Is Pay-As-You-Go Worker’s Comp for you?

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 30, 2017. It has 0 comments.

You’ve probably heard of pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation insurance. It’s likely you’ve received a few emails, phone calls, or letters in the mail offering this as an alternative to the traditional workers’ comp you’ve purchased. Before you make the leap from your current coverage to pay-as-you-go, it’s important to understand what it is and what it isn’t.

PAY-AS-YOU-GO WORKERS’ COMP

Pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation coverage is a way to pay for your workers’ comp coverage by bundling or combining it with your payroll. You work with a payroll or HR service, and they make sure your employees and your workers’ comp premiums are paid every pay period. You’ll be presented with a single bill to cover all the costs for that time period.

The pay-as-you-go method allows you to pay your workers’ compensation premiums based on your actual payroll and your exposure risk instead of the budgeted payroll you believe will be accurate for the year. This helps eliminate surprises during your workers’ comp audit.

TRADITIONAL VS. PAY-AS-YOU-GO

Traditional workers’ compensation and the pay-as-you-go method aren’t completely different insurance coverages, but they do have distinct differences you need to know about. Here’s how pay-as-you-go workers’ comp works:

  • What you pay to the payroll service is your premium payment only. You still need to work with a state-approved insurance provider for your coverage.
  • Your premium is based on the payroll generated during a pay cycle.
  • Your premium is based on a rate per 100 of payroll per job classification.
  • Pay-as-you-go coverage often requires a down payment so that a notice of cancellation can be covered if your provider cancels your coverage.
  • This method is still auditable because all workers’ comp insurance is auditable.

The only difference between pay-as-you-go and traditional workers’ comp insurance is that with traditional you get to work directly with your insurance agent for your coverage. The insurance company you choose may offer a similar payment structure. The other difference is that, as you know, a traditional premium is based on a projection of your annual payroll instead of the actual amount.

THE PROS AND CONS OF PAY-AS-YOU-GO WORKERS’ COMP

Ultimately, deciding which type of workers’ compensation to select comes down to what will work best for your company. Here are a few pros and cons to this method so you can make a good choice for yourself.

PROS:

  1. Pay-as-you-go eases your cash flow. Instead of one big payment, you’ll pay a little over time.
  2. Your audit will be easier and more accurate. As long as the payment and reporting of your workers’ comp premiums are accurate, you shouldn’t have any large premium payments at the end of your audit.
  3. You’ll have accurate information and payments because the amount you pay is based on your actual payroll.

CONS:

  1. You’re not able to budget for your workers comp. It is what it is each pay cycle.
  2. You may have a lack of control. You might not always see the true cost of your workers’ comp as it will be bundled in with the rest of your payroll.
  3. Not all insurance companies allow a pay-as-you-go method so your options may be limited and you may not be getting the best rates.

Ultimately, pay-as-you-go workers’ comp has to be a decision that works for your business needs. Insurance providers are offering more solutions and flexibility for their programs, though, so you may simply need to contact your provider to find out what they can offer. If you’re not sure what to do about your workers’ comp coverage, contact us at Charlotte Insurance. We’ll help you walk through your options to make the best decision possible.

6 Overlooked Benefits of Renters Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 28, 2017. It has 0 comments.

You probably already know that renters insurance covers your personal possessions in your apartment in the event of a break-in or other disaster, but you probably didn’t know about some of the lesser known but equally important benefits. If you’ve wondered if your renters insurance was really worth the money you pay, here’s your proof.

  1. You get a place to stay if your apartment or rental is uninhabitable. Your landlord is responsible for fixing your rental, but that doesn’t help when you have nowhere else to stay. Renter’s insurance covers “additional living expenses” which includes a hotel if your place can’t be lived in after a disaster.
  2. Your guests get their medical expenses covered. If a friend comes over to hang out, and they get hurt, they could, technically, sue you to pay for the medical expenses. With renters insurance, those expenses are covered up to your policy limits – usually between $1000 and $5000.
  3. Your accident-prone kid is (sort of) covered. Renters insurance doesn’t cover everything your child gets into, but if they cause damage to your neighbor’s property, your coverage will pay the damage up to your policy limits. This kicks in if it’s you or your partner who break something, too, not just your kid.
  4. Your borrowed or rented equipment is covered. Did you borrow a tool from a friend that got destroyed in a fire? Your renters insurance has you covered. The policy covers anything “in your possession” so you don’t have to own it, simply have it with you or in your rental property.
  5. You’re covered when you’re away from home. Whether you travel out of town or your car is parked in front of your job, if your stuff gets stolen when you’re not at home, your renters insurance replaces what was lost. It’s important to know this type of coverage is only a percentage of your overall insurance, usually around 10 percent.
  6. You’re covered in case you’re sued. Think about the neighbor who’s mad because you damaged their property or the friend who broke their arm at your house. They could sue you. If that happens, you have liability coverage through your renters insurance policy that pays your legal fees.

Your renters insurance is more than an annual nuisance or this thing your landlord requires. When you’re tempted to let your coverage lapse, don’t. Not only will all of your belongings – clothes, computer, furniture, and more – be covered in a disaster, you and your family will be protected from lots of extras, too. Renters insurance doesn’t cost very much and it’s worth every penny with a single covered claim.

Are you looking for more affordable renters insurance? Wondering exactly what your policy covers? Contact us at Charlotte Insurance so we can give you an estimate and answer all your questions.

Staying Safe on Cyber Monday

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 21, 2017. It has 0 comments.

Between all the shopping you’ll likely do on Black Friday and Cyber Monday and the shopping you’ll do throughout the holiday season, you’re going to have a lot of transactions. With all the data breaches we’ve seen this year, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself.

Here are a few tips to stay safe on Cyber Monday and anytime you shop online.

  1. Shop from a secure computer. Make sure you have a reputable security software installed. Don’t rely on a free security option to protect you.
  2. Use a secure connection online. When shopping from your computer and a web browser, look for URLs that begin with HTTPS (instead of HTTP). This means they have an extra layer of security that will help protect you.
  3. Shop from trusted vendors and go directly to their URL. Avoid clicking on ads because they can easily be faked and hide malicious viruses or other things designed to steal your information.
  4. Review your bank account and credit card statements regularly. Make sure you know your login information for your accounts online so you can check at any point. Immediately contact your bank or credit card if you see something suspicious.
  5. Better yet, set up an alert through your bank or credit card to notify you any time a purchase over a specific dollar amount is made. This way you’ll get a text or email for all your purchases and can immediately see if something fraudulent comes through.
  6. Ideally, only use a credit card that’s not attached to your bank account. This way you don’t have to worry about all of the money in your bank account being wiped out.
  7. Create unique login and password information at every store you purchase from. If a hacker gets your information, they’ll try to use it in multiple places. If you use the same login information everywhere, you’ve just given a thief access to all of your account information.
  8. If you shop from your smartphone or tablet, use a trusted vendor’s mobile app instead of a web browser. It’s harder to detect if the browser is secure.
  9. Only download mobile apps from reputable stores like iTunes for Apple and Google Play for Android. Beware of any store’s app that isn’t available in these places.
  10. Don’t click on links you don’t recognize whether in an online ad or in an email you’re sent. Thieves use this as a way to get your personal information.

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but thieves use it as a time to steal and take. Don’t make their job easy. Protect yourself when you’re online this holiday season.

Reducing Stress in the Workplace

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 16, 2017. It has 0 comments.

The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. Family obligations, buying gifts, juggling home and work – people are often get stressed out by Thanksgiving and it only gets worse until after the first of the year. Stress has a big impact on your employees, too – at home and at work. You might not be able to help them in their personal lives, but reducing stress at work is definitely a good goal to have. When you do, you increase productivity and reduce safety problems.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE STRESSED

Regardless of the reasons, once your employees get stressed out, you can tell. They often have similar problems and symptoms. While some look like laziness, don’t jump to conclusions. They could simply be stressed to the max. Signs of stress include:

  • Exhaustion due to inability to sleep
  • Headaches and illnesses
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Lack of motivation
  • Showing up late
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Poor decision making

If your employees are usually on their game, seeing these signs is a clear indication that something is wrong.

HOW STRESS IMPACTS WORK

If you don’t recognize the symptoms, you’ll likely recognize the results of stress. It’s bad for your employees and your company.

  • Employees call out more often or they show up late.
  • Productivity and performance goes down.
  • Morale is low.
  • Safety goes down and accidents increase.

Before you jump to conclusions that your employees don’t care or they’re choosing to focus on something other than work, consider the individual. When a normally great employee begins to falter, there’s a reason. It’s often related to stress.

HELPING YOUR EMPLOYEES REDUCE STRESS

You need your employees producing good work and staying out of accidents, especially if you’re in an industry that gets busier towards the end of the year. Workers’ comp claims and people out of work makes that even harder. Finding ways to help your employees reduce their stress keeps everyone safer and happier.

  • Encourage employees to talk about it. Being able to admit to being stressed goes a long way in dealing with it.
  • Offer time off. A stressed employee who causes accidents is worse than an absent employee who takes an extra day or two off.
  • Listen to your employees. If their stress is related to the work environment, pay attention and then do your best to correct the problem.
  • Offer workplace wellness plans that encourage healthy living and exercise. Physical movement helps decrease stress.
  • Plan a social activity for your staff. A holiday themed party or outing may give your employees the chance to take their mind off their stress for a while. It also breaks up the monotony and gives people something to look forward to.

Having safety plans and procedures to reduce accidents are great! But it’s also important to think about your employees as people with lives they care about. We’d like to believe that we can leave the personal at home but it doesn’t work that way. Helping your employees reduce their stress at work makes everyone safer and reduces accidents. That’s good for them and for business.

No matter how hard you try, accidents happen on the job. Make sure you’ve got enough workers’ comp insurance to cover you and your employees. Contact Charlotte Insurance today, and we’ll let you know what other policies are available that keeps you legal and protects you and your employees.

Thinking of Frying your Turkey? Think Again

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 14, 2017. It has 0 comments.

Ahhh, Thanksgiving. It’s a time of family, friends, and football – although not always in that order. For most people, the center of attention during the holiday season is the turkey. Bake it, smoke it, roast it, or grill it, it’s all delicious both the first time you eat it and as leftovers for the next few days.

While we might focus on good food to eat, we also have to focus on safety. More than 2000 fires occur every Thanksgiving, and most of those are due to food catching on fire. Much of that is due to deep fat fryers – like the kind you use to deep fry a turkey.

WHY FRYING TURKEYS IS DANGEROUS

Fried turkey may be delicious, but it’s also a major hazard. Imagine it. You’re using a massive amount of hot oil, heating it to high temperatures, and then setting a large bird that may or may not be thawed in the middle of it. Just a little bit of added moisture can create huge oil splatters that cover you and others with severe burns. Set up your fryer in a bad place, and it may tip over, splashing and spreading oil in every direction.

Frying turkeys is considered so dangerous that it’s not even recommended under certain safety controls. No matter how careful you are as an individual, deep frying a turkey is considered incredibly dangerous. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) doesn’t recommend it as a cooking method and has found that none of the deep fryers on the market are safe enough to overcome their concerns because they can all easily tip over.

WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY

We know that no matter how much we caution you not to fry your turkey, someone will. It happens all the time. Before you do, here’s what you need to know if the worst happens:

  • Make sure your bird is as dry and thawed as possible before you put it in the oil. If the bird or oil catches on fire, do not throw water on the flames.
  • Do not use your deep fryer on a drizzly day or if snow or ice is melting outside. A single drop of moisture landing in the fryer can cause big problems.
  • Never leave your deep fryer unattended. Keep children and pets far away, and never set up next to your house.
  • Keep your fire extinguisher close by so you can easily put out a fire, just in case.
  • Remember to stop, drop, and roll if you or your clothing catches on fire.
  • Make sure someone else knows how to work the fire extinguisher and that everyone (including children) can dial 911.

This Thanksgiving spend time with your family and friends and enjoy good food while making memories. Don’t put yourself, your family, or your home in danger to fry a turkey. No meal is worth a loss of life or home.

Child Safety and Prevention Month

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 9, 2017. It has 0 comments.

Every day in the United States, at least six children die from accidents and injuries that occur in the home. Many of which are preventable. Because of this, November has been designated Child Safety and Prevention Month.

We know how much you love your children. Here are a few tips for how to make your home safer for your little ones.

SECURE EVERYTHING

Thankfully there are plenty of tools you can use to secure your home. Baby gates keep curious toddlers out of rooms they don’t need to be in and away from stairs that are too dangerous for them. Door knob covers keep kids from opening doors not meant for them. Toilet seat and cabinet latches and locks keep them from getting into dangerous situations.

PUT AWAY THE CHEMICALS

Medications – prescription and over-the-counter – and household cleaning supplies are major causes of illness for small children. They’re curious and will put their mouth on anything. Keep these chemicals out of their hands and mouths by locking them away using cabinet locks and putting them out of reach in high places they can’t get to. Make sure you have the number for Poison Control programmed into your phone: 1-800-222-1222 – just in case.

KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN

With kids, the cleaning almost never stops and we know you’re exhausted from it. Certain cleaning keeps your kids safe, though. Pick up small toys and items that can become choking hazards. Keep your floors swept or vacuumed to reduce toxins or allergens in your home that can make them sick. Push your television, computer, and other electronic appliances back towards the wall so they’re less likely to tip them over. Your home will be tidier and your children safer.

EMPTY THE CRIB

While you’re cleaning, pull out all the soft, loose, beautiful things you’ve placed in the crib. This includes the bumper, blankets, quilts, pillows, and stuffed animals. Yes, they make the room look better, but they’re also hazardous to your baby’s health. Small infants can suffocate on their bedding while they sleep. If you can’t bear to part with the bedding, remove it before every nap and at night when you put your baby to bed.

CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS

When seconds matter, you need to know immediately if there’s smoke or fire in your home. Make sure your smoke alarms have fresh batteries and work. Test them every six months. If your alarms are old or outdated, consider replacing them with the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm combination. Also keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen to quickly put out a small fire – especially if a little someone became curious about the stove or a candle.

KEEP TOXINS OUT OF YOUR HOME

From toxic plants to pesticides, you’d be amazed at what gets brought into your home. Use a welcome mat for people to wipe their feet before entering your home. This will reduce what allergens, pesticides, and other toxins are dragged inside. Check your houseplants, as well. Some are toxic if ingested, and as mentioned earlier, children will put anything in their mouth. Choose houseplants like Boston ferns, jade plants, and miniature roses which are non-toxic and safe.

You love your children and would do anything for them. Keeping them safe from harm is a big part of that. With a few small tweaks around your home, you can prevent accidents and protect your little ones.

Sometimes life and accidents happen no matter how many precautions you take, which is why you need good homeauto, and life insurance policies. If you’ve just had a baby or are about to, contact us at Charlotte Insurance so we can make sure you and your little one are covered.