A better way to make New Year’s resolutions

Do you like to make New Year’s resolutions? Studies show that most Americans make an average of three to five goals each January. The problem: Most resolutions are cast aside by the end of February.

What would happen if you picked just one resolution — one important business goal — and stuck to it for an entire year? A goal that’s challenging and, if you work hard, attainable? Research shows that instead of coming up with multiple goals for 2021, pledging to make one significant change is more likely to result in success. And make it specific. Instead of a New Year’s resolution to “attend more networking events,” quantify the number of networking events you’ll attend each month and what you plan to accomplish at each. Instead of “growing your business,” quantify how much you plan to grow your sales or profits.

One time-tested method for setting effective goals is called the SMART principle. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Using the SMART approach, quality goals can be created by asking yourself these five questions:

  • Is your goal specific enough? You’ll be more motivated to work hard to attain a goal if you spell out exactly what should be accomplished. Instead of a vague goal of increasing traffic to your company’s website, for example, you would want to set a specific goal in terms of unique visitors or page views.
  • Is your goal measurable? Make sure you can monitor your progress and ultimately measure whether you have accomplished what you set out to.
  • Is your goal achievable? You don’t want to create goals that are too easy to reach but you don’t want to set yourself up for failure, either.
  • Is your goal relevant? If you accomplish your goal, will it further your personal and/or business objections or mission?
  • Does your goal have a timeline? Having a deadline can be motivating and give you an exact date in the future to work toward. Otherwise, you might not feel the urgency to put in the required effort.

Research also shows that sharing your resolution with others can make a big difference. Let others know about your goal early in the year.

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What is your company’s mission?

Do your employees know what your company stands for — its mission, why it’s in business, and how it’s different from competing companies? Only 41 percent of U.S. workers say they do. Surprised? Shocked?

That alarming statistic is from Gallup research. While most business leaders can clearly describe their company or organization’s mission, most employees can’t. Another surprising statistic: Only four in 10 U.S. employees strongly believe that the mission of their company makes them feel their position is important.

That’s a real problem. Research shows a clear link between how well employees understand their company’s mission and purpose and embrace it and how well it performs. According to Gallup, just a 10 percent improvement in a workforce’s connection with their company’s mission or purpose would likely result in an 8.1 percent decrease in employee turnover and a 4.4 percent increase in profitability. If your company or organization doesn’t have a formal mission, it needs one. If it has one, everyone should understand what it is and how their work or job ties into and is important to this purpose.

In conducting a meta-analysis of nearly 50,000 business units across just under 200 organizations representing 49 different industries in nearly three dozen countries, Gallup scientists discovered that as employees move beyond the basics of employee engagement and view their contributions to their organizations more broadly, a lot of positive and powerful things start to happen. Employees are more likely to be loyal to their employers, work harder and more creatively and take ownership in what they do, connecting with customers/clients to the benefit of the organization. All that great stuff happens because of a clear mission.

At Accurate Protection, our entire team is focused on providing a full spectrum of risk management solutions for businesses of all sizes. The average insurance broker meets your basic needs when it comes to business insurance plans, claims and renewal negotiation. But what about helping your company adapt to new and evolving exposures, such as cyber-attacks and changes in legislation?

In addition to helping with a comprehensive risk management plan, we help our clients better manage today’s challenging business environment by offering them a web-based client resource center. Customized to a company’s unique needs, you’ll find a wealth of valuable information for your business on a wide and diverse variety of issues all in one place. Here’s some of what will you find in our Accurate Protection Connect:

  • A dynamic interactive online forum
  • The tools to create a customized company safety manual
  • An easy-to-use OSHA reporting system
  • Legislative updates that could affect your company and industry
  • Convenient 24/7 online insurance claims reporting
  • Customized employee newsletters and payroll stuffers
  • A library of more than 1,000 downloadable articles in both English and Spanish.

Learn more about how we can help your company be more efficient and successful.

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Avoid slips and falls at the office this winter

Did you know that slips and falls are two of the most common causes of injury during the winter months? Rain, ice and snow all can dramatically increase the likelihood that you or one of your employees will end up injured. One of the best ways to avoid a serious injury? Walk like a penguin. It’s easy. Simply spread your feet out a bit to increase your center of gravity and take small steps. Next time you are out on an icy sidewalk, try it. Here are some other suggestions to help prevent wintertime slips and falls:

Monitor conditions from the parking lot to the office area. Spot check your parking area and both your outdoor and indoor pathways regularly to ensure they are safe. It’s easy to track in rain or snow, so keep an eye out for the interior entry area. Clean up any spills, wet floors or standing water immediately.

Wear the proper shoes. Make sure your shoes have proper traction. Dress shoes and other types of footwear that have little or no traction aren’t good choices when there’s rain, ice or snow. Invest in quality winter footwear that you can wear in times of inclement weather.

Assume the surface is slippery. If you aren’t sure whether a surface is icy, it’s better just to assume that it is.

Take your time. Don’t rush on rainy, icy or snowy pathways. Use any handrails that are available to you, and don’t use your cell phone while walking.

Keep your hands out of your pockets. This is an important tip. Walking with your hands in your pockets decreases your center of gravity and balance and increases your chances of suffering an even greater injury in the event of a fall. If your hands are out of your pockets, you’ll be better able to break your fall with them. Use handrails wherever available.

Take care when shoveling snow. It’s a strenuous activity that can lead to injury. When shoveling, keep your back straight, lift with your legs and do not turn or twist your body while shoveling.

Hire a quality vendor. Hiring an outside vendor to handle wintertime maintenance and ensure the safety of your workers can be a great option for your business.

Report unsafe conditions. Encourage employees to report any unsafe conditions inside or outside your facility immediately.

Respond to problems quickly. Anytime there’s an accident indoors or out, it’s critical to review your safety plan and procedures, and if needed, revise them.

At Accurate Protection, we know that businesses face a wide range of risks. Let us help you better manage them!

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What are you doing to prevent employee burnout?

The global pandemic added a new and challenging perspective to our lives over the past year and a half— stress and worry. It’s been a heavy load, and it’s wearing us out.

Business owners and leaders have faced many unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, including how best to keep their employees safe and how to help their organizations adapt to changing conditions. It’s been, of course, no easy task. Employees have been dealing with uncertainty over what the pandemic could mean for their families, loved ones, jobs, and careers. Continually dealing with uncertainty — and creatively coming up with solutions to address it — has made us weary. And the good news-bad news cycle has been draining. While it seemed, for example, that pandemic was winding down, the Delta variant has caused another wave of worry. And once again, we’re wondering what is going to happen next.

According to a new report by Gallup, leaders who haven’t done so already must take steps to address burnout — both their own and their employees — or risk having it impact their organizations and workforces to an even greater degree. The global analytics and advice company has these suggestions:

1. Measure employee well-being. How well are you monitoring employee engagement and morale? Surveys can help pinpoint issues like burnout, stress and fear, and help leaders know which issues are the most important to tackle and how.

2. Address work-life balance. Managers should be trained to have conversations about this critical issue with their employees and be able to take action when needed. If your organization wants to be able to recruit and retain quality employees effectively, you’ll need to find a way to address this top concern among American workers today. It’s no longer enough to offer a good working environment from 9 to 5; employees want an employer to help them balance the demands of work and family.

3. Acknowledge the desire for remote work. Employees want flexibility in where and how they work long after the pandemic is over. Those who never worked at home pre-pandemic realized during the outbreak that they liked it and could do their jobs as well as or even better than in the office setting. A number of people don’t want to go back to the office environment. The most effective leaders will offer employees flexibility and resources that support productivity and work-life integration.

4. Understand that everyone’s struggle is different. The COVID-19 outbreak has made it clear that a one-size-fits-all approach to managing people simply doesn’t work. The pandemic, for example, has caused severe financial and personal distress for some households. Working mothers and single parents have often struggled to address tough child-care issues. Some families may have faced severe financial setbacks or grappled with the death of loved ones. Others may have become more concerned with serious diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Is your workplace accepting and supportive of all employees?

5. Be on the lookout for signs of burnout. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that leaders make sure their management team has realistic expectations for employees, that individualized support is available to workers and that each one has a manageable workload and time off to rest and recharge. Being on the lookout for burnout in yourself and those around you. This will be a critical task now and in the years to come.

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OSHA compliance and your business

Is your business OSHA compliant? All businesses are required to follow rules and regulations designed to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for employees. It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s the law. And even if you haven’t had any on-site injuries or accidents, your business still could be subject to fines and/or penalties if you don’t follow the OSHA regulations that apply to your business and industry.106964639_M

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act details specific responsibilities employers have regarding ensuring a safe and healthy workspace for their workers:

  • Providing a workplace free from recognized hazards and complying with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSHA Act that apply to their enterprise.
  • Examining workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable OSHA standards.
  • Making sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment and that the equipment is properly maintained. Employees should be trained to use equipment/tools safely.
  • Using color codes, posters, labels and/or signs to warn employees of potential hazards and remind them of best safety practices.
  • Establishing or updating operating procedures and communicating them so that employees follow safety and health requirements.
  • Providing safety training in a language and vocabulary workers can understand. Reminding employees of what they’ve learned in training and providing periodic educational opportunities reinforcing safety.

Federal law provides employees the right to contact their local OSHA office and make a complaint or lodge a concern regarding their place of employment. Because of the importance of worker safety, OSHA takes workplace violations seriously, and Inspections that reveal non-compliance can result in fines/penalties for the business.

OSHA encourages all employers to adopt a workplace safety and health program, regardless of the type of business or industry. These types of risk management programs can substantially reduce the number and severity of workplace injuries, maintain worker safety and demonstrate a company’s commitment to safety. Most successful safety and health programs are based on a common set of key elements. These include a leadership commitment to safety, worker participation, a written safety plan/program and an effective approach to finding and fixing hazards. Simply put, smart planning can protect your business and keep it compliant with OSHA rules/regulations.

Prevention and preparation are the keys to avoiding costly and dangerous accidents or workplace problems. At Accurate Protection, we deliver the strategies, tools and resources that you need to assist with OSHA standards and requirements. We can help you understand OSHA regulations that apply to you and your business/industry, prepare for an OSHA inspection, maintain good records and stay up-to-date on ever-changing rules and regulations. Learn more about all of the ways we can help your business manage its unique risks and thrive.

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Which type of insurance does your business need?

Figuring out which types of insurance coverages are right for your company isn’t always easy. Here are four basic types of insurance policies that most businesses need to have —even the smallest of companies — and four other coverages that many business owners need but don’t realize they do:

Property insurance. This type of insurance covers buildings as well as personal property such as office furniture, inventory, computers and machinery. It’s basic coverage that nearly all businesses need.

Liability insurance. Having enough liability coverage is important for a growing company. Any business can face a legal claim that could be financially devastating. A client could sue after a fall in your office. A customer could file a lawsuit claiming a product is defective. Liability insurance can help a business prevent a financial disaster in the event of a lawsuit.

Commercial auto insurance. Cars driven for your business should be covered under a separate, commercial auto insurance policy.

Workers compensation insurance. Nearly all states require businesses that meet certain size thresholds to have workers compensation insurance in the event an employee is injured or dies on the job.

Depending on the type and size of the business, you may need additional coverage. Here are four types of coverage that business owners often don’t realize they need to protect themselves:

Cyber liability insurance. One study found that the average cost of a cyber attack on a company is $200,000; many attacks are more costly. Small and medium-sized companies are increasingly at risk for both attacks and devastating legal claims as a result of an attack. All businesses need to take steps to prepare for and help prevent a cyber attack and consider purchasing coverage in the event one does happen.

Employment practices liability. EPL is designed to protect companies in the event of a sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination or breach of employment contract claim or any of a number of other claims made by an employee or former employee. The more employees you have, the greater the risk of a lawsuit.

Professional liability (also known as errors and omissions). Many different types of business owners need E&O insurance coverage. Businesses providing a service or advice have a unique type of liability exposure. Many E&O policies are designed for specific types of professionals, such as physicians. accountants, engineers, architects and attorneys.

Employee benefits liability. EBL is coverage for businesses that offer health insurance and other benefits. It protects them from errors and omissions that occur when employee benefit plans are administered by a company’s human resources employee(s). These types of errors happen more than you might think.

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How well is your company managing risk?

10931330_MWhether it involves rain or snow on an outdoor walkway or a wet office floor, falls are one of the leading types of workplace accidents across a wide range of industries. And they can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries.

If your business owns or leases its own property, you must make a reasonable effort to reduce the potential for falls and other types of injuries to your customers and employees. Any business that has people visiting its facility has this unique type of risk, which can substantially increase in the fall and winter months when it’s rainy, icy, or snowy outside. It’s important to survey your risks and have a plan in place to manage them.

In regards to falls, are you careful when you clean office floors to dry them adequately? Do you make an effort to reduce tripping hazards, such as electrical cords or uneven flooring? Do your steps or walkways get slippery when it rains? Who is responsible for checking to see if the outdoor areas leading to your front door are safe? Does your past loss history demonstrate any areas you need to carefully manage? Providing employee safety training, having an effective safety program and taking preventive steps are important ways to help manage employee accidents and other adverse events.

At Accurate Protection, we have an extensive amount of resources for you to help create or improve a workplace safety program that addresses accidents and much more. We also have tools to help you promote safety awareness, including payroll stuffers, informational flyers and newsletters. We also have all of the resources you need to hold safety meetings.

Risk is one of the greatest challenges for any type of business, yet risk management is an area that’s hard to make time for and handle correctly. That’s where Accurate Protection steps in. We work directly with our clients, helping to identify risks and providing support for a smart approach to reducing or eliminating exposure.

Our detailed, multi-part education program, Work Smart, gives business owners the tools they need to implement their own risk mitigation programs. Filled with more than 30 documented smart business practices in every area, from hiring to pre-incident planning, Work Smart helps business leaders develop activities, policies and procedures that can reduce unnecessary business risks. It’s one of the many ways that Accurate Protection offers much more than the typical insurance broker. From compliance to communication, we provide a full spectrum of solutions for you and your company.

Let us teach you how to better manage risk and more effectively manage your risks and workers’ compensation program. Learn more about us on our website: https://accurateprotection.com/

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Is your business at risk for phishing attacks?

45691404_MIs data security, online privacy and identity theft a top concern for your business? If it’s not, it should be. Cybercrime is on the rise. More than ever, hackers are successfully stealing information from organizations and using it to commit identity theft and fraud.

Hackers are using data breaches to steal valuable information from businesses of all sizes— such as email accounts, names, birth dates and phone numbers — and then using that information to conduct sophisticated phishing scams to gain access to personal and business accounts. The best way to avoid being taken in is for organizations to set good security procedures and policies, and for everyone to learn how to spot a phishing scam.

Here’s the latest that you need to know in order to avoid getting hooked by hackers phishing for your information:

1) Address your weaknesses. At home and at the office, you need to invest in technology to help you detect and address threats. You also need to stay up-to-date at work and at home on the latest technology security news to know if you’re vulnerable. Watch out for news about malvertising attacks and ransomware scams. You also need to pay close attention if you’re part of a larger attack.

2) Know how to spot a phishing scam. A phishing scam can come in the form of an email, link, or even a telephone call. Cybercriminals will use whatever means they can to install malicious software or access your accounts to steal your personal information. Watch for suspect emails with links (and don’t click them if you aren’t sure if they are legitimate!), phony security alerts, fake websites and out-of-the-blue phone calls where someone says that they can help you solve a computer, account or software issue.

3) Know what’s going into your spam and trash folders. If hackers do start trying to access your accounts, one of the first things that can happen is that they’ll reset your passwords to critical accounts (banking, or others) and set a filter so that any email notifications about the changes bypass your inbox. Always watch your email account for unusual activity, and if you see anything strange – such as trash or spam folders emptying themselves — change your password immediately. (In this case, you’ll also want to check your banking and other critical accounts.)

4) Know how to manage your passwords. Activate two-factor authentication whenever possible for business and personal accounts. You can set up a password manager for an added layer of security, get expertise from tech support, or have an IT person set up a password manager.

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Networking as a business development tool

Teamwork concept, brainstorming. Businessman crew working with new startup project in modern loft. Woman holding smartphone hands. Horizontal, film effectIn a day and age where we can connect online and in-person with virtually anyone, the possibilities to connect with other people are endless. Are you effectively growing and leveraging your business network? Here are five great ways to make meaningful connections and to use networking as a business development tool:

Take your online contacts to a new level. Sure you have amazing LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook connections, but the truth is, unless you deepen those connections, you’re missing out on opportunities. One of the best ways to stand out in the chaotic online world is to demonstrate how you can help other people (as opposed to asking them to help you) and to take your connection offline, by meeting face-to-face for a coffee or lunch. So many people are marketing themselves and prospecting for new business online. Is your pitch self-serving or compelling? Are you able to turn online contacts into in-person connections?

Volunteer. Find a cause you’re passionate about, or one that aligns with your career in some way, and sign up to volunteer. This is a great way to meet people informally.

Do your homework. It can be intimidating to talk to a stranger. But it is a lot easier to talk to someone when you know you have something in common. Before you meet, email or tweet, do your research and see if there is some common thread you can use to start the conversation. Did you go to the same college? Do you share the same hometown?

Attend events out of your circle. The only way to meet new people is to do new things. Expand your horizon by researching local happenings or events in the city that might add to your career connections. Join a non-profit organization’s board. Sign up to assist with a communitywide effort. You’ll be glad you did.

Remember, quality over quantity. It doesn’t matter if you have a million connections — it only matters if they count. Be specific about who you connect with, and be picky when you reach out. Narrow it down to your dream team of connections, then work from there.

What are you waiting for? Who knows, maybe the adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” might just apply to you.

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Is your business prepared for wildfire season?

Burning wooden house at night. Bright orange flames and dense smWildfire season is here once again. And after last year’s devastating fires in California and throughout the West, many experts worry that continued drought conditions will lead to another year of heightened risk and high levels of destruction.

Sites throughout California and other states monitored by fire officials, for example, are at or near record levels of dryness. Fuel moisture — the amount of water inside a living plant — “is the lowest that we’ve recorded at these sites since 2013,” Craig Clements, director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center at San Jose State University told NPR. “It’s indicative of very dangerous conditions coming into this summer.”

There’s a risk of fire danger in all states. And fire officials say in addition, fire season started earlier this year — in May. The National Interagency Fire Center’s National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook points to warmer and drier than normal conditions throughout the West — conditions expected to persist through fall.

Are you prepared? Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself, your home and your business:

Revisit your insurance coverage. Homeowner’s and business insurance generally covers damage from fires, including wildfires, up to the policy’s monetary limits, unless the policyholder intentionally sets their home on fire. Policies vary, but any outbuildings or unattached structures on your property may also be covered, up to certain limits.

Think about flood insurance. Fire-damaged areas are much more susceptible to flooding because of the lack of vegetation and fire-damaged soil. While fires are covered under homeowner’s policies, flooding is not. You must purchase flood insurance for your home and business to be covered, and there’s typically a 30-day waiting period for all flood policies.

Take defensive measures. Cleaning up dry material and creating fire breaks on your property can make a huge difference. Clear a natural firebreak between your home/business and surrounding trees, brush and uncut fields. Here’s some information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on how to protect yourself and your home, before, during and even after, a wildfire.

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