Personal lines.

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.

http://www.bgesgroup.com or http://www.workerscomp.store

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

If You are a NY, NJ, CT Contractor Who Is Unhappy with Their Worker’s Comp Company, Pricing, Service, We Have a Construction Worker’s Compensation Program Just for You!

Posted on May 13, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

(Please Note this program is designed for contractors and is not a State or Assigned Risk plan.)

Rate Comparison – We Chose One Company Whose Rates are Up To 40% Higher Than Ours. There’s a Good Chance You’re With That Company or a Company Who Also Has High rates Compared To Our Companies.

Workers Compensation Program:

Savings up to 40%.
Our program was created to provide worker’s compensation coverage to contractors country wide.
Our program offers long-term coverage stability.
We have one of the best claims services in the industry. If a claim is questionable we know how to fight it and we will. We want to keep your experience mod low and rates too.
We cover you with THE RIGHT coverage while operating outside of your home state. For example, if you are a NY contractor and take a job in NJ that will last 1 ½ months, the NY state plan will not cover a claim arising from that job. Did you know New Jersey’s medical benefits are substantially higher than New York’s? Not having the right coverage can knock you out of business.
To bind we require a low up front deposit. On renewals, NO deposit is required.
Proper payroll assignments. Payrolls will be assigned to the right class codes. You are given control over this.
Proper payroll caps – Our program caps payrolls as required by your state’s worker’s compensation rules.
Simplified audits – Our auditors just want to make sure you classified workers correctly. They also want to make sure your subs have coverage. They can be in and out in 15 minutes.
You can issue your own certificates on-line. C105.2’s for DOB and DOT done by our organization in less than 10 minutes.
FIRST CLASS service. You will work with one person who has 37 years experience and when you call or email responds immediately. This person is very responsible, picks up the phone when you call even on weekends and is a pleasure to deal with. He is knowledgeable, street smart and gets the job done.
We DO NOT charge $500 to $5,000 policy or 10% service fees. We provide V.I.P. service to every client we work that’s in program.

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.

http://www.bgesgroup.com or http://www.workerscomp.store

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

NY, NJ, CT Contractors – Unhappy With Your General & Umbrella Liability, Auto, Workers Comp, Bond Rates or Coverage? We are one of Tri-States Top Construction Specialists and Have 50 Companies to Market Your Account To. More Options Equal Lower Rates, Better Coverage!

Posted on May 12, 2019September 1, 2019 by BGESGroup

Have The Following Problems With Your Insurance:

Unhappy with your General Liability pricing?
Does your General Liability Policy prevent you from getting work?
Do you understand the exclusions in your General Liability Policy? Some are:
1. A. Labor Law
2. Contractual liability
3. Employee injury
4. Height limitation
5. Exterior work limitation or exclusion
6. Residential exclusion for condo’s, co-ops
7. Restriction as to type of work you can do
8. Subcontractor coverage and limit requirements.
9. Exclusion – Designated Ongoing Operations
10. Exclusion – Newly Constructed Residential Housing

4. Do you use subcontractors? If so, are there subcontractor coverage requirements in your general and umbrella liability policies? WARNING! Failure to comply with requirements can leave you without coverage.

5. Has your Umbrella Liability pricing gone thru the roof? Does your policy have exclusions that make it very difficult to live with?

6. Worker’s Compensation

a. Rates high? There are a few companies whose rates are 20-40% higher than our companies. Call Gary at 914-806-5853 to find out if you are with one of them (we are not comfortable listing there names but are glad to tell you over the phone).

b. Work out of state 3 days to weeks at a time? Warning! You may not have coverage for workers injured out of state (especially if you are thru a state or assigned risk policy).

c. In the middle of an audit dispute? Carrier charging you for uninsured subcontractors that have coverage? Carrier creating fictitious payroll because of sales? Being told pay bill or be cancelled? Have a high experience modification factor?

d. Being punitively surcharged due to past loss experience?

e. Without coverage?

7. Unhappy with your Business Auto premium? Certain carrier rates are thru the roof. Other companies are more reasonable. We can help you find better rates.

8. Unhappy with your Bid & Performance rates? Need higher bonding limits? We have a bonding department that can help you get better pricing and limits.

9. Can you get your broker on the phone when needed? Does he/she specialize in construction insurance? Does it feel like you are dealing with inexperienced people? Do you get a different person on the phone when you call? Do you get placed on hold for minutes? Do you get charged all sorts of ridiculous fees? Do you get certificates timely? Your broker may be the nicest person in the world but if they lack the proper knowledge you can get stuck with an uncovered claim that can knock you out of business. After talking to your broker you ever have these type of concerns?

About our Agency:

1. Construction is our #1 specialty. With the exclusions companies place in policies it is critical you work with a specialist. Most agencies are NOT, we are.

2. We have 50+ insurance companies. These companies are the TOP and BEST general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bond, worker’s compensation and group health companies for the construction industry. Some programs are exclusive to our agency.

3. We insure over 750 tri-state contractors. We have extensive expertise in designing policies.

4. We do over $160 million in premium – this translates into buying power for YOU.

5. Subcontractor Screening – Most general and umbrella liability policies have subcontractor conditions which if not met exclude coverage. Do you know what is in your policies? We have a dedicated department that offers subcontractor screening and you can get us on the phone when needed.

Services We Offer:

Annual Risk Survey
Claims Management Services
Contract Reviews
Coordinated Loss Control Survey and Inspection
Disaster Recovery
Employee Background Screening
OSHA Compliance
Risk Transfer Services
Safety Manuals
Stewardship Reports
Subshield – online proprietary Certificate of Insurance management
Workers’ Comp Experience Modification Review
Workers’ Compensation Premium Recovery

OFFER: Let us review your policies. All you will have to do is email us copies. Within a few days you’ll have our recommendations. Then you’ll know where you stand. It’s like getting a FREE second opinion. You can also just call and talk with us. Call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853. You will immediately get him on the phone without waiting. WE PROMISE NOT TO SELL OR PRESSURE YOU IN ANYWAY.

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.

http://www.bgesgroup.com or http://www.workerscomp.store

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

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com