2022 a Record High for Jewelry Crimes
The Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) says crimes against U.S. jewelers last year hit their highest number the trade association has ever recorded, resulting in $129.4 million in losses.
Is Your In-House Medical Program Exposing You to OSHA Citations?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is devoting more attention to scrutinizing employers' in-house medical programs for general duty clause violations related to alleged medical mismanagement of injured workers. With medical mismanagement claims on the rise, now is the time for employers to thoroughly evaluate their onsite treatment programs and make changes to reduce the risk of citations.
Controversial Bills Target Employer Obligations
A series of high-profile bills recently cleared a key Senate committee which could substantially impact employers' obligations regarding unions, pay equity, and paid leave. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee on June 21 advanced three bills — the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Healthy Families Act. All three have companion legislation in the House.
Are Your Workplace Posters Up to Date?
The June 27 deadline has passed, and employers should now have updated workplace posters reflecting the expanded rights of employees under certain federal Acts. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), enacted at the end of June, and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), enacted last December, grant additional protections that must appear on mandatory postings.
10 Cyber Security Resolutions
Cyber security threats and trends can change year over year as technology continues to advance at alarming speeds. As such, it’s critical for organizations to reassess their data protection practices at the start of each new year and make achievable cybersecurity resolutions to help protect themselves from costly breaches.
Preventing Data Theft by Departing Employees
When employees leave a company, there is a heightened risk of data theft, which is also known as data leakage or exfiltration. This risk is present whether an employee’s departure is voluntary or not. The consequences of data theft from insiders can be severe, as an organization’s most valued data assets and secrets are vulnerable. Data leakage events can impact a company’s financials through lost business and intellectual property, and they can result in reputational damage, litigation and regulatory fines.
Creating a Cybersecurity Culture
Employees are an organization’s first line of defense against cybercriminals. For this reason, they are also commonly targeted. In fact, the vast majority (88%) of data breaches are caused by employee mistakes, according to Stanford University. Unfortunately for organizations, a single mistake can result in costly losses, reputational damage and lost or stolen data.
Bridging the Gap Between Working and Pumping
The passage of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP) represents a major step forward for breastfeeding moms in the workplace. However, simply complying with the new requirements with dedicated lactation spaces and break times is just the starting point. To truly support working mothers, organizations must go further to bridge the gap between pumping and performing job duties.
The Value of Medical Professional Liability Insurance
Medical professional liability (MPL) insurance—also known as medical malpractice insurance—provides essential coverage for health care professionals over lawsuits and claims related to their medical services. It can offer peace of mind to both practitioners and patients, and it is required by law in many states.
Unlimited PTO Gaining Traction: Is Now the Time?
Paid time off policies have come a long way from their inception, transitioning from set vacation days to paid personal days and floating holidays. Unlimited PTO takes this evolution a step further by removing a set number of days entirely. Still a relatively new concept, only 8 percent of employers currently offer unlimited vacation, according to a 2023 SHRM survey.