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Ridgemark Insurance Services
Addressing Farm Vehicle Risks Amid Labor Shortages
Farm operators rely on experienced workers to handle grain trucks, tanker trucks, worker transport buses and vital machinery like combines, pesticide sprayers and planters. But an ongoing labor shortage is increasing risks, as less-experienced workers are stepping...
Businesses Struggle with Risk Protection Gaps
Nearly half of middle-market businesses feel unprepared for key threats despite implementing various risk management strategies, according to Nationwide Insurance's latest "Agency Forward" survey. The survey found that while 90% of businesses have formal risk...
Property Insurance Won’t Cover Mudslides, Landslides
Businesses and homes located in areas that have been hit by wildfires have another risk they face after the fires subside: flooding, landslides, debris and mudflows. And these events are not covered by a standard business property or homeowner's insurance policy....
Expect to See Surcharges on Your Policy for the L.A. Fires
Even if you have a business or a home that was not affected by the recent L.A. fires, you will likely see a surcharge to help pay for them on your next property insurance policy renewal. The state-run California FAIR Plan, which is the market of last resort when...
More Contractors Increase Deductibles to Reduce Insurance Premiums
As construction projects become larger and more complicated, contractors are taking on more of the risk by increasing their builder's risk insurance deductibles, according to a recent report. Michael Cusack, executive vice president of insurance broker Alliant...
Trends Pushing Auto Insurance Rates Higher
Automobile insurance companies are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of collision insurance claims, and that's forcing them to raise rates at a steady clip. In 2019, the industry paid out $62.6 billion in losses for damage to personal vehicles and $5.4...
How the L.A. Fires May Affect Your Commercial Property Insurance
The fires that have ravaged large swaths of homes and businesses in Los Angeles are likely to significantly alter the California commercial property insurance market. Policyholders may need to brace themselves for surging premiums, policy non-renewals and uncertainty....
It’s Time to Post Your OSHA Form 300A
Employers with 10 or more employees must post their completed OSHA Form 300A by Feb. 1 and keep it posted in their workplace until April 30. The form must be posted where the company usually posts other employee notices, like minimum wage and workplace safety notices....
Many Group Health Plan Users Make Costly Mistakes
Employees who are unfamiliar with how to access care using their group health insurance can inflate your plan costs and how much they pay out of pocket. Those who may not use their health plan much, or at all, may end up going to the emergency room for an issue that...
Employee Surveillance Doesn’t Boost Productivity, but Breeds Resentment: Study
As more people have been working remotely over the last few years, some employers have turned to employee-tracking software to ensure that these staff are working while on the clock, and to boost productivity. Tools like activity monitors and locations trackers,...