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As we move into the second half of 2020, our battle with COVID-19 continues. Businesses are rightfully focused on this challenge and may not be prepared for another obstacle they are facing – the hardening commercial insurance marketplace. The “hard” market is causing premiums to rise and coverages to become more restrictive. We haven’t experienced…

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order and three memorandums to address pandemic relief in response to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. After negotiations for a relief package between the White House and lawmakers collapsed, the executive actions extend pandemic unemployment benefits, student loan payment deferrals, eviction protections for renters and…

On July 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the agency’s publication of additional guidance on applying federal employment laws in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance is in the form of questions and answers added to sets of Q&As the agency issued earlier in the year about the operation of…

Many organizations incorrectly label cyber insurance as a luxury purchase rather than a necessity. In fact, a recent survey conducted by insurance experts found that nearly 60% of small and midsized companies don’t have any type of cyber insurance. What’s worse, less than 30% of those companies feel inclined to purchase a such a policy…

The stigma around working from home has mostly been lifted as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic abruptly shifted many employees into a remote work setting. Many organizations are expecting and planning more remote work for the foreseeable future. Before the pandemic, common office perks included remote work opportunities and work schedule flexibility. Now, employees are starting…

Even as businesses reopen and employees return to their new normal, the risk of becoming exposed to and ill with COVID-19 is still present. When an employee reports they have COVID-19, employers are faced with the difficult task of determining whether the employee’s illness is work-related. As is the case with all inherently legal issues,…

Lenders use your credit score to decide whether or not to let you borrow money. If you have a low credit score, you may have a hard time securing loans, signing rental leases and locking in the best auto insurance rates. To improve your credit score and avoid increasing your debt, keep in mind the…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has upended the entire world, it seems. With fluctuating infection rates and conflicting official guidance, organizations will need to adapt quickly if they want to succeed in the post-coronavirus landscape. HR teams stand at the forefront of these efforts. For years, HR departments have been tasked with ushering in fundamental workplace…

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is seeking information from the public about the effectiveness of paid employee family and medical leave. In a Request for Information (RFI) issued July 15, 2020, the DOL said it intends to gather information about the effectiveness of current state- and employer-provided paid leave programs, and how access (or…

There’s no denying that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has rapidly and abruptly changed how we live, work and play. As the threat of the coronavirus shifts, Americans are navigating their new normal and figuring out how Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for social distancing and mask wearing fits into a daily routine.…