Articles
Proposed Rule Could Turn Independent Contractors into Employees
The Biden administration has proposed a new federal rule that will make it more difficult for employers to classify workers as independent contractors. If the new rule takes effect, companies that use independent contractors will have to reevaluate their relationships...
Training Your Non-English-Speaking Employees in Safety
Language barriers can present real threats to worker safety, particularly in certain industries that employ a larger share of non-native English speakers. Only 57% of U.S. agricultural workers in 2019 were born in this country, including Puerto Rico, according to U.S....
Insurance Investigators Mine Social Media to Ferret Out Fraud
Insurers are increasingly using social media to track down workers who are perpetrating workers' compensation fraud by faking injuries or staying on the dole after they have healed up. Investigators are using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other online social media...
The Importance of Professional Liability Insurance for Tax Preparers
You may not think that as a tax preparer you need a great deal of insurance coverage. However, if you make a mistake that costs a client dearly with the IRS, you could be sued. And without proper insurance coverage you could be forced to pay for legal fees and any...
Safe and Sound:
Safety Tips for Heavy Equipment Operation A job site crawling with bulldozers, cranes, scrapers and tractors can sometimes feel like a danger zone. However, with the proper heavy equipment safety guidelines in place, you can reduce risk and ensure your workers head...
OSHA Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations
Every year, OSHA cites thousands of companies for violating workplace safety regulations, but there are some standards that are cited much more than others. To educate employers on workplace dangers, the industrial safety agency publishes a list of its top 10...
Protect Your Key Fob to Avoid ‘Relay Attack’ Car Theft
Most new vehicles on the market come with keyless entry systems that use a "smart key" that allows them to lock and unlock their doors, trunk or tailgate and start the car from afar. But while these smart keys have made starting, locking and unlocking your car easier...
Employees Are Using Their Phones While Driving Because They Think They Have To
A new study has found that many people who interact with their mobile phones while behind the wheel do so because of pressure from their bosses to answer calls, emails and text messages even if they are not on the clock. Employers that pressure their staff to respond...
When Your Heirs Have Special Needs
About one in six children between ages three and 17 has a developmental disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a University of Illinois study found that fewer than half of parents of disabled children are actively planning for...
Season’ Greetings
Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Brown &...
Photo Copyright Owners Take Aim at Businesses Using Their Images on Websites, Blogs
More and more companies are getting unwelcome letters notifying them they've impinged on someone's copyright when they used an image found on the internet. This can happen when businesses build their own websites, or upload blog posts on their website or marketing or...
New Employees Account for Large Share of Workplace Injuries
A significant share of overall workplace injuries occur during new employees' first year on the job, according to a recent study. The report by Travelers Cos., Inc. found that over a five-year period, injuries to new employees accounted for 35% of all workplace...