We manage more than a quarter billion dollars of premiums for a diverse range of clients around the globe.
Nearly every industry and data type is at risk for data breach. The 2013 Trustwave Global Security Report is out with some disquieting findings. Some of the top data-related tactical threats facing companies in 2012 were:
Think about how many times in the past year you have entered private information onto a website’s “secure” system; your name, credit card information, date of birth, social security number, billing address, mailing address, and/or security questions and answers and that’s how many times you were exposed to identity theft. Each bit of information you provide online can be used by hackers to steal your identity. A cyber security breach is one of the most dangerous and harmful risks for any company regardless of the size or industry. As highlighted throughout our Cyber Risk blog series, it is nearly impossible to be 100% protected from cyber criminals. While having the
Real estate is one of the most important assets one can have regardless of owning personally or as a business entity. As they say, it’s all about location, location, location – so you better know exactly what risks you are going to be exposed to when looking to purchase new property or simply evaluating your current location(s). In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy the scrutiny of flood insurance policies is at an all-time high, particularly, in the northeast. When assessing the value of any new or current property and the insurance requirements and costs that come with it, understanding where it is in relation to local flood zones is critical.
The New York City Council recently overrode a veto by Mayor Bloomberg to pass the Earned Sick Time Act. This new legislation will require most private employers in New York City to provide paid or unpaid sick leave to employees working in the city. Beginning in April 2014, businesses with at least twenty employees will be required to provide a minimum of forty hours (five days) of paid sick leave. Coverage will expand to businesses with 15 or more employees starting in October 2015. Some businesses will be exempt from providing paid sick time; they will, however, still be required to provide leave without pay to employees.
A recent Wall Street Journal article about a high profile factory accident, this time in Cambodia, brings new emphasis to the fallout that can arise from supply chain risk. Asics Corporation, the Japanese sport shoe manufacturer, sourced some of its shoes from a factory in Phnom Penh. In April 2013, a mezzanine floor collapse killed a young father and a young woman who, reportedly, was only 15. The incident also injured a number of other workers. Fallout from the incident was almost immediate. Asics instructed its nine suppliers in Cambodia to join Better Factories Cambodia, which keeps tabs on working conditions in the Cambodian garment industry.
Nothing upsets a business owner or manager more than paying for and managing the fallout from a suspect workers’ compensation injury. Here are a few but, certainly not all, ways employers can help prevent a fraudulent claim and avoid allowing employees to extend their time away from work once injured.
In employers’ 2014 plan year, all companies must ensure their non-grandfathered plans adhere to a single out of pocket (OOP) maximum for their employee’s health care plan expenses. This requirement applies to both fully insured and self-insured plans. Going forward, the OOP limit must include all spending on medical, prescription drugs and both mental health and substance abuse treatment benefits. Actuarial estimates indicate this change could increase employer health care costs between 1.5% and 2% next year.
Despite being ripe with positive, useful and educational information, the internet is chock-full of potent dangers, and your children can get into quite a few uncomfortable and, sometimes, dangerous situations whether it is intentional or not. As highlighted in our past blogs on this topic, if you have a standard Homeowners policy, you will likely have little protection from the legal liabilities that can result from inappropriate actions via the internet.
Many of today’s employers offer robust wellness programs, which, typically, offer employees incentives for certain types of behaviors in an effort to improve health and, ultimately, reduce employer medical costs. These rewards can include premium discounts, membership in gyms and cash.
When evaluating your company’s risks, one concept that is frequently overlooked is the idea of how human error could impact your organization. Until recently, there has been very little written on this subject. However, in the recent issue of the RIMS Risk Management Magazine, an article by Tony Kern and David McKay touched on this point and successfully demonstrated how human error is one risk that companies must continually monitor.
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At The ALS Group, we help clients achieve their strategic goals via expert and insightful identification, quantification, and mitigation of the risks that could impact their business, or present opportunities for it.
More Information: [email protected]
Florida
1800 NW Corporate Blvd Ste 202
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Tel: +1-561-437-0024
At The ALS Group, we help clients achieve their strategic goals via expert and insightful identification, quantification, and mitigation of the risks that could impact their business, or present opportunities for it.
More Information : [email protected]
New Jersey
175 Main St
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Tel: +1-732-395-4250
Florida
1800 NW Corporate Blvd Ste 202
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Tel: +1-561-437-0024
