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Ridgemark Insurance Services
State Moves to Ban Sale of Non-Electric Big Rigs, Semis in 2040
Under a new proposal by the California Air Resources Board, all new big rigs and other large trucks sold in the Golden State will have to be zero-emission vehicles, starting in 2040. The proposed rule would bar manufacturers from selling medium- and heavy-duty trucks...
Vacant Buildings Pose Risks, Insurance Challenges
Office and commercial building vacancies have exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leaving many buildings completely empty of tenants or partially occupied. According to the website Statista.com, the average vacancy rate for offices nationwide in the first...
New Law Bars ‘Discrimination’ Against Cannabis-Using Employees
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation that would bar employers from discriminating against employees and job applicants who use cannabis on their time off. The law amends the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to prohibit...
Commercial Property Insurance Gets Scarce in At-Risk Areas
Commercial property insurance rates remain stubbornly high in California for businesses with properties that are susceptible to wildfire risks. Coverage is relatively easy to find at reasonable prices in any of California's larger cities, but in small cities and...
Most Small Firms Underestimate Cyber Attack Costs, Recovery Time
A new survey has found that most small businesses greatly underestimate the recovery costs after a company is hit by a cyber attack, as well as the time it takes to recover. Nationwide Insurance's "Agency Forward" survey found that 40% of small business owners...
Teach Your Driving Staff to Be Defensive Drivers
When you have driving employees, you have to ensure they drive safely not only to avoid an accident and injuring themselves, but also injuring other drivers or pedestrians. While your workers' compensation insurance will cover an employee's injuries, your commercial...
Inflation, Jury Awards Continue Driving Insurance Premiums
Inflation is not just affecting the cost of food and fuel. It's also spilled over to the price of almost every industrial item, as well as building materials and services. Anybody running a business, particularly one that carries inventories or has to invest in...
Trucking Firms Have Difficult Choices in Wake of AB 5 Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to not hear an appeal of the sweeping California independent contractor law known as AB 5 is likely to cause serious personnel headaches for motor carriers in the Golden State. While the law is already in effect, there had been an...
Significant Changes to Construction Dual-Wage Classifications
As inflation drives up salaries in all sectors, the workers' compensation wage thresholds for construction dual class codes in California have increased as of Sept. 1, 2022. State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in July approved the recommendation by the Workers'...
EEOC: Employee COVID Testing Must Be ‘Business Necessity’
With COVID-19 cases spreading fast throughout the country in what experts say is the biggest surge since the pandemic started, employers who regularly test their workers may have to change their policies. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in July 2022 issued...