Although you’re aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you might not understand how to implement it in your small business. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) can help.
The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Business outlines the provisions of the ADA and provides valuable examples, tips, and caveats:
This EEOC publication covers:
- Who’s protected by Title I of the ADA.
- How to make ADA services accessible.
- The use of tax credits and deductions to offset specific costs.
- How to avoid mistakes when interviewing applicants with disabilities.
- What questions you’re permitted to ask employees about a medical condition.
- What to do if safety issues arise.
- Various aspects of reasonable accommodations requirements.
- Tax incentives for businesses that hire and retain people with disabilities.
If you provide goods and services to the public, check out the ADA Guide for Small Businesses, a 15-page illustrated guide that presents an overview of some basic requirements for small businesses. It provides guidance on how to make these services accessible and use tax credits and deductions to offset specific costs. You can access the guide at ADA Guide for Small Businesses (HTML) or ADA Guide for Small Businesses (PDF). Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Tagalog and Vietnamese editions are available from the ADA Information Line: (800) 514 -0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
Reading up on the ADA can help you avoid costly lawsuits. Get smart on the law — and call us to make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your business against this risk. At Scurich Insurance Services, located in Watsonville, California cares about all of your Insurance needs, so contact us today with any questions regarding your Commercial Insurance Policy.
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Although most people think of business places as safe and serene, in fact they’re rife with risks, both inside and outside the building. Security experts recommend taking these safety precautions:
- Parking Lot Security/Lighting. Because crime flourishes in the dark, implement a “buddy system” to ferry workers to and from their cars. Limit parking lot access to controlled points and have the lots as well lit as possible. In fact, light is such a deterrent to crime that it’s wise to keep your entire facility lit, inside and out, during non-business hours.
- Entrance Area Safety. Make sure a receptionist is on duty at all times. Provide a registration system for all visitors (even if they wear the uniform of contract cleaning or other service personnel). Have all doors, windows, and locks checked frequently for proper operation. Use badge or other photo ID systems, with frequent checks of entry code systems. Never let employees prop open a door with a chair so that it doesn’t lock behind them outside on a break.
- Suspicious Activity. Urge employees to report any suspicious persons or activity around the building. Never allow employees to open suspicious packages. Instead, report them to the authorities for proper search and disposal.
- Information Safety. Unfortunately, it’s increasingly easy for computer hackers or disgruntled employees to steal your organization’s vital business information. To guard against this threat, use the latest security software for your entire system, updated frequently, and make sure to have regular backups for this information. Shred paper documents with critical information as soon as they’re no longer needed.
- Equipment Security. Keep an inventory of all your critical equipment, hardware, and software. This is especially important as electronic devices keep shrinking in size, making them easier to conceal and remove. Having an inventory (many experts suggest taking photos of important items) will also make it easier for your insurance carrier to process any claim if anything “goes missing.”
- Employee Valuables. Provide secure places, such as lockable drawers and closets, for employee property and encourage their use. Valuables, especially any item that reveals personal information, should be locked away during company gatherings or breaks.
- Safety Team. Set up a group of managers and employees who meet regularly with a set agenda.
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As seen in: The Washington Times 5/24/2012 by Michele Lerner
There are many different ways that you can redo your home’s interior to make it more eco-friendly with either big or small projects around your home. One of the first things that you can do while beginning one of these these home renovation projects is to locally obtain or purchase your materials or reuse materials that you already may have around your home. Local products are anything that you can get within 500 miles from your place of residence.
Here are a few different eco-friendly ways that you can update your home:
- You can recycle and update furniture and other items you have around your home that have sentimental value to you to give them a whole new appearance.
- Reusing furniture for another use is another good way like making a kitchen table into a coffee table or bedroom dresser into an entrainment center
- Using products like reclaimed wood (if coming from a local source), IceStone, Terrazzo is considered to be eco-friendly because they are all products made from recycled material
Any questions regarding what is covered in your home insurance policies while completing some of these projects and many more around your home contact the Scurich Insurance Services today!
Content was first stated by: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/24/cover-story-going-green-in-small-ways/?page=all#pagebreak
Scurich Insurance Services did not create this content.
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Here are more crazy insurance claims we found online!
From www.bloginsure.com
9/10/2010 by Miranda Marquit
“4. Broken nose as a result of ogling women Greece is known as a popular tourist destination. It is also known for beautiful women wearing very little in the heat. While vacationing in Athens, one man couldn’t keep his eyes where he was walking. As he ogled a group of women wearing bikinis, he walked straight into a bus stop shelter. He hit so hard that his nose was broken. The man went to the hospital to have it looked at, and his insurance company picked up the tab.
5. Stressed out due to shooting a monkey Law enforcement jobs are unquestionably stressful, especially considering the strange and often violent situations cops find themselves in. Officer Frank Chiafari, however, found out some emotional duress claims can be considered too far-fetched. In 2009, Chiafari arrived at the scene of a brutal attack by a chimpanzee that left one person seriously injured. He shot the chimp when it tried to enter his police car. Chiafari filed a workers compensation insurance claim for stress the situation caused him, but the city decided that, because it was a chimp and not a human who was shot, Chiafari was not eligible.
6. A bunch of monkeys robbed me When visiting Asia, it’s common to encounter monkeys. They can be playful, but also mischievous. A couple in Malaysia found out the hard way. After heading out on an excursion, the couple returned to the hotel to find their clothes missing, and their room a shambles. A brief investigation uncovered that a bunch of monkeys broke into the hotel room through an open room window and stole the clothes. They scattered them through a nearby rainforest. Lucky for the couple that they had travel insurance – which covered the cost of the clothes.
7. A case of road rash A man allowed his girlfriend ride his motorcycle, which she crashed. However, he was worried that, since he wasn’t driving the bike at the time, the claim would not be paid out. So he told his insurance company that he was driving. But to make it look real, he asked his friend to drag him behind a truck in order to produce a realistic case of road rash. Then, with his evidence on his body, he filed his claim. Unfortunately for him, his girlfriend had already told the police that she had been driving the motorcycle when it crashed. Ouch!”
Do you have any stories to share? Tell us….
Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
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When most people think about earthquakes in the United States, California and Alaska are the two states that come to mind. However, earthquakes can happen in any part of the country. Many people move out of areas that are prone to earthquakes after experiencing one to escape the possibility of a repeat experience. The truth is that there is no place that is completely safe from earthquakes. They are a very real threat that everyone must consider and plan for. One of the most vital aspects of proper preparedness is having ample insurance coverage.
Earthquake damage isn’t covered in the majority of Homeowners policies. This is also true for business policies. Both types of policies specify that damage from earth movement is not covered. Although actual damage from a quake might not be covered, property insurance might provide coverage for fires and other incidents that occur as a result of it. Policyholders should scour their policies to understand the specific exclusions. If the policy seems difficult to read, it’s important to contact an agent with any questions.
Many people think they won’t experience a major earthquake during their lifetime. This is especially true for those who live in areas where earthquakes happen every 100 years or less. Although many people might not experience a strong earthquake like the recent Virginia incident, there are over 5,000 incidents recorded each year by the USGS. Damage from earthquakes has been recorded in all 50 states in history. There have been reports of damage in 39 states alone since 1900. This proves that although some people might not live in areas that commonly experience earthquakes; they’re still not immune to the threat.
Earthquake insurance is available as a rider, which is added to a business or personal property policy. People who have one of these types of coverage should contact their insurer to find out what coverage options are available. Since they’re unpredictable and happen suddenly, it’s best to be prepared for all types of disasters. Earthquake insurance is so important that it can’t be stressed enough. Although the majority of people assume all California homeowners have this type of coverage, research indicates that about 12% actually have this type of insurance. The nation’s average is less than 12%.
Earthquake insurance costs vary by location, building type and the age of the building. It’s much more expensive to insure older buildings. In addition to this, brick structures are more expensive to insure. Buildings with wood frames withstand the force of earthquakes better, so it’s cheaper to insure them.
To offer an example, a home with a wood frame in Washington might cost between $1 and $3 per $1,000 of coverage. The same home might be less than $.50 per $1,000 insured on the East Coast. However, a brick home might cost between $3 and $15 per $1,000 in the Pacific Northwest. In most East Coast locations, the same home might only be between $.60 and $.90 per $1,000.
Every earthquake policy also has a deductible. This means that homeowners must pay upfront for a portion of the damages before the insurer pays the remaining amount. The deductible might be up to 20% of the structure’s replacement value. The percentage depends on the insurer and the location of the structure.
There are also options for renters. There are coverage policies that protect personal property. In addition to this, they usually cover living expenses if the building becomes uninhabitable after an earthquake. It’s important for renters to keep a list of belongings and their values. Major appliances, furniture, electronics and other expensive items must all be documented properly. A new way of creating a record of belongings is making a narrated video tour of the home and focusing on belongings. Contact one of our insurance agents to secure the earthquake coverage that is right for your individual needs.
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Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
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