Lessons Learned – Week of January 2, 2011
The Luckiest People On Earth!
–JK
My First Video Blog Post!
Ladies and gentleman, I bring you my first video blog. Be easy on me though, this is my first time. I’m pretty sure this 90 second clip took 90 minutes to put up. However, I learned a lot in the process and am excited to add video to my blog. Thanks for watching!
–JK
2010 Blog In Review
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is on fire!.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,900 times in 2010. That’s about 5 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 72 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 205 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 55mb. That’s about 4 pictures per week.
The busiest day of the year was July 1st with 177 views. The most popular post that day was About Me.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, twitter.com, linkedin.com, mail.yahoo.com, and WordPress Dashboard.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for merry christmas quotes, office holiday party, jim kinmartin, cell phone usage policy, and small business building.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
About Me June 2010
Featured Client Partner: ‘Mac–n-Mo’s Magical Morsels’ December 2010
1 comment
Why Your Business Should Consider A Cell Phone Usage Policy August 2010
Merry Christmas! (21 Christmas Quotes For Everyone) December 2010
Christmas Tree Safety Tips November 2010
Commercial Auto Fleets – Vehicle Safety Tips
Does your business own a fleet of automobiles? Fleets are generally defined as a group of motor vehicles owned or leased by a business, rather than by an individual or family. Many businesses purchase or lease fleet vehicles to deliver goods to customers, or for sales representatives to travel to see clients, etc.
Overseeing multiple vehicles requires hefty organizational skills and responsibility. Not only do you need to keep tabs on the vehicles themselves, but you need to take into account the employees driving them. When managing your businesses fleet of automobiles, consider three main points:
- Safety
- Maintenance
- Your insurance program
How can you improve fleet safety?
- All fleet insurance programs should start with driver selection and having suitable standards for the drivers hired. As a business, make sure that all the drivers you hire meet your standards. Review your driver list to make sure that you are keeping the very best drivers. Insurance carriers make it a priority to look at the driving records of the people you put on the road.
- Once you hire a new driver, provide adequate training programs, both on and off the road. Make sure your drivers are familiar with their routes and with the customers’ operations so they know where they’re going and what they are supposed to do.
- Once your drivers are on the road, be sure to measure what’s going on. Be aware of when your drivers have violations, accidents or incidents. Technology these days can help you do that. Systems such as on-board recorders can give you details like hard braking, speeding, etc. Some vehicle systems have parameters that will alert you if the driver has gone off-route. These systems alert the dispatcher that your driver has left the route, then you can contact the driver to see what’s going on.
What can be done to improve maintenance?
- Be sure that your vehicles are well-maintained and that you are keeping adequate records to document that maintenance. Train drivers to do inspections. Consider having a checklist that they need to complete before and after every trip to prove that they have done those inspections.
- At the very least, perform the regularly scheduled preventive maintenance, whether you’re using your own mechanics or outside mechanics, and document it all. That way, you can prove what you have and haven’t done if there ever was an issue with that vehicle or an accident. Some businesses resort to technology that will alert them when the vehicle is due for maintenance, and the dispatcher will be notified not to dispatch that vehicle until that maintenance has been completed.
How do you determine what type of insurance coverage you need?
- Concerning your insurance program, be sure your insurance broker has a complete understanding of all details of your fleet and that it is clearly relayed to your insurance carrier because it will affect your premium. Premium is rated according to whatever you’re transporting, your radius of operations, whether you are operating in an urban or rural area, whether you are a short-haul or long-haul.
- Once a loss occurs, stay very involved because in the end, those losses will determine what your insurance premiums are going to be.
It is very important to have an insurance partner who can represent your best interests. Monitoring the claims process is as important as preventing the claim in the first place.
–JK
Record Number of Employee Discrimination Claims Filed In 2010
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently reported that for fiscal year 2010, it received nearly 100,000 new private sector charges of employment discrimination. This is the most ever in the agency’s 45-year history and a 7.2% increase over the number of charges filed in 2009*. For more information, click here.
What does it mean for employers?
Most experts agree that in a down economy, the opportunities for
Employment Practices Liability insurance claims increase – employers are more likely to have to make difficult employment termination decisions, and with fewer alternatives available to them, employees are more likely to pursue legal remedies.
Employers facing difficult budget decisions may be tempted to reduce or eliminate their Employment Practices Liability insurance coverage. However, as the surge in EEOC claim filings shows, the risk to employers may now be greater than ever.
How much does an Employment Practices Liability insurance Policy Cost?
The cost of coverage depends on your type of business, the number of employees you have, and various risk factors such as prior claims or loss history. You can get a quote with very minimal information, often right on the spot. You would be surprised on how minimal the cost is in comparison to the coverage provided.
We here at ISU- The Olson Duncan Agency are available to review Employment Practices Liability coverage options with you. Please contact us today with questions.
*Courtesy of Swett & Crawford Professional Services Group
–JK
Merry Christmas! (21 Christmas Quotes For Everyone)
21 Christmas quotes for everyone, from the funny to the more sentimental.
- “In the o
ld days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukka’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukka!’ or (to the atheists) ‘Look out for the wall!'” -Dave Barry - “Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered. What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” -Phyllis Diller
- “The one thing women don’t want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.” -Joan Rivers
- “Christmas is a race to see which gives out first – your money or your feet.”
- “Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we’ll be seeing six or seven.” -W.C. Fields
- “Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.” -Johnny Carson
- “I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.” -Bernard Manning
- “The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn’t for any religious reasons. They couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.” -Jay Leno
- “Let me see if I’ve got this Santa business straight. You say he wears a beard, has no discernible source of income and flies to cities all over the world under cover of darkness? You sure this guy isn’t laundering illegal drug money?” -Tom Armstrong
- “Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer… Who’d have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously?” -Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes
- “There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions.” -Bill McKibben
- “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” -Norman Vincent Peale
- “There has been only one Christmas – the rest are anniversaries.” -W.J. Cameron.
- “Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.” -Victor Borge
- “Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” -Larry Wilde
- “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” -Hamilton Wright Mabi
- “Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years… Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.” -George Matthew Adams
- “I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” -Harlan Miller
- “If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away.”
- “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
- “Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.” -Helen Steiner Rice
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”
–JK
Featured Client Partner: ‘Mac–n-Mo’s Magical Morsels’
As an insurance agent, I take great pleasure in working with so many different types of businesses, large and small. Each and every business has its own story and background which make them unique. This is why my job is so enjoyable….every day brings something new to the table. There are some really notable stories behind these great businesses which I am going to start sharing with you here on my site. These are client partners I value and think you should know about. Without further ado, meet Maura Knowles and her business, ‘Mac–n-Mo’s Magical Morsels’.
Maura Knowles, an established actor and creator of ”Mac–n-Mo’s Magical Morsels , usually begins her story with the line: ”Mac–n-Mo’s Magical Morsels were created out of love by Mo (that’s me), for Mac (that’s my Dad).” [See story from Jessica Lymberopoulos.]
In February, 2010, Mo’s dad suffered 2 massive heart attacks and underwent a quadruple bypass surgery. The operation was successful and he was discharged with very clear and strict dietary guidelines. To further complicate things, Mac is a diabetic.
Mac’s doctor put him on a new diet with strict guidelines and limitations. “Low salt, low-fat, low sugar, low cholesterol, no trans fat, more fiber. None of this, some of that. More of this, less of that.” Mac’s new diet proved to be a giant challenge, as he craved baked goods.
One Saturday morning, in March, Mac begged Mo to bake something sweet. Mo’s challenge was to find all natural ingredients, no preservatives, very little salt, no added sugar, higher fiber. She sought out doctor-approved ingredients and avoided all sugar, sodium, wheat (due to a wheat intolerance) and “fake stuff.” Maura returned to her parents’ kitchen with bags of seemingly incompatible food items. No one in the family could predict what the end result would be, but after a couple of days of concocting, Maura came up with “Magical Morsels.”
She, along with her mom and sister devoured them and most importantly, her dad relished each morsel, exclaiming, “these are magic!” Mo shared some with friends and soon she was taking order requests. One of those friends loved the morsels so much that he shared them with a friend who owned a food store in Los Angeles. After trying them, she approached Maura about selling them in her store.
Initially, Maura was skeptical of the idea. “I’m not in business. I’m an actor,” she said. But the store owner persisted, claiming that Maura’s Magical Morsels were delicious and that her son had devoured the entire bag. “I decided to go for it because there is nothing like it on the market. There’s no homemade treat for people with health conditions like my Dad that taste good,” Maura said. Each morsel is only 30 calories, 1g sugar, 0 sodium, 4 carbs & NO preservatives or artificial anything!
In September of this year, Maura took the plunge and Mac-n-Mo’s became a company. Now, four stores in the Los Angeles area are selling her gluten-free and vegan treats.
Maura’s mission for Mac-n-Mo’s is simple, yet deliberate. She’s hoping to change the way we eat snacks and treats, one morsel at a time.
You can visit Mo’s website at www.macnmos.com. Also, be sure to follow her on Twitter at @macnmomorsels.
Check out this video on Mo’s Magical Morsels:
Source: Fooducopia
–JK
Merry Christmas – Insurance Style
This infamous poem, “T’was the Night Before Christmas”, was emailed to our agency years ago (author unknown). It’s not the traditional Christmas poem however. This is the insurance version which other insurance nerds like me should appreciate. Insurance people out there, let me know what you think.
Enjoy!
T’was the night before Christmas (12:01 A.M. PST 12/25/10) and all through the house (single family, stucco frame, 2 story, 2400 sq. ft. territory 61, PC 2)
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (pride of ownership, excellent maintenance). The stockings (flame retardant) were hung by the chimney (contractor installed) with care in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. (in spite of dead-bolt locks and central station alarm, certificate on file).
The children (ages 4,8,14 &16) were all nestled snug in their beds (check on 16-year-old – possible undisclosed driver) while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. (check for substance abuse)
Mama in her kerchief (scheduled heirloom) and I in my cap had just settles down for a long winters nap. (check employment status)
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter (check condition of premises/housekeeping), I jumped out of bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, threw back the curtains and tore open the sash (intentional destructive act – no coverage)
What to my wondrous eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer. (note to check if sleigh rated business use and corporate owned or maybe mobile equipment) With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick (order medical on older driver, notify life underwriter for possible table rating)
More rapid than eagles (check mvr) his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted (possible aggressive driver) and called them by name: Now Dasher (turbo?) now Dancer (classic?) now Prancer (check lifestyle) now Vixen (definitely check lifestyle) on Comet (possible muscle deer) on Cupid (lifestyle again) on Donner (4X4) and Blitzen (drinking problem?)
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall (check for structural damage also look into height exposure and CGL PD deductible?), now dash away, dash away, dash away all. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas to. (check for possible retail delivery classification)
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. (check for shingle damage also classification of operations; roofing is a prohibited class) As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur (scheduled item?) from his head to his foot and his clothes were tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back (Check to be sure there is a safety manual and that there has been lifting training) and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. (order medical report) The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth (note-not eligible non-tobacco discount) and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. (check smoke alarms to be sure operational) He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf (overweight for height – additional table rating) and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread (home invasion, stranger enters past alarm and insured not worried? Possible moral risk) He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk (review work place ergonomic compliance) and laying his finger side of his nose and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. (Chimney sweeps is a prohibited class?)
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like a down of a thistle. (check GVW for proper classification – light/service/local seems unlikely) But I heard exclaim as he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night” (check hours of operation?, seasonal risk? and limits of liability?)
Snow Causes Metrodome Roof Collapse
Early on Sunday morning [12/12/10] in Minneapolis, MN, the Metrodome‘s (home of the Minnesota Vikings) roof collapsed following heavy snowfall over the weekend.
The roof is held up by hot air and a cable system which was unable to support the nearly 17 inches of snow Minneapolis received. The snowfall was the largest since a 1991 blizzard. It came a day before the Vikings were supposed to host the New York Giants. This is the second time the dome has collapsed. In April 1983, about a year after the Metrodome opened, heavy snow caused a similar cave-in.
Here is video footage of the collapse:
Is collapse a covered peril on a commercial property insurance policy?
Under the Special Property coverage form, collapse is specifically excluded from coverage. However, limited coverage is provided under the “Additional Coverages” section on the form, so you actually get some coverage back. (Carefully note that coverage for collapse may not be included in some named perils policies). Talk to your insurance agent about this…..you’re not expected to know what this all means, but you must understand! Otherwise, you may have gaps in coverage that you are unaware of.
For reference, the link below is the ADDITIONAL COVERAGES section on the special property coverage form which specifies what coverages apply for losses due to collapse.
Special Property Coverage Form: Section A.5.a “Collapse”
Every carrier and/or policy may have corresponding endorsements or exclusions, so be sure to contact your insurance agent if you have questions or concerns about your own coverage. Or, feel free to contact me anytime to discuss.
–JK
Booze At the Office Holiday Party?
How many times have you been to a company holiday party with an open bar where the booze is flowing and everyone’s getting loose? As the night progresses you begin to see that one co-worker of yours getting sloppy and progressively more sloshed? The words start to slur and the volume picks up as the inhibitions fall. Maybe it was you? Heck, maybe it was everyone there. Who knows what can happen from there!
An office holiday party can be a nice way to mark the season and to share a little warmth and appreciation with co-workers, but they can also be danger zones where inappropriate behavior could lead to highly unforeseen consequences. Employers want to share their appreciation for their employees and allow them to have a little fun, but serving alcohol at the office holiday party can be a huge source of potential disaster.
Some people interpret office parties as an invitation to let their guard down in ways that are a liability to the company. It is no big revelation that infusing a holiday party with alcohol can lead to lowered inhibitions and poor judgment. Even a well-meaning and otherwise mild-mannered employee might throw out an inappropriate joke or comment after a few drinks. And even if the party itself ends without incident, employers can still be liable for any harm caused by an intoxicated employee on his or her way home.
Alcohol consumption just might be the most sensitive issue an employer must consider when planning an office holiday party. Sure, employers can always opt to have a nonalcoholic gathering (party like it’s prohibition) which would significantly reduce the likelihood of booze-induced problems, but this might be a little extreme to some. Short of complete ban of alcohol, employers might want to consider some of the following options, and implement measures specific to the makeup of their workforce:
- Have an all-cash bar, and staff it with a professional bartender.
- Cut off the free flow of alcohol well before the party ends.
- Provide employees with a specific number of drink tickets redeemable at the bar.
- Restrict the type of alcohol available, either none or only beer and wine
- Provide plenty of food to balance the effect of a couple drinks.
- Provide for company-paid taxis to ensure a safe trip home for any employees who drink at the holiday party.
- Collect car keys from employees who drink.
- Offer door prizes to employees who volunteer as designated drivers.
- Station a high-level management employee at the exit to wish everyone goodnight, while monitoring for tipsy party-goers.
- Hold the party at a location that discourages driving, such as a hotel
- Invite deterrents. Sometimes the presence of a spouse or significant other can help employees keep their behavior and their drinking under control.
- Holiday party hosts should be on the lookout for any revelers who have overindulged and take whatever steps are appropriate, including ensuring that no further alcohol is consumed by such employees and arranging for transportation.
Maybe you have other ideas that are just as effective. Whatever it might be, even if you take every measure in the book to curb liability, there is no guarantee that nothing problematic will happen. I’m not saying to let your worries get the best of you to the point you can’t enjoy your own party, but don’t turn your head and look the other way if a dicey situation arises. Who knows what can happen when you throw booze into the equation. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
–JK
About Me
I grew up in Fullerton, CA and graduated from Servite High School in Anaheim. I have my Bachelors degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. I currently live in Tustin, CA.
Please contact me if you need help with any of the following lines of insurance for your business:
-Cyber / Data Breach
-Commercial Property
-Commercial General Liability
-Products Liability
-Workers Compensation
-Commercial Auto
-Umbrella/Excess Liability
-Errors & Omissions/ Professional Liability
-Employment Practices Liability
-Directors & Officers
-Life & Disability Insurance
Jimmy Kinmartin, CPCU 