Our Blog

  • Employers Expect Higher Premiums, Little to No Cost-Shifting

    Employers who were surveyed for a new report expected that group health insurance premiums would increase 5.4% this year and at a faster clip in 2024 as inflation hits medical costs. Employers said they are looking to manage growing group benefit costs without shifting costs to employees, as they realize that their staff are likely […]

    July 27, 2023

  • New Mandatory Workplace Poster Released, Update Yours Now

    If you have not yet done so, it’s time to update your employee handbooks and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster to account for changes to workplace anti-discrimination laws. The Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act, signed into law last year, came into effect June 27 and the EEOC has […]

    July 27, 2023

  • Many Injured Workers Feel Unsupported, Frustrated by Claims Process

    A recent study has found that injured workers are often left feeling frustrated and fending for themselves after they file a workers’ compensation claim. The survey of injured workers by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada found that workers reacted in a number of ways when experiencing “procedural” unfairness, frustration in how […]

    July 27, 2023

  • Class Code Changes Coming after Rating Bureau Filing Approved

    If you have staff who work remotely, you’ll want to pay attention to changes that are coming to the workers’ compensation class code you use for them. Starting Sept. 1, California’s telecommuter class code will finally get its own pure premium rates, that is lower than what’s currently being charged. Since many people starting working […]

    July 26, 2023

  • New Anti-Obesity Drugs Put Employers in a Quandary

    A surge in demand for pricey, new and highly effective anti-obesity medications could put a financial strain on employers who sponsor their employees’ health plans. Employers have long offered coverage for certain weight loss tools, such as bariatric surgery if employees qualify for the drastic procedure that requires an operation. Other medications that have been […]

    July 26, 2023

  • Commercial Auto Insurance Rates Spiking

    Skyrocketing claims costs and higher accident rates are pressuring the commercial auto insurance market, as insurers impose increasingly larger rate hikes and more are pulling out of the market or restricting who they will cover. While rate increases have been the standard for nearly a decade, since 2022 hikes are growing larger — often in […]

    July 26, 2023

  • Cal/OSHA Proposes Ground-Breaking Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Standard

    Cal/OSHA has proposed its long-awaited indoor heat illness prevention standard as increasingly hot summers are affecting workers in indoor spaces like warehouses, production operations, restaurants and more. The proposed standard, largely based on the state agency’s outdoor regulations, will require employers whose workplaces at times are at least 82 degrees to have a written Indoor […]

    July 26, 2023

  • Man sitting on beach watching four security camera views on his laptop.

    Home Protection While On Vacation: 7 Tips That Make a Difference

    Before leaving on vacation, ensure your house is safe. These 7 tips can help protect your home from intruders and more. Vacation should be a time of relaxation, enjoyment, and happiness, but that all gets harder if you’re worried about what’s happening at home. Many things can go wrong on your property on any given […]

    July 12, 2023

  • Female vet professional and female pet owner looking at cat on exam table.

    What Is (and Isn’t) Covered by Pet Insurance?

    Is pet insurance worth the cost? Some pet owners benefit, while others do not. Here’s what to know about the value of pet insurance. Pet owners spend a lot of money on their pets. In fact, a typical dog owner spends about $1,500 for their dog each year, and a typical cat owner spends around […]

    June 14, 2023

  • 8 Tips to Plan a Beautiful Summer Wedding

    Summer weddings are popular! If you’re one of the many people planning a wedding at this busy time of year, these tips can help. June and August are two of the most popular wedding months. Warm weather and flowers make weddings more fun and more beautiful. Summer can be challenging, while reserving the venue and […]

    May 10, 2023