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...the agency watches their hours and docks them for coming in late. In that case...

...d why their agency value should be docked for having inadequate working capita...

... workers, diesel engine operators, dock workers, garage mechanics, metal oxide...

...oducers with laptops and in-agency docking stations are mobile and able to com...

... with Producer Command Centers, which put the producers together to share ideas, brainstorm, and practice team-selling. (The compensation structure ensures that their sharing' is productive and not just fun.) Cubicles work for the identified producer tasks simply because they are tasks, ' as opposed to eight-hour-a-day occupations. If the agency isn't as comfortable as a producer's Lexus, great! Producers with laptops and in-agency docking stations are mobile and able to communicate in and out of the agency. While our industry's agency-management system vendors need to refine their systems' ability to work better in this mode, this is clearly where we need to go-and systems are good enough now to begin going there. FOUND SPACE Transactional files take much less space than traditional paper files. Agencies that aren't keeping agency copies of standard-policy declaration ... things, and have some fun. You can make the place you work help achieve what you want in your work. Virginia M. Bates, LIA, is an educator on management and coverage topics and an independent consultant who advises insurance agencies and companies on E&O protection, successful technology usage, profitability, marketing, operations, and perpetuation. She can be reached at VMB Associates, Inc., 115 Ashland St., Melrose, MA 02176, (781) 665-0623, fax (781) 662-1288, E-mail [email protected] . Login or Register (for FREE) to gain access to thousands of other great articles. Need more reasons to join? Need insurance for you, your business or your family? Get quality appointments - Save yourself a whole lot ...

... period of their job tenure. In general, exempt employees must supervise two or more employees. They must also spend half of their time or more performing work that requires teaching or specialized study, and less than 20% of their time on routine tasks. Most Personal lines service reps and Commercial assistants are probably nonexempt. Senior level Commercial personnel are probably exempt unless the agency watches their hours and docks them for coming in late. In that case, a precedent has probably been set for nonexempt status. Some states insist that the employee's salary be more than $20,000 a year to be considered exempt. It's advisable to treat CSRs as nonexempt and keep accurate records of their hours. In addition to checking federal employment laws, be sure to check the laws in your state AGENCY ... how new trends are affecting management, relationships, distinctions between exempt and nonexempt employees, agency trust requirements, and procedures. Opportunities to join mergers or networks pop up almost weekly, further confusing already murky business plans. As if direct writing companies, banks, the Internet and mega-brokers aren't enough, accountants are getting commissions for Life insurance sales and they may begin selling other lines. The American Bar Association (ABA) is considering a proposal to allow lawyers to work more directly with accountants, insurance agents, and financial planners. There are more than 160,000 CPAs and almost a million ABA members in the United States. Compare that to about 35,000 independent insurance agencies with an average of 3.8 producers each. HIRED GUNS With all the changes in the insurance market, agency principals ...

...g, rolling, or spreading? [ ] Are dock boards or bridge plates used when transferring material between docks and trucks or rail cars? EXITING O...