Industry Updates

THE MORE employees are working from home, the greater the risk that their employers’ sensitive data is also being stored on their poorly secured devices and laptops. A new study by Symantec Corp. found many workers are sharing, moving, and exposing sensitive company data as part of carrying out the requirements of their jobs, and …

Continue reading “July 2022 – Privacy Liability – Companies Bleed Data as Workers Move It Offsite”

THE U.S. Supreme Court has put a significant dent in California’s Private Attorneys General Act, which in recent years has resulted in a surge in legal actions against California employers by their workers. The law has been a huge thorn in the side of employers, who have been on the receiving end of litigation by …

Continue reading “July 2022 – Supreme Court Action – PAGA Ruling a Big Win for Employers”

CONSTRUCTION FIRMS are reeling from snowballing costs of building materials due to spiking demand and supply chain snarls, which are resulting in massive budget cost overruns. This is especially affecting construction businesses that are managing apartment or commercial projects. These cost overruns are imperiling profits – and risking red ink – on the projects after …

Continue reading “July 2022 – Construction – Spiking Materials Costs Imperil Building Projects”

THE WORKERS’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California is recommending that advisory benchmark workers’ compensation rates increase an average of 7.6% starting Sept. 1. The proposal comes as the economy heats up and workplace injuries increase, all while COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims continue growing in number. The recommendation stilll needs to be approved by Insurance …

Continue reading “July 2022 – Rating Bureau Recommends 7.6% Rate Increase”

THE WAY courts have interpreted a California law – the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which has been on the books for 18 years – has led to an explosion of lawsuits against employers during the last few years. The law has generated more than 20,000 lawsuits since 2017 at an average cost of $1.1 …

Continue reading “April 2022 – State Law Has Employers on the Defensive”

THE DEADLINE is fast approaching for employers with five or more workers in California, and who do not already off er their employees a retirement plan, to register their staff for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. Only California employers that do not off er retirement plans are required to register for CalSavers and there are …

Continue reading “April 2022 – Retirement Savings Law – CalSavers Registration for Small Employers”

ONE OF the biggest challenges construction businesses face is preventing subcontractors’ and suppliers’ poor or non-existent safety practices from denting their own safety program. While you may consider a number of factors when vetting a new subcontractor or vendor, one area that is often overlooked is their workplace safety practices. This mistake can cost you …

Continue reading “April 2022 – Risk Management – Don’t Let a Subcontractor Derail Your Safety Efforts”

WHILE RANSOMWARE is making the headlines as the major cyber threat, small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly being targeted by lower fraud that dupes them into wiring criminals funds, according to a new report. These funds transfer fraud crimes involve hackers gaining access to a firm’s mailbox and extracting payments that go into their accounts. …

Continue reading “April 2022 – Growing Threat – Funds Transfer Fraud Hits Small Firms the Hardest”

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY insurance rates are continuing to climb, as the segment faces a number of headwinds that have pushed claims costs to new heights. A number of factors are affecting rates, including the frequency and severity of extreme weather claims. the cost of rebuilding, rates for commercial properties not keeping pace with claims costs, and …

Continue reading “Jan 2022 – COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – Factors that are pushing the insurance rates higher”

THE FEDERAL government is warning that a newly discovered computer software vulnerability poses a major threat to the security of computer networks around the country. Cyber criminals are exploiting holes in open-source code software commonly used in computer applications, websites and cloud services, which can allow them to seize control of a business’s computer network …

Continue reading “Jan 2022 – CYBER THREAT – Software Security Hole Puts Firms at Risk”