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to To The Point list To the Point/September/2005 • Your company’s emergency plan. Not long ago, someone said, “I’ve got better things to do than figure out an emergency plan. Who needs it?” Answer: every company, large or small. And it should be in writing, even though OSHA allows businesses with fewer than 10 employees to communicate the plan orally. Emergencies can and do occur. Having a plan can make the difference in minimizing injury and loss of property. Employees have a right to expect that their company is responsible for their safety. There is a potential liability issue in not having a plan. It’s quite possible an employer could be held liable for not meeting OSHA requirements. Here are a few emergency plan basics:
Even though OSHA does not require a written plan for employers with fewer than 10 employees, it only makes good business sense to have a one-page plan that can be given to every employee. A plan should, in effect, communicate the message that the company has thought through what to do when an emergency occurs. If you would like information about emergency plans, please contact Judy Jacobs at our office, 693-2100 or judyj@mosineeins.com. • Your Workers’ Comp premiums: loan and insurance company overhead payments. A major initiative at Mosinee Insurance is helping employers understand Workers’ Compensation. That’s not an easy task since WorkComp is painfully complicated. But one fact is absolutely true: Insurance companies don’t pay for Workers’ Comp. Employers do. Your “premiums” are really loans on which you pay a high interest rate. On top of that, about 30% of your “premium” goes to insurance company overhead and profits. In other words, when there is an injury claim, you pay for it. Claims mean “premium” increases––higher “loan payments.” If you want to learn what to do to cut and control your Workers’ Comp expenses, then plan now to attend our You Can Control Your Workers’ Comp Costs seminar on Thursday, October 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Wausau. It’s free and it’s educational. Judy Jacobs, CWCA, our manager of Comp-Save Solutions will lead it. We guarantee it will be an eye-opening experience. You’ll be surprised, amazed and probably disturbed. That’s good. • Why do we complain about companies we do business with––but stay with them? Whether it’s a bank, insurance agency, dry cleaner, telephone company or Internet provider, we often stay with a business even though we are dissatisfied with the service. Recently, the president of an employee benefits company expressed his frustration. “When we meet with a qualified prospect, we are almost always greeted warmly and with appreciation,” he said. “They like what we say and seem to want to do business with us.” Then he added, “But more and more, we can’t get through after the meeting and we never hear from them again. What are we doing wrong?” Probably nothing. There are two significant deterrents to making a change today: 1) No one wants to make a mistake––and then be faced with explaining it or having to live with the pain; 2) Time. This is one of the major hurdles; namely, the time it takes not only to make a change but also to work out the bugs. Addressing these issues directly and forthrightly up front can be helpful in overcoming the fear of change. For example, “Ms. Geddes, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were concerned about what’s involved in making a change…. Is that right? I understand. Let me walk you through the process and what we do so you’re comfortable.” This is also one place where testimonials and references can be helpful and reassuring. It’s not just making it easy to change; it’s more a matter of reducing the fear involved with the change. • It’s all about blur. In 1998, Blur: The speed of change in the connected economy, a book by Stan Davis and Christopher Meyer appeared. The theme is as valid today as it was then: the increased speed of life makes everything a blur. True––everything seems to blend together. But all of us seem to be experiencing another form of blur––one that’s affecting us to a greater degree than an ever faster pace. It’s the 24/7 blur. Or, more accurately, the 365/24 blur. Whether we like it or not, it’s real, and perhaps it’s probably even inevitable for most of the population. Certainly, anyone under 15 years of age is part of it now. The rest of us will be catching up. In effect, the morphing of the cell phone into a total communications center, the pervasiveness of the laptop (quickly replacing desktop computers), and universal connectivity (Wi-Fi, etc.) effectively eliminates barriers between work and personal life. Gerald Celente, director of The Trends Research Institute, may be correct when he writes, “Gripped in a 24/7 work state of mind, the adult population has become too tired to go out and play and too tight to let loose.” It may be that technology is de-compartmentalizing our lives. Why go out when entertainment hangs on the living room wall or the desk in the bedroom? Bounce-back email stating that the recipient is “out of the office until…” sends what can be viewed as a questionable message. Total connectivity is fast becoming the norm. It’s all about blur. Sincerely,  Tom Helbach Back to To The Point list |
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