Articles & Updates
Crop Insurance Can Save Your Vineyard If Disaster Strikes
The continuing impact of drought and wildfires continues cutting into crop yields for agricultural operators in the Golden State. Surface-water deliveries were reduced by nearly 43% in the Central Valley as a whole in both 2021 and 2022. Compared to 2019, statewide irrigated crops dropped by 563,000 acres in 2021 (7.4% of the total acreage)…
Read MoreContractors with No Employees Face New Workers’ Compensation Requirement
A new law will require almost all contractors in California to carry workers’ compensation coverage, regardless of if they have employees or not. According to the author of the bill, State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) the new law was necessary due to the tendency of many small contractors to claim they have no employees, when…
Read MoreIRS Issues Final Rules for Family Coverage Affordability Determination
The IRS has issued final regulations that change the way employer-sponsored plan affordability is calculated when determining if a family is eligible for a premium tax credit (PTC) when purchasing individual health insurance through a public Exchange. In fixing what is commonly referred to as the “family glitch,” affordability for family members will be based…
Read MoreCSLB Reminds Licensees of Contractor’s Bond Increase to $25,000
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is reminding all licensees that the contractor’s bond amount is increasing to $25,000 on January 1, 2023. CSLB first announced this increase in December 2021 which resulted from Senate Bill 607, signed into law in 2021. The increase applies to the contractor license bond (from $15,000 to $25,000) and…
Read MoreWorkers’ Compensation: Reporting Claims Later Can Push up Costs 50%
One major factor in keeping the costs of a workers’ compensation claim from spiraling out of control is to report the claim promptly. Claims are routinely filed late, either by the injured worker who fails to report it to the employer, or the employer procrastinating and not reporting the claim to its insurer. Both of…
Read MoreWorkers’ Comp Construction Dual-Wage Threshold Increase
Nearly all the workers’ compensation dual-wage class codes for the construction sector have increased as of Sept. 1, 2022. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara approved the recommendation by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) of California to increase the wage thresholds for high-wage workers. What are Dual-Wage Thresholds Dual-wage thresholds divide high and low-wage workers…
Read MoreHow to Protect Workers Against Heat Illness
As another scorching summer is upon us, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers with outdoor workers to take precautions to protect them against the heat. California employers need to be especially mindful as Cal/OSHA has workplace safety regulations governing the prevention of heat illness. The agency actively enforces its heat illness prevention standard. Employers should also comply…
Read MoreHomeowners Insurance: Your Detached Structures May Be Underinsured
Your homeowner’s insurance policy protects you from having to pay on your own for damage to your home caused by fire, wind, smoke, and other causes. However, your home might not be all you have to worry about. Does your property have a gazebo? A deck? A pool? An outside kitchen? A shed? A fence?…
Read MoreSoftware Security Hole Puts Businesses at Risk
The federal government has warned that a newly discovered computer software vulnerability poses a major threat to the security of computer networks around the country. Cybercriminals are exploiting holes in open-source code software commonly used in computer applications, websites, and cloud services. This can allow cybercriminals to seize control of a business’s computer network if…
Read MoreControl Losses by Identifying Top Factors Leading to Injury
The latest trend in workplace safety best practices is tracking “leading indicators” – or building on the lessons learned from past events – to reduce the chances of future injuries. Safety professionals are increasingly keeping track of near misses, hours spent on training and facility housekeeping and measuring the impact on the organization’s overall safety…
Read MoreHRA’s Can Help Your Staff Pay for Medical Expenses
As rising health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for health care are burdening workers, more employers are looking for ways to help their staff put aside money for those expenses. While health savings accounts have grown in popularity, you can only offer them to employees who are enrolled in high-deductible health plans. Fortunately, there is…
Read MoreHave You Renovated Your Home? Call Your Insurer
Americans have been busy renovating their homes in record numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Home renovation spending grew 15% in the last year to a median of $15,000 (according to Houzz). It also found that higher-budget projects saw an increase to $85,000 or more in 2020, compared with $80,000 in the two years prior. When…
Read MoreA Personal Umbrella Policy is Essential to Protect Your Assets
For high-net worth individuals, the financial consequences of being sued can be serious business. They typically have more assets at risk should they be hit with a large court settlement or judgment. While compensatory damages may be standard across the board, some juries punish the rich especially hard for their negligence. But if you don’t…
Read MoreCalifornia’s New COVID-19 Sick Leave (SB114)
The law is effective February 19, 2022 and retroactive to January 1, 2022. While the new legislation is similar to California’s prior bill (SB 95), which expired September 30, 2021, there are some notable differences this time around. Which Employers Does the New Law Apply To? Like SB 95, the new law applies to employers…
Read MoreIRS to Get Tough on ACA Reporting Form Mistakes – Forms 1094-C & 1095-C
The time when the IRS offers relief from financial penalties to employers that make errors on their group health insurance reporting forms has come to an end. Starting this year, the IRS will no longer offer protection against reporting error penalties when “applicable large employers” (ALEs) file their Forms 1094-C and 1095-C and the employer…
Read MoreProtecting Your College Student’s Property with Homeowner’s or Renters Insurance
You already have enough to worry about when your child leaves for college, you don’t want them having to deal with the theft or damage of their possessions while away. For less than $180 a year, you can protect your child’s possessions against theft or damage caused by fire, lightning, smoke, vandalism, electrical surges, windstorms…
Read MoreACA Compliance: Group Plan Affordability Level Set for 2022
The IRS has announced the new affordability requirement test percentage that group health plans must comply with to conform to the Affordable Care Act. Starting in 2022, the cost of self-only group plans offered to workers by employers that are required to comply with the ACA, must not exceed 9.61% of each employee’s household income.…
Read MoreWildfires Make for Difficult Insurance Market
More businesses in wildfire-prone areas are facing a difficult commercial property insurance market as insurers reduce their exposure and some have left the market altogether. Many businesses in areas that have already been ravaged by fires in the past, or those located in areas that are near forests and large grassy areas, are seeing their…
Read MoreAs Workplaces Open, Experts Fear Lawsuit Tsunami
As more Americans return to the workplace, employers are now faced with the difficult issue of transitioning reluctant staff back as well as complaints and legal action from the most reluctant of workers. Already some returning workers have started to sue their employers, often accusing them of not adequately protecting their workers against COVID-19 in…
Read More2021 Best Places to Work
We are proud to be voted one of the 2021 Best Places to Work by the North Bay Business Journal for the 13th consecutive year! Being a recipient validates what our shareholders work so hard to do – provide growth opportunities, access to education, flexibility to manage personal lives, and create a work environment where…
Read MoreAttract and Retain Employees by Lowering the Cost of Healthcare Premiums
As businesses struggle to attract new talent, many companies are starting to boost their employee benefits offerings. Because of this, many businesses are offering added benefit choices through various Voluntary Benefits packages. Aside from added benefits, employees also seek relief from continually increasing premiums, and are looking for more options when selecting health insurance plans.…
Read MoreNorthBay Biz: Best Insurance Brokerage 2021
We are honored to be recognized as the Best Insurance Brokerage by NorthBay Biz Readers, for the ninth consecutive year. Thank you to the NorthBay Biz readers and our clients for the continued support. Some words from Robb Daer, our Chief Operating Officer, “I’m super happy about it—it’s a big honor…because it comes from the…
Read MoreEmployee Mental Health: EAPs to the Rescue During Troubling Times
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) have become more popular and crucial than ever before. EAP managers report a surge in call volume from workers that need mental health help. Some common stresses are potentially becoming infected by the virus, losing a loved one or a friend to COVID-19 or…
Read MoreHow an Umbrella Policy Can Save You from Ruin
Do you have enough liability insurance? If there were a vehicle accident for which you were at fault, and a family breadwinner were disabled or killed, would your auto liability policy offer enough coverage to pay for a lifetime of lost wages due to such an event? Keep in mind, the legal system holds you…
Read MoreEmployment-Related Lawsuits Explode
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, so does the number of workplace-related lawsuits filed by workers across the country against their employers. The pandemic laid the groundwork for new local, state and federal laws and regulations governing a number of workplace issues, like safety, family and medical leave and remote work. New challenges emerged for employers…
Read MoreAmerican Rescue Plan Act: Stimulus Plan Expands Business Assistance
The $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that President Biden signed into law on March 11 contains a number of provisions intended to help small businesses and other organizations hurt by the pandemic. Foremost, it includes additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to struggling businesses, and a number of special grants to companies in…
Read MoreHow COVID-19 Will Change Employee Benefits
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses and other organizations in multiple ways. Lost revenue and the overnight change to remote workforces, among other things, have caused significant changes to operations and finances. A new report shows that there will be long-term effects on employee benefit programs as well. Health insurers are forecasting continued cost increases…
Read MoreTop 10 Business Laws and Regulations for 2021
Every year starts with a bevy of new laws and regulations affecting employers and business in California, and many of the new rules this time around are an outgrowth of the COVID-19pandemic and its effects on workers. Employers in the year ahead have a number of changes they will have to contend with, some of…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Relief Bill Extends Unemployment Benefits and Paycheck Protection Program
The $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, passed by Congress and signed into law on Dec. 27, includes a number of provisions that affect employers and their workers in terms of paid sick leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act provisions. The legislation also boosts unemployment benefits to out-of-work Americans, as well as reopening and…
Read MoreJeff Okrepkie Shares Insights on Premium Increases California Businesses Face, Particularly Wineries
Our Commercial Lines Producer, Jeff Okrepkie, shares insight on the increasing property premiums businesses across California face, particularly wineries. The article comments on the evolving insurance landscape the industry is seeing, from an increase in the use of the CA FAIR Plan to last resort “forced placed” coverage. It also touches on the changes the…
Read MoreSix Tips for Prepping Your Home for Autumn
As the temperature starts dropping and harsher weather looms in the coming months, now is the time to get your home ready. Taking steps now to protect your home and belongings can help you enter the new season worry-free, and you might save money in the process. You can follow these tips to do just…
Read MoreLife Insurance Is Vital If You Are Self-Employed
Autonomy, freedom, flexibility – there are certainly perks to being a self-employed individual. However, there are also some disadvantages, mainly not having a benefit plan provided. You’re essentially on your own when it comes to obtaining life, health, disability and other insurance benefits. As a self-employed person, you are placing your family at significant financial…
Read MoreSmart Home Sensors Can Save You from Calamity
One of the nastiest surprises a homeowner can encounter is finding out about damage to their home that they could have prevented had they caught the problem earlier. For example, a leak that’s been slowly dripping behind your wall, causing extensive damage, may not be covered by your homeowner’s policy since you should have caught…
Read MoreCoverage Concerns as Cyber Threat Grows
Small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly bearing the burden of cyber threats, as criminals are betting they do not have the resources in place to mount a strong defense. A severe attack on a small company can incapacitate its ability to do business, and the expenses of getting operations back on track coupled with loss…
Read MoreAdult Children on Your Policies Can Create Coverage Gaps
These days many families are assisting their adult children financially far longer than parents of earlier generations did. That kind of support for college, and sometimes basic survival, can create insurance coverage gaps for the adult child that can be a major risk to the parents’ financial wellbeing. If you have an adult child who…
Read MoreGetting the Benefits of Self-Funding without the Risks
There are typically two approaches to securing health coverage for your staff – group health insurance or self-funding. But, self-funding can be costly and risky and is usually only done by larger organizations with thousands of employees. However, there is a hybrid model that can help small and mid-sized employers provide their staff with affordable…
Read MoreAB 5: New State Law Alters Employment Landscape
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that codifies a court ruling from last year that set new ground rules for what constitutes an independent contractor, and which expands on that ruling. There’s been a lot written in the media about the law, AB 5, and much of it misses the point. Some…
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Protection Rules Now in Effect
Cal/OSHA has issued emergency regulations* that require employers of outdoor workers to take protective measures, including providing respiratory equipment, when air quality is significantly affected by wildfires. The rules require employers to take action when the Air Quality Index (AQI) for particulate matter 2.5 is more than 150 (the “unhealthy” range). The protections also would…
Read MoreAvoid Falling Victim to a Staged Car Crash Scam
The staged car accident scam is growing as perpetrators are getting craftier about entrapping unsuspecting motorists. Scammers usually meticulously plan their staged car accidents, leaving nothing to chance. You may not even know it was staged, while witnesses may only catch a glimpse and think they saw something they didn’t. Here are some common scams:…
Read MoreHow to Prepare for Possible PG&E Power Shutdowns
PG&E has warned California residents and businesses that it may shut down the power grid for as long as five days for large portions of the state when there are high-wind conditions during the dry fire season. That’s because PG&E’s infrastructure was found to be the cause of several recent California wildfires. PG&E has sent…
Read MoreWhy Your Staff Needs Disability Coverage
No one plans on becoming disabled and missing work, but it can happen. An illness or an accident could cause one of your employees to be unable to work for months, or even years. While their health insurance will cover their medical expenses, it won’t cover the cost of living while they recover. Only 30%…
Read MoreDon’t Fall Victim to the E-mail Compromise Scam
West African organized-crime rings have been targeting U.S. business with “business e-mail compromise” scams that are costing firms millions of dollars every year. Losses to businesses that are targeted by these scams hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2018, with $685 million in losses reported by 4,081 victims. That’s more than the…
Read MoreTo Bolster Employee Loyalty, Educate Your Staff
A recent Harris Interactive Study, commissioned by insurer Unum Group, found that employees who receive frequent and thorough education on their available benefits are more likely to view their employer positively, and to feel that their employer values them. The survey establishes a positive correlation between employees’ understanding of their benefits and productivity. Your employees…
Read MoreWill Your Policy Cover a Mold Infestation?
Mold is a perennial problem for homeowners and, if left untreated, can cause health problems for members of your family. People exposed to mold can have reactions like: Asthma Eye irritation Itchy skin Sneezing and runny nose Coughing and sore throat. While these symptoms can be signs of other health issues, if you have a…
Read MoreQuake Risk Requires Smart Planning and Insurance
Life in most parts of California comes with the inherent risk that an earthquake can strike suddenly and without warning. You probably didn’t know that the state has more than 10,000 seismic events every year, but fortunately most of them are too small for people to even notice. Although the entire Northwest of the United…
Read MoreCommercial Auto Rates Continue Climbing
By now, you’ve likely noticed that your commercial automotive insurance rates have been increasing since last year, and for now there seems to be no slowing the momentum. The increase is probably noticeable since the period between 2011 and 2016 saw rates drop thanks to a number of factors, including fewer accidents, fewer cars on…
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