Fraud and embezzlement in the workplace has become an epidemic, costing American businesses an estimated $400 billion a year (6% of total revenues), according to The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Smaller firms are particularly vulnerable, because they’re less able than their larger counterparts to afford extensive safeguard or to absorb the losses. What’s more, one in four workers who rip off their employers have been with the company more than ten years.
Employee Dishonesty insurance can protect your business from financial loss due to the fraudulent activities of an employee or group of employees. This coverage is also called Crime Coverage, Employee Dishonesty Bond, Fidelity Bond, or Crime Fidelity insurance.
The policy applies to acts by all current and former employees, as well as partners, trustees, and directors, together with volunteers, seasonal employees, and temporary workers under your control. Covered losses can include: 1) theft, robbery, burglary or embezzlement of money, securities, or physical property of the business; 2) forgery or alteration; 3) fraudulent transfer of funds; 4) computer fraud; and 5) counterfeiting cash or money orders.
The amount of coverage you’ll need varies with the loss exposures your business faces. As a rule of thumb, companies that handle cash and securities, need at least 20% of their annual revenue in Minimum coverage for fraud and theft losses is usually $100,000 and many policies will cover $500,000 without significant additional premiums. You can also set specific coverage levels for depositor’s forgery, computer, and funds transfers.
Depending on your situation, you can buy Employee Dishonesty either on a stand-alone basis or as an add-on (endorsement) to your Business Owners policy or other Commercial insurance coverage.
For more information on protecting your business against light-fingered employees, just give us a call.
A man was killed Saturday morning when he lost control near state Highway 152 in Watsonville and crashed into a power pole, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The man, a 31-year-old Watsonville resident, was driving west on Holohan Road around 10:20 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle for an unknown reason, according to the CHP.
The vehicle went off the southern edge of the road and struck a wooden power pole, causing the vehicle to spins several times before it came to rest in the westbound lane.
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and if you still haven’t found a gift for your dad, you may want to consider getting him a tablet.
Nowadays, finding a quality Android tablet for less than $200 is not only possible but also pretty easy. So if you’re looking for a last-minute gift that shows you care, here are some of the best tablets you can buy for less than $200.
Nexus 7 – $199
Google’s Nexus 7 was one of the first quality tablets to become available for less than $200 when it launched last year. The device runs on the latest version of Android, is great for gaming and features an excellent high-definition screen. For $199, you can get a 16-gigabyte version.
Amazon 7-inch Kindle Fire HD – $179 through June 15
If you’re looking for a device built for reading e-books as well as watching movies and TV shows, then you may want to consider the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD. This tablet has a great HD screen and comes with 16 GB of storage, but more importantly, it has access to Amazon’s vast catalog of digital content. Normally, the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD costs $199, but Amazon is discounting it $20 if you buy before Saturday.
Amazon 7-inch Kindle Fire – $159
You can also purchase the non-HD 7-inch Kindle Fire if you want to save more money. The major difference between this tablet and the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD will be the image quality and the fact that it only has 8 GB of storage.
Nook HD 8 GB and 16 GB – $129 and $149
The best Father’s Day discount, though, comes from Barnes & Noble. The giant book retailer is discounting its Android tablets nearly $100. The 8-GB model, which normally costs $199, is down to $129, while the 16-GB Nook HD has been discounted to $149 until the sale ends Sunday when stores close. The Nook HD isn’t as great as what Google and Amazon offer, but recently, Barnes & Noble added the Google Playdigital store to its device, giving it access to much more content than before.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 – $169.99
Fans of the Samsung brand will want to consider the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. This tablet features a 7-inch HD display and comes with 8 GB of storage that can be easily expanded using a microSD card, unlike Amazon’s or Google’s tablets. As usual, Samsung has stuffed this tablet with features you won’t find on many of its rivals, including 50 GB of cloud storage through Dropbox and an infrared censor that lets you use the Galaxy Tab as a remote control for your TV.
Idolian Mini Studio – $158
If you don’t want to settle for a 7-inch screen, the Idolian Mini Studio is available for $158 and features an 8-inch HD display. The Android 4.1 tablet comes with all of the basics that you look for in a tablet, including rear and front-facing cameras, a microSD slot and 16 GB of storage. Its aluminum back cover also makes it a good choice if you want an iPad look-alike. You can now get itonline for $158.
August 3 and August 4, 2013 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Historic downtown Watsonville Free admission!
The Poster for the 2013 Watsonville Strawberry Festival has just been released. Watsonville resident Priscilla Martinez won the poster contest with her entry entitled ” Berry Sweet Ride.”
Check out the video below to see what you can expect in 2013.
The admission free festival is located in historic downtown Watsonville around the City Plaza on Main, Peck and Union Streets. Parking is available less than 2 blocks away in the civic plaza parking garage. The garage entrance is on Rodriguez Street and the fee is $5. More parking information
Home and Auto insurance were relatively straightforward for yesterday’s ‘typical American household” – Mom, Dad, and the kids. Today, economic pressures are leading more and more adults to move back in with their parents, double up with other families, or make room for elderly relatives. These multi-generational households and other nontraditional living arrangements can raise serious insurance issues.
In most states, when family members move in with relatives who have Homeowners (HO) insurance, their belongings will be covered under the relative’s policy. However, if the individuals who move in are not related to their policyholder, their belongings probably won’t be insured.
With a rented apartment or house has Renters insurance, the coverage rules are different. In these cases, the policy won’t cover the property of a person who moves in with the renter, regardless of whether the two are related.
In a multigenerational household, or when multiple families live under one roof, whether or not you’re the homeowner, it makes sense to supplement standard Liability coverage under a your HO policy with a relatively inexpensive Personal Umbrella policy.
If you’re in a multiple-living situation, let your Auto insurance company know even if the other drivers have their own coverage and won’t be driving the cars your policy covers. Some car owners who house other drivers with checkered histories behind the wheel might wind up paying higher premiums, On the other hand, a roommate with a clean driving record could lead to multiple car discounts or other benefits.
Whether it’s Auto, HO, or Renters insurance, please let our agency know before you find yourself in an expanded or multigenerational household.
Running a farm is a different kind of business with unique insurance needs. Farmland isn’t just a place to work, but a place to call home as well. Having the right kind of coverage depends on the situation of each family.
Although it may not give all of the benefits of a Farm Owners Policy, a Farm Dwelling coverage might just do the trick to keep you and your family protected.
Farm Dwelling Insurance can help pay for damages that occur to the building your living in and any attached structures, even if they’re rental properties. You may also get additional coverage to protect personal items and living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable.
Liability coverage and Medical Payments coverage may not be included in your policy. If your looking for a bit more coverage than what a Farm Dwelling Insurance will provide, you might look into getting a comprehensive Farm Owners policy.
