Bates Hewett & FLoyd Recent Articles

Insurance, Risk Management and Financial articles

Homeowners Insurance and the Rising Cost of Building Materials

Recent findings from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) confirmed that household construction costs have surged over the past year. This rise in construction costs is directly tied to soaring building material expenses—namely, the price of lumber....

Making Sense of New CDC Guidelines

CDC Says Masks Are No Longer Required in Most Settings for Fully Vaccinated Individuals The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new guidance for people who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This long-awaited guidance loosens the CDC’s...

Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act

The facts below provide general information to help determine whether interns and students working for “for-profit” employers are entitled to minimum wages and overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).1 Background The FLSA requires “for-profit” employers...

FEMA Unveils Changes to the National Flood Insurance Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it will be updating the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) pricing methodology through a new risk rating system. According to FEMA, this system—which is being referred to as “Risk Rating 2.0”—will...

Personal Lines Insights

Life Purchasing Medication Online Ordering your prescriptions online and having them delivered right to your door can be convenient. That being said, purchasing medication online can also carry significant risk, and it’s important to take precautions to keep your...

Frequency of Vehicle Thefts Increased in 2020

Everyone is susceptible to vehicle theft, whether they live in a metropolitan area, the neighboring suburbs or the rural countryside. In fact, after a downward trend in the frequency of vehicle thefts, there was a dramatic increase in 2020, according to the National...

Commercial Risk Newsletter

A More Proactive Approach Toward COVID-19 Protection New COVID-19 guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released under President Joe Biden’s administration signal a more proactive approach toward protecting U.S. workers from...

Overview of Biden’s Proposed $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package

The House of Representatives has passed its version of President Joe Biden’s proposed stimulus bill, which includes extended unemployment benefits, direct checks to individuals and more. The bill is now with the Senate, where some provisions will likely change....

Top 10 Workplace Discrimination Claims

In the 2020 fiscal year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) resolved more than 70,804 charges of workplace discrimination. Discrimination lawsuits can be very time-consuming and expensive for employers, and can result in a loss of employee morale or...

Sprinkler System Failures

When it operates correctly, your commercial property’s sprinkler system can play a vital role in suppressing a fire. According to a recent report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in fire incidents substantial enough to require assistance from a...

You Still Qualify for 2021 Health Insurance!

If you missed Open Enrollment (which ended in December 2020) you may have a new opportunity to secure coverage! Don't just go to the open market. There are several reasons to use a local agent, and best of all, our services and assistance are offered at no additional...

Preventing Work-from-Home Burnout

5 Ways to Beat Work-from-Home Burnout If you're working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and feeling burnt out, you're not alone. According to a survey by Monster, an online employment platform 69% of remote employees are experiencing burnout. What is burnout?...

Fast Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccines

You’ve probably heard that a vaccine will help bring an end to the pandemic. Now that there are two vaccines authorized for use, you may have questions about those vaccines, especially in the age of misinformation. Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19...

A Look Back at 2020

A look back at 2020: Advisen Data Spotlight When the clock struck midnight on the last day of 2020, it marked the end of a year marred by catastrophe—the outbreak of COVID-19, high-profile data breaches, opioid litigation and corporate scandal, to name a few. To put...

Employer OSHA Liabilities for Remote Workers

Encouraging remote work has become a new normal for a variety of reasons. Whether it is to reduce costs of operating a physical place of business, address pandemic reasons or allow employees to have a better work-life balance, more and more workers are working from...

Holiday Safety Insights

With the holidays in full swing, we wanted to provide you with some quick reminders - especially if you plan to travel over the break. How to Prevent Frostbite Being outdoors during winter months can expose you to cold weather conditions. Exposure to frigid...

Virtual Workplace Holiday Parties

At the end of the calendar year, workplace holiday celebrations are an experience that many employees look forward to as a highlight of the season. These celebrations are often a long-standing tradition allowing employees to celebrate with their colleagues—and...

Preparing for Flu Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Each year, the seasonal flu has a marked impact on businesses and employers, causing increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and higher health care costs. The past few flu seasons have seen high hospitalization and mortality rates, which has public health...

Managing Social Media Risk

Organizations continue to leverage social media channels to engage and interact with customers on a more personal level. Social media remains a great opportunity for businesses to connect with customers, job candidates and other stakeholders. However, before fully...

Zero Premium Health Insurance Available!

We have some exciting news! 80% of the people in our County and surrounding Counties qualify for a tax credit for Health Insurance called a subsidy. Zero Premium Health Insurance A subsidy is a credit paid by the IRS to the carrier - the health insurance carrier on...