Tips for Creating a Positive Working Environment in Your Small Business

Tips for Creating a Positive Working Environment in Your Small Business

Workers are placing more importance on the quality of the environment where they spend their days over other factors when deciding whether to make a career change. This makes establishing a healthy and productive environment increasingly important, especially for small businesses hoping to compete with larger companies. These tips can help you create a great work environment to attract and retain top talent. 

Develop a Formal Onboarding Process

Don’t leave new workers to falter on their own. A formal onboarding process can ensure they have the training, knowledge, and tools necessary for success on the job. It is also helpful to offer training updates as needed. 

Encourage Open Communication

Open lines of communication can help eliminate more problems than you might expect. Instead of letting frustrations or concerns build, encourage employees to share them right away. When management listens and responds appropriately to these, employees feel valued. 

Be Flexible

Employees are looking for more flexible work options, such as the option to work remotely or on non-traditional schedules. Be willing to consider these suggestions to help create a positive environment. If you do manage a remote workforce, having regular small business team building sessions can help create cohesion. 

Creating open lines of communication, offering comprehensive training, and being willing to adjust as needed are important steps that can make a big difference in making employees feel valued and respected. 


General Liability Insurance

3 Questions About General Liability Insurance for Businesses

While general liability insurance for businesses is not required by law, purchasing it can be one of the wisest investments a company makes. It is often only after experiencing a financial loss that the true value of such a policy is fully recognized. Answering three basic questions can prove beneficial when considering general liability insurance.

1. What Is Covered?

General liability insurance for businesses provides protection against claims arising from the daily routine of doing business. Typically, this includes the following:

  • Personal injury
  • Damage to property
  • Advertising grievances
  • Product damage
  • Rental property damage 

2. Who Needs It?

Virtually every business, large or small, should consider a general liability policy. It can provide protection from lawsuits brought by customers, vendors and even the public. For brick and mortar businesses, it’s especially useful because it provides coverage against physical losses.

3. How Much Coverage Do You Need?

Equally important to having general liability coverage is having the right amount. Two primary factors to consider when identifying the needs of your business include the size of the establishment and its loss history.

Investing in the right general liability policy can go a long way in protecting the future of any commercial operation. Talk with an authorized insurance agent to determine the amount of protection required to meet your company’s myriad needs.


Self Insurance

What Is Self Insurance?

Unfortunately, insurance costs are continually rising, and it may not be economically feasible to offer high-quality insurance with a low deductible. This is one of the circumstances where self insuring comes into play.

What Is Self Insurance?

Self insurance is where a company or business does not pay an insurance company to cover their employees. Instead, they assume the risk for their employees. They pay the medical claims for their employees, particularly worker’s compensation claims. There are advantages and disadvantages to self insuring.

Benefits 

One of the main benefits of self insuring is that it allows employers to save money over the long term. It also leaves insurance control in the company’s hands and gives the company a better understanding of where their healthcare dollars go. This helps the company implement safety programs to help reduce their injury costs.

Drawbacks

There are some obvious drawbacks to self insuring. The savings from it take a long time to realize, and the company has a higher level of risk than they would if they were fully insured. Although there is stop-loss protection, there is still quite a bit of financial responsibility that the company has.

Although self insuring may seem like the way to go, particularly if you have high worker’s compensation premiums, it can be risky for large businesses. It is a decision that the company must weigh the benefits and drawbacks very carefully before deciding to do it.


Insurance Coverage

Insurance Coverage for Special Situations

Traditional insurance policies offer safeguards for common liabilities experienced by the average business or individual. At times, a situation requires a more unique approach to coverage, either through high-risk exposure or an uncommon event or company. The higher risks of accounts like these usually require the coverage of specialty lines of insurance.

The Common Liabilities Influencing Specialty Coverage

There are risks associated with any business operations, and whether you operate a transport company or pony rides at birthday parties, there are some typical concerns. There is the potential for property damage or personal injury, a claim of negligence, or breach of contract claim. Specialty insurance addresses the losses that may not be covered by a traditional liability policy. These could entail personal or professional needs, such as identify theft, coverage of valuables, or errors and omissions claims for professionals.

The Applications of Specialty Coverage

Since a specialty line is an added form of protection, this policy could supplement commercial liability insurance, homeowners insurance, or automobile insurance. The underwriting process crafts limits and exclusions unique to the situation you present through your exposures or potential areas of loss. Those who seek out specialty coverage tend to have higher risks than the average clients, requiring an insurance provider to have strong knowledge of the market and liabilities in order to recommend the right the policy.

Your operations may leave several coverage gaps under your general business policies. Check with your insurance agent to find out if you should pursue specialty coverage.


Cyber Liability

Cyber Liability Insurance is for everyone

Technology has revolutionized today’s world and businesses, both big and small, benefit greatly from incorporating new technology into their business plans. From online sales to remote employees, to networked systems, businesses can’t succeed in today’s digital landscape without advanced technology. While there are countless benefits, there are also risks associated with our tech-driven world. Hackers and cyber-attacks are all too common and it isn’t just big corporations that are at risk. Businesses of all sizes should be aware of cyber threats and work to protect themselves and their business interests. 

What is Cyber Liability Insurance?

Despite what many people assume, a general liability policy is not adequate to protect a company from potential losses due to cybercrime. Cyber liability is a type of insurance put into place to keep businesses safe from extensive damage due to a data breach. This type of policy is specific to cyber-related claims and can at as protection from financial loss if your system is hacked or you experience a cyber-attack. However, cyber liability insurance is not enough. Companies must still incorporate advanced security software and employees to monitor activity. 

Who Needs Cyber Liability Insurance?

If your business utilizes cyber technology at all you should work with an insurance agent to evaluate your cyber protection. Don’t assume your company is small enough to be safe. Cyber-attacks are becoming more common and hackers are getting more and savvier. Protect yourself, your customers and your company from cyber threats with comprehensive cyber insurance today.