| By Sue Keegan , AIC, MBA, Learning & Development Manager Still suffering from a turkey hangover? Shake it off, and sign up for our Personal Lines or Property and Casualty Pre-Licensing classes, which start tomorrow, December 1st.
We are excited to launch this program. You can register right up to 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning! Have you found yourself at the end of the year and in need of 15 CE credits? We've got you covered – sign up for our 15inONE CE program. Finish the year strong (and in compliance)!
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| A disaster is a natural or unnatural event that is destructive to your clients personal and business properties and threatens your ability to serve them. Disasters can strike at any time and without notice. Here in New York State we know all about blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, floods and now, pandemics. Prepare your employees, office, data, systems and clients with the Disaster Planning Resource from ACT (Agents Council for Technology). This is a user-friendly fillable document for your agency to determine employee roles, preparing the office, working with your carriers and communication plans. Download it today, you'll be glad you did.
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| Today, the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board issued Bulletin R.C. 2527, which states that effective December 1, 2020, claims attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic are excluded from the merit rating calcuation of individual employers.
Per Bulletin R.C. 2512 of May 1, 2020, COVID-19-related losses are also excluded from experience rating, effective December 1, 2020.
If you have any questions, please contact NYCIRB: Mark Battistelli, Vice President of Underwriting Services (212) 697‐3535, ext. 113
underwritingservices@nycirb.org
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| We're here to help you as you help your team succeed! Here are 5 of our favorite educational resources to help your team stay at the top of their game.
1. Pre-LicensingDoes someone at your agency need a license? Our Pre-Licensing classes start on December 1st and your team doesn't even need to leave their desk. Plus - we're now offering Personal Lines-only Pre-Licensing for even greater flexibility. Sign up now. 2. Sales CoachingYour team can better understand their habits of thinking, learn a proven process for selling, and develop their leadership skills - all while learning at their own pace from experienced coaches. Learn more about our offerings. 3. 15inONEDoes your team need credits quickly? With our self-study, simple exam, and webinar, they'll earn 15 CE Credits while learning how to protect your agency. Works for all licenses except TLA. Register now. 4. New Hire TrainingSuccess or failure comes from how you onboard and train your new hire - and we have a premier learning solution for starting your team member on the right track ( and it's an affordable price). Choose a learning path.
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| Access to markets shouldn’t prevent you from writing business. That's why we've joined forces with our sister associations to develop IMS – a market access solution for your agency.
Today, we're thrilled to share some great incentives for writing new business with Attune through the end of the year.
Earn a $300 Gift Card Attune is offering agencies a $300 gift card for their first policy. All you (or someone from your agency) have to do is bind a qualifying Businessowners' or Workers' Comp policy through the Attune Portal by December 31st.
If your agency qualifies, you'll have the option to select gift cards from places like Amazon, Lowes, Apple, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and more. See the full promotion rules.
3% Bonus Commission on New Workers' Comp You can earn an extra 3% commission on all eligible new business Workers’ Compensation policies (regardless of the effective date) bound from now until Thursday, Dec. 31. Check out some of the top Workers’ Compensation options: Food Services Hospitality Professional Services (Offices) Manufacturers Automotive Services
Wholesalers and Distributors Retail / Mercantile Food Manufacturers Medical Services Schools and Child Care
The one-time commission bonus payout will be sent via direct deposit to all qualifying agencies on or before Jan. 31, 2021. See the full promotion rules.
Earn 5% Extra on Retail & Office BOP, and XS New Business You can earn an extra 5% commission on all eligible retail and office BOP and XS new business policies (regardless of the effective date) bound from now until Thursday, Dec. 31. Check out some of the top retail and office classes: Offices Medical Offices Law Offices Insurance Offices Advertising and Related Services Bookkeeping Services
Retail / Mercantile Liquor Stores Electronic / Cell Phone Stores Florists Meat Stores Bakeries
The one-time commission bonus payout will be sent via direct deposit to all qualifying agencies on or before Jan. 31, 2021. See the full promotion rules.
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| It's a great time to write a Businessowners' or Workers' Comp policy through IMS - our Market Access Program! Attune is offering agencies a $300 gift card for their first Attune policy. All you (or someone from your agency) have to do is bind a policy through the portal by Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020.
We can get you set up with Attune quickly. Visit IMSACCESS.com
Promotion Terms $300 For Your First Policy Promotion sponsored by Attune Insurance Services, LLC, 83 Maiden Lane, Floor 6, New York, NY 10038 (Attune).
Promotion Name: $300 For Your First Policy
Territory: All States and the District of Columbia (except where insurance products aren’t approved).
Start Date: Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. ET
End Date: Thusday, December 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Description of Promotion: $300 For Your First Policy Promotion will provide Attune-accredited brokerages the opportunity to receive a $300 gift card based on their agency’s Attune activity. Attune will provide $300 gift cards to agencies who bind their first BOP or WC policies between Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, and Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. A full list of eligible classes is located in the Attune Portal.
Attune will provide gift cards on a rolling monthly basis for those who meet the criteria, and the final payout will occur on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021.
By participating, sub-producers/employees agree to the following rules governing the promotion: - The promotion is open only to licensed insurance sub-producers or employees under the supervision of a licensed sub-producer having an in-force contract with Attune who are invited to participate by Attune.
- No reward may be passed through in whole or in part to any customer.
- The sub-producer will defend and indemnify Attune against any claim by any employee of the sub-producer or any other person or organization.
- The promotion may not be available in all states and is void where prohibited by law.
- The promotion is not a guarantee that insurance coverage will be bound.
- Sub-producers and employees are solely responsible for compliance with any applicable laws and regulations regarding producer compensation.
- Attune is not acting as an agent for any insurance company in relation to the promotion. No reward granted is deducted from premiums.
- Attune reserves the right to suspend, modify or cancel the promotion for any reason and at any time.
- Attune, in its sole discretion, may disqualify any sub-producer found to be engaged in dishonesty or fraud with regard to the promotion or the business of insurance.
- The promotion is not part of the Attune producer contract. Nothing in the promotion or in these terms amends or alters the producer contract between Attune and the sub-producer.
- The sub-producer agrees that any claim or dispute regarding the promotion will be resolved exclusively and finally by binding arbitration in New York, NY in accordance with the current commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association.
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| By Brian Bixby, IAAC President
The risks related to cleaning and disinfecting during the COVID-19 pandemic are multifaceted – and they can have a significant financial, legal, or reputational impact or result in business interruption. While most employers have considered the impact of increased cleaning requirements on their workforce, some may not have considered other related risks or how to prevent any potential resulting losses. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions considered these risks for a wide range of public spaces, workplaces, businesses, and schools and developed a loss prevention report examining some of the general liability risks stemming from the increased cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection requirements of the pandemic. It also looks at this planning process, who needs to be involved, and how the plan should be communicated and enforced. |
| By Sue Keegan , AIC, MBA, Learning & Development Manager Our virtual P&C Pre-Licensing program starts in less than a month. It's exciting to see something that I've heard about and worked on since I started with Big I (almost 7 months ago – WOW!) come to fruition. Our program allows you to be in the office or at your desk while you attend virtually. Our live instructor is there to guide you through the required 90 hours of class. There is no travel requirement whatsoever. You can take the exam from the comfort of your home or office without the need of a monitor. Once you have passed our Pre-Licensing exam, you will receive a certificate of completion, and you can schedule your P&C Licensure exam with New York State. When you pass the state exam you will be granted a New York State Property and Casualty License! Please reach out if you have questions, need help registering, or would like to discuss our many other course offerings.
Check out these classes happening before Thanksgiving:
Racism. Ethics and The Insurance Industry
15inONE Ce Program Construction Contracts: What the Insurance Agent Should Know
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| We are excited to announce the reinvigorated, reimagined, “Stack the PAC" local association competition! Each fiscal year (May 1 – April 30), beginning this year, the top performing local association for IAPAC fundraising will be honored with the Champion Cup!
What is the purpose of “Stack the PAC?"
Now, perhaps more than ever, our industry is facing threats from Albany. Our goal is to drive home the importance of our political action committee, recognize associations that go above and beyond for the cause, and most importantly help independent agencies thrive by growing our influence. How is the winning local association determined? The winner is determined by a weighted scoring system that factors in both total dollars raised and percentage of members contributing. This levels the playing field means that any association can take the trophy! StackthePac2020_Rules.pdf What are the current standings? Weighted Score | Local | Total Contributions | Percentage of Members Contributing | 100 | TRICOUNTY | $10,300 | 40% | 88 | SUFFOLK | $6,356 | 39% | 83 | CENTRAL NY | $3,878 | 39% | 73 | WESTCHESTER | $3,950 | 34% | 62 | CAPITAL | $1,973 | 31% | 61 | MONROE | $2,364 | 30% | 57 | BINGHAMTON | $1,013 | 29% | 55 | WESTERN NY | $3,815 | 25% | 55 | ROCKLAND | $652 | 29% | 47 | ORANGE | $982 | 24% |
Contact Scott Hobson with any questions.
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| The following is a re-publication of a post that originally ran in 2011.
Question from an IIABNY member: I have a personal lines customer who called saying he has a person come to his house every other week and do five hours worth of cleaning. He wanted to confirm there is liability coverage should she be hurt. I called the insurance carrier and the underwriter forwarded the attached Workers Comp endorsement, which to me is a bit confusing. Can you advise your understanding of this endorsement? I would assume if she were hurt on the premises and the insured was negligent (i.e. he allowed her to use a ladder that was defective and she fell), that his liability would respond. But what if she were hurt on the premises and he wasn’t negligent? Would the Workers Comp coverage kick in?
Answer: This endorsement provides so little coverage that the New York Insurance Department won’t even let insurers charge for it anymore (they used to be able to charge $3.) Essentially, it provides Workers’ Comp benefits to the insured’s employee (one with casual employment or regular employment of less than 40 hours per week) if that employee is subject to the New York Workers’ Comp Law. The question becomes, who fits the description of a covered person and also is subject to the Workers’ Comp Law? Almost no one:
Who Is Not Covered By The Workers' Compensation Law? The spouse and minor children (under 18 years old) of an employer who is a farmer as long as they are not under an express contract of hire (WCL §2 [4])...
People, including minors, doing yard work or casual chores in and about a one-family, owner-occupied residence or the premises of a nonprofit, noncommercial organization (WCL §2 [4]). Casual means occasionally, without regularity, without foresight, plan or method. Coverage is required if the minor handles power-driven machinery, including a power lawnmower.
Essentially, the endorsement provides benefits if a kid using a power mower or snowblower gets hurt while working on the insured’s property. If he’s using a shovel, he’s not eligible for benefits; if he’s fired up the Toro, he is. Otherwise, the endorsement doesn’t cover most domestic employees because those employees are not covered by the law (“coverage does not apply to an employee who is not required, under New York Workers’ Compensation Law, to be covered.”)
Domestic workers include chauffeurs, nannies, home health aides, au pairs, nurses, baby-sitters, maids, cooks, housekeepers, laundry workers, butlers, companions, and gardeners working in a private household.
Domestic workers employed forty or more hours per week by the same employer (including full-time sitters or companions, and live-in maids) are required to be covered by a New York State workers' compensation insurance policy.
Workers' compensation insurance is NOT required IF the only people who work for the household are domestic workers in a private household who individually work less than 40 hours per week for that household and do not live on premises. However a person who employs household help for less than 40 hours per week are encouraged to obtain a voluntary workers' compensation insurance policy to protect both the employer and the employee.
Please note that a homeowner's insurance policy's workers' compensation insurance rider does not cover any domestic employees for workers' compensation benefits.
Therefore, this endorsement will not cover the person cleaning your insured’s home. He can either rely on his liability coverage or voluntarily buy a Workers Comp policy to provide coverage.
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