Photo Credit: Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators headed home for a Fourth of July recess without passing a bill that would prevent interest rates from doubling on student loans next week, leading to a ramp-up of political finger-pointing.
Last year, Democrats used the looming increase in the cost of student loans to great political effect, pressuring Republicans in an election year and rallying young voters in support of President Obama‘s campaign.
Now, as a temporary extension of discounted interest rates is set to lapse, Democrats are at odds with one another over the issue, with the party’s leaders privately grumbling about a White House proposal nearer to Republicans’ solution than their own.
So Republicans are happily turning the political heat on Democrats.
“Interest rates on student loans are about to double because the president and Senate Democrats won’t resolve this impasse,” said House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio).
The divide among Democrats was evident in dueling press conferences Thursday.
In one, a bipartisan group detailed what they called a compromise plan that would bridge differences in market-based plans passed by the House, proposed by Senate Republicans and initially offered by Obama in his budget.
This article was not created by Scurich Insurance. This article was taken from www.latimes.com written by Michael Memoli.
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Who Benefits: Intern Or Company?
Although courts will use these factors to analyze a worker’s status, they don’t necessarily weigh all them equally. In fact, judges will often find that the most important criterion for determining whether someone is subject to the FLSA involves which party enjoys the primary benefit from the internship.
Essentially, if the intern benefits primarily from the arrangement, she will be considered a volunteer, rather than a paid employee. However, if the company is the primary beneficiary of the intern’s work experience, this person will be considered an employee who must be paid at least the minimum wage.
In one case involving a company’s use of trainees, McLaughlin v. Ensley, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that the owner of a snack foods distribution business had to pay trainees for route jobs. Before being formally hired for such a job, trainees were required to participate in what was usually five days of exposure to the tasks they would be expected to perform. They traveled an ordinary route with an experienced route man, loaded and unloaded the delivery truck, received instruction on how to drive the truck, restocked stores with the employer’s product, were introduced to retailers, learned basic maintenance on snack food vending machines and occasionally helped prepare orders of goods with financial exchanges. However, the employer did not pay the trainees during their training week.
In determining whether this practice was legal, the Fourth Circuit explained that the key question involved whether the employer or the trainees received the principal benefit from the orientation. The court held that the employer enjoyed a greater advantage than the trainees because they were, in fact helping the company distribute snack foods. The skills they learned in training were either so specific to the job or so general that they had practically no transferable usefulness. As a result, the appeals court ruled that the trainees who participated in the orientation program were entitled to receive minimum wages.
Contact Scurich Insurance for more information!
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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.
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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.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
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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.
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The long Memorial Day holiday weekend is on the horizon and for many, plans will include taking to the highway, pulling out the grill for a backyard barbecue or having fun in the water. The American Red Cross has steps everyone can follow to stay safe whatever their plans include.
“Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer fun and we want everyone to have a safe holiday,” said Meghan Spreer, Communications Director, Kansas Capital Area Chapter. “Whether the weekend will involve travel, grilling or swimming, we have safety tips everyone can follow.”
With more people on the roads, it’s important to drive safely. Be well rested and alert, use seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. If plans include drinking alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink. Other tips for a safe trip include:
- Give one’s full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
- Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.
- Use caution in work zones.
- Make frequent stops.
- Clean the vehicle’s lights and windows to help the driver see, especially at night.
- Turn the headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather. Don’t overdrive the headlights.
The Red Cross offers these tips to stay safe while cooking those tasty cookout treats:
- Never grill indoors – not in the house, camper, tent, or any enclosed area.
- Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use, and make sure everyone, including the pets, stays away from the grill.
- Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
- Keep the chef safe by using the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill.
- Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
- Be ready to close the lid and turn off the grill to cut off the fuel if necessary.
- Keep a fireproof pan under the grill to catch any falling ash or grease.
- Trim excess fat from meat to avoid flare-ups.
- Wash one’s hands in hot soapy water before preparing food, after touching raw meat and after any interruptions such as using the bathroom, handling pets, stopping to do something with children.
Learning to swim is one of the best steps someone can take to be safe around water. People can contact their local Red Cross chapter and learn how to swim as well as get the facts about water safety, home pool safety, first aid and CPR classes. Other swimming safety tips include:
Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
- Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
- Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
- Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
- Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
It’s important to constantly supervise children when they are near water. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water. Avoid distractions when supervising children around water. If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
The Red Cross and National Swimming Pool Foundation® (NSPF) have developed an online safety course for pool and hot tub owners. Home Pool Essentials helps people understand the risks of pool ownership, how to maintain a safer and cleaner pool, what safety equipment is appropriate, how to prevent pool and hot tub entrapment hazards, and how to respond to an emergency.
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