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... 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM by CompleteMarkets Editor , Grace Bauer This content has not been rated yet. Some employees are actually happy in their jobs these days, and for good reason. The wave is starting to swell as more and more agencies are truly taking care of their employees. From a half-day off per week to allowing them to pick up their kids from school to telecommuting, agencies are thinking about how their employees feel and taking care of their personal needs. Surprise! Employees really are happy. After all, what other agencies or companies these days would even think of such things? Enlightened agencies are identifying their employees' needs and satisfying them. Needless to say, revenue is increasing, morale is up, employees are sticking around, and overall ... could eliminate disruptions throughout the day and result in a higher quality of work. After all, employees know they have their half-day off to take care of personal needs that might otherwise be on their minds. Morale goes up, and work remains up-to-date. PICK THE KIDS UP AT SCHOOL Sally has a temperature, and the school nurse called me to pick her up. I don't want Sally riding the bus today. I really need to pick her up at school. How often have you heard these kinds of concerns from parents? One agency allows an employee to do this every day. Apparently, the employee wanted to make sure that the child wasn't riding the bus every day. They wanted to be there when the child left the school grounds. Believe me, the employee is very grateful to ...

...g them to pick up their kids from school to telecommuting, agencies a...EPING Enrolling young children in preschool is now very common. Parents drop off their children at school in the morning and pick them up in...

... this and you won't be able to achieve the status you desire. To become a great agency, you must have the right people. We all know that the insurance industry is a great place to work — but let's be honest — most people don't grow up dreaming about a career in insurance. In fact, within Utica Mutual, I only know a handful of employees who actually went to school planning a career in insurance. Personally, I started out as a weekend radio disc jockey. When that wasn't enough to pay the bills, I started selling insurance door-to-door for Combined Life. Then I went to Metropolitan, then to the agency side of the business, and so on. That being said, it stands to reason that there's a good chance that when you hire staff, ... of you and your staff — or that of your customers? Curt Pearsall offers some core agency basics that you need to address before you can even consider the question of "good" or "great." &# 160 In his best-seller Good to Great, Jim Collins states that to go from a good organization to a great one, you have to first get the right people on the bus, take the wrong people off the bus, put the right people in the right seats — and then figure out where to drive. Anything short of this and you won't be able to achieve the status you desire. To become a great agency, you must have the right people. We all know that the insurance industry is a great place to work — but let's be honest — ...

...of employees who actually went to school planning a career in insurance. Perso...NGOING TRAINING We all know that this business is changing at a rapid pace &#...

...long the bus route I took to high school. Each week the printer would put a ne...f your clients use it to promote their business? How about sharing your storie...

... the regulations require of you. WHO IS COVERED? The DOT's explanation of safety-sensitive' functions in the motor carrier industry is simply anyone driving, ready to drive, or immediately available to drive and any driver who is supervising the loading and unloading of a truck is considered to be performing a safety-sensitive function and must be subject to drug and alcohol testing. All said, not only truck drivers but school bus drivers, certain delivery personnel, and other drivers of commercial motor vehicles-even if they do not cross a state line-are now subject to drug and alcohol testing. On January 1, 1995, the drug and alcohol testing requirements of the Omnibus Drug Act became effective for companies with 50 or more safety-sensitive transportation workers. On January 1, 1996, the rule went into effect for all other companies ... so that hundreds of thousands of small companies should be in the process of planning their testing programs even if they employ only one covered worker. HOW DO THE REGULATIONS WORK? Drug Testing-Employers must test employees for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamine (including methamphetamine) . Before hiring an individual for a safety-sensitive position.  Within 32 hours after an accident has occurred.  Randomly at a 50% frequency rate (25% for the aviation and railway industries) .& #160 Upon reasonable suspicion that an employee is using illegal drugs.  Prior to an employee returning to duty in a safety-sensitive position after participating in a substance abuse treatment program.  As follow-up to treatment based on the recommendation of a substance ...

... to help deal with changes. Reward with Casual Dress-down Stickers. Offer Early Fridays, casual day on Friday. Recognize their accomplishments with prizes and awards. Money does not always motivate. Keep it friendly, not a war zone. Get them to come to work the next day. Recognize their accomplishments. Be flexible and allow time off for certain personal needs, medical visits, family day at school, etc. Advocate additional time off for fitness/exercise time beyond normal break times. Extend summer hours to all year. Allow CSRs to take ½ days off on Friday afternoons in summer (although time must be made up) . Owner is very flexible with hours. Bought a "magic bullet" – every day, around 2:45, they mix their ... a few of the ideas they offered: Let your people know they're doing a good job. Thank them! We have a massage therapist give 15-minute massages, about twice a year. We have flexible hours. Fifteen minute massages during stressful times (360 conversion, end of the year) . Flexibility in hours/days off (flex-time, four-day work week, off early to get kids off bus, etc.) . Buy ice cream or some special treat for all employees once a month. Vacation time. Luncheon, surprise treats (Dairy Queen), drawings for prizes. Allow CSRs to work a day or two per week from home Celebrate – Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter, special lunches, time off. Hand out the book, Who Moved My Cheese ...

... said, not only truck drivers but school bus drivers, certain delivery personnel, a...many cases, however, owners of smaller businesses may have never considered workplace substance abuse issues, and starting a substance abuse program that includes drug and alc...

...sed sprinkler systems, law firms, school bus operations, and loggers. New niche pro...rectly to premium production. The more business your retail agency writes with...

...ds, medical visits, family day at school, etc. Advocate additional time of...