Captcha AntiSpam Security

Please type in the code shown in the image.

CAPTCHAs are used to prevent automated software from performing actions which degrade the quality of service of a given system, whether due to abuse or resource expenditure.

783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Suite 7, Aptos, CA, 95003

831-661-5697 Website

Why And How To Participate In Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

Observed from January 22-27, 2019, National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) exists to educate teens about substance abuse and addiction. It connects teens and scientific experts. Your business can participate in NDAFW as you support your employees and their loved ones.

What is NDAFW?

NDAFW started in 2010. In 2018, over 2,100 NDAFW events were hosted by schools, community groups, hospitals, and other organizations. These events provide education and information about specific community concerns or general drug or alcohol use.

Why does NDAFW Matter to your Company?

Your company will want to participate in NDAFW events if you employ teens. This information can empower them to understand the effects, challenges and dangers of drug and alcohol use, including accidental exposure, opioid pain medication, experimentation, and peer pressure.

NDAFW participation also helps your adult employees. Many of your staff members may have family, friends, neighbors, or acquaintances who have been affected by substance abuse or addiction. Use NDAFW events and awareness to address these concerns, help employees to help their affected loved ones and address personal drug or alcohol dependency.

You can also use NDAFW to make a difference in your community. Sponsor, host or advertise NDAFW events as you take a leadership role and start conversations about substance use and addiction.

How to Support NDAFW

Because it’s important, encourage your employees to support NDAFW in several ways.

Take the National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge. It’s a 12-question, multiple choice quiz that’s available in English and Spanish. The quiz takes 10 minutes to complete and can be accessed on a mobile device by individual employees or projected onto a large screen, allowing your entire company to take the quiz together and learn more about the challenges teens face.
Observe the National Drugs and Alcohol Chat Day on January 24. Scientists and science writers will answer questions from teens across the country. Topics include drugs and drug misuse, addiction and its effects, and how to help loved ones who are abusing drugs.
Share information about NDAFW on your corporate and personal social media pages and include the hashtag #NDAFW.
Write and record a public service announcement about teen drug and alcohol use or sponsor PSAs written and recorded by local high school students.
Spread the word with brochures and posters about local events.
Sponsor an event, such as Lunch and Learn, at a local school.
Add information about drug and alcohol use, addiction prevention tips and recovery information to your employee handbook.
Encourage employees to use their health insurance to get help if necessary.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is important to your company, employees and community. Participate this year as you make a difference.

Scurich Insurance Services 831-661-5697 Website

Tips To Reduce Common Shipping Risks

Holiday, seasonal or regular overtime allows your company to handle increased sales demands or cover employee absences. While you may enjoy the extra money, long work hours affect workplace safety.

Know five common overtime dangers and their solutions as you remain safe at work.

Health Problems

Working 10 hours or more a day can increase your non-fatal heart attack risk by 60 percent. Long work hours may also increase workplace injuries and cause health problems such as:

High blood pressure
Increased alcohol and tobacco consumption
Stress
Mental health problems
Obesity
Depression

Address potential health risks when you take care of your physical health. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and perform regular self-care.

Personal Problems

A Cornell University study found that three in 10 employees who work more than 60 hours a week experience severe family conflicts, including divorce. Personal problems at home can affect your concentration, attendance and productivity on the job.

Relieve personal problems when you leave your work at work and focus on your loved ones when you’re at home. Your employer may also offer professional counseling that addresses any ongoing challenges caused by overtime.

Workplace Safety Risks

Numerous studies link overtime with an increase in workplace accidents that could be caused by fatigue, performance impairment, low morale and decreased attention span. These safety risks can occur after a single or several long work days.

Carefully follow safety procedures, and encourage your co-workers to do the same. If you feel fatigued, stressed or distracted, talk to your employer since safety always comes first.

Low Moral

Poor morale affects 31 percent of employees who work more than 10 hours of overtime a week. When you don’t want to be at work, your attention wanes and you may make unsafe or costly mistakes.

Prioritize self-care as you improve your morale. Try to avoid negative conversations about work, too. A healthy work-life balance also helps you stay motivated to appreciate your job and do your best.

High Turnover Rates

Companies with high overtime rates also experience high turnover rates as employees decide that long work long hours are not worth the monetary rewards. Companies then must hire and train new employees who require time to learn workplace safety protocols.

While you can’t control the turnover rate, you can advocate for safety at all times. Encourage veteran and novice employees to follow all safety protocols, too.

Overtime may be mandatory at your workplace, so be aware of the dangers and the solutions that help you ensure safety. Ask your employer about the company’s wellness and mental health programs, too, that help you and your co-workers achieve balance and maintain safety as you work long hours.

Scurich Insurance Services 831-661-5697 Website

How To Retain Top Talent And Keep Them Happy

Your company’s success in 2019 depends in part on your employees. After investing time and effort in hiring and training your team, you want to retain that top talent and ensure your employees are happy. These tips help you achieve employee loyalty and satisfaction.

Offer Professional Development

Give employees opportunities to expand their skills and grow into their potential. In addition to assigning meaningful, challenging and stimulating work, offer tuition reimbursement for continuing education classes, host leadership workshops and hire a career counselor to personalize professional development for every individual.

Clarify Expectations

An accurate and clear job description tells employees their exact purpose and what they need to accomplish on the job. When you clarify expectations, your employees understand what they need to do to succeed in their position, and your company is more likely to succeed.

Build Teamwork

Your employees want to know that their talents are valuable to the team. Make an effort to encourage teamwork. Build this characteristic through team building events, offsite outings, game time, and wellness challenges. As important, include your staff as you brainstorm ideas and make decisions that affect the company and their jobs.

Encourage Feedback

Recognize your employees’ ideas for improvement. They’re in the trenches and may have numerous ideas that streamline production, improve customer service or revolutionize your operations. As a bonus, your employees will feel motivated to continue to work hard because they feel valued.

Provide Perks

A generous benefits package with a variety of insurance options is a perk most employees appreciate. Additionally, provide free beverages, office luncheons and a wellness program or poll your employees to see which perks they want as you prompt your talent to remain loyal to your company.

Support Work-Life Balance

While your employees are hired to do a job, they’re also people and have a personal life. Support their work-life balance with flexible time off, paid leave and a daycare stipend.

Share Feedback

Schedule regular check-ins that allow you to tell employees what they’re doing right and what they could do better. These informal conversations throughout the year remind employees of their goals and help them stay on track.

Give Recognition

Reward team members often for their dedication, loyalty, ingenuity, hard work, teamwork, and other important characteristics. The recognition can be a priority parking space, plaque on the wall or concert ticket.

Exercise Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) describes the social and environmental impacts your company makes. You’ll do a better job of retaining talent when your company embraces diversity, sustainability and equality.

As your company looks forward to a successful 2019, spend time retaining top talent and keeping them happy. Your investment is important to your employees and your business.

Scurich Insurance Services 831-661-5697 Website

New Year's Resolutions for Risk Managers

New Year’s Resolutions for Risk Managers

Whether your business has downsized or grown over the past few years, the waters seem a bit calmer now; and it's a good time to overhaul your risk management program.

Resolve to address the trends in liability claims:

•             Cyber liability is a rapidly growing source of claims. These claims tend to be costly in terms of reputation as well as expensive to mitigate. Spend some money avoiding these risks, particularly when you are on shared access on-site.
•             Building Materials and supplies. The insurance industry is scared of finding the next asbestos claim. Do not use known toxic products in construction. Keep in mind environmental issues are an increasing source of claims. Indoor air quality is a near-future catch-all vector for asthma, CPOD, and other respiration conditions lawsuits. The formaldehyde sheet rock incident was quickly remediated; but use that as a lesson for mastic selection or supply sourcing.
•             Keep your work space dry. Mold and mildew flourish at 15-18% moisture content. Before buttoning up closed spaces, take time with a moisture meter and record the results. This step is vitally important for new or replacement roofs. Dry these areas thoroughly until moisture content is below 15%.
•             Employment practices. With a greater number of women entering and thriving in the construction industry, resolve to treat these valuable employees on equal terms with their male associates. And educate all employees about sexual harassment and bullying. Zero tolerance is your best written policy for this liability.
•             The officers and directors of every public company are under attack from customers, employees, and regulators. Review your D&O coverage thoroughly.

Resolve to be more proactive than in the past. Check behind every delegated task. Personally walk sites, shops, offices, and site trailers to assure fire and life safety equipment is available and properly functioning. Verify OSHA logs and internal safety data is up-to-date and communicated properly.

Resolve to review your risk management program thoroughly and begin shopping your insurance coverage, including new insurance carriers early, at least 120 days before your preferred expiration date. Get in sync with your agent or new agent on this matter.

The turmoil of the construction industry has sent shockwaves through the insurance industry as well. Calmer times are ahead. Just be sure your one of the first ones settled.

Scurich Insurance Services 831-661-5697 Website