Despite what you may have read online, asking your employees or customers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination doesn’t violate federal laws. Still, experts say to tread lightly in this area.

Can I ask employees or customers if they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19?

While some may claim that asking people for proof of vaccination goes against the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Title III of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, legal minds say otherwise. The Fourth Amendment only applies to governmental searches and seizures, not to small businesses asking for proof. When it comes to the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), that law only protects health information used by healthcare entities, like hospitals and insurers. And while businesses do need to follow the guidelines regarding discrimination in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Civil Rights Act, these laws don’t prevent a company from asking a customer or employee about vaccination status.

Does the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allow vaccine mandates?

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) allows companies to mandate the flu vaccine and other vaccines and noted that small businesses could require COVID-19 vaccines, too. There are exceptions, of course. For example, workers can request exemptions from getting the vaccine for medical or religious reasons. But asking someone to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination would not be considered a disability-related inquiry, according to the EEOC.

What is a small business owner’s recourse if an employee doesn’t get vaccinated as requested?

If an employee doesn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA require employers to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the business. However, if you exclude an employee for non-vaccination, you may need to show that the employee poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others that can’t be eliminated or mitigated by reasonable accommodation.

If I ask employees for their vaccination status, is that considered confidential information?

If you require proof of vaccination, you should limit access to that information. According to the EEOC, any documentation an employee provides about their vaccination status is considered medical information and must be kept confidential. Your state may have additional laws to follow in this area. Check the USA.gov website for more information.

Thanks for reading! Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As best practices change regularly, you should refer to your trusted advisor for specific counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or check your workers’ compensation rate in 3 minutes.

The post COVID-19 vaccine mandates and your business appeared first on Pie Insurance.

The Delta variant appears to be around twice as transmissible as the original SARS-CoV-2 strains. While this version of COVID-19 can infect people who have been vaccinated, infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising fastest in areas with the lowest rates of vaccination. In response, workplace safety guidelines from federal, state, and local authorities are rapidly changing, so employers will want to update their policies accordingly. The good news is that you likely already made accommodations in your workplace during the first spike in COVID-19 infections.

12 things employers can do in response to the Delta variant

Look at local transmission rates before returning to in-person operations

The risk of getting infected with COVID-19 at work correlates with the community’s infection rate. If your community’s current weekly infection rate is low (less than 10 per 100,000), a return to the workplace may make sense. However, in communities with weekly infection rates that exceed 50 per 100,000, the likelihood that an employee will bring COVID-19 into the workplace is very high. Check the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) map to see if your county is a high-transmission location.

Consider requiring masks

Masks that fit over the nose and mouth protect both the person wearing the mask and the people around them. The CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in locations with high or substantial COVID-19 transmission rates. Those with any degree of weakened immunity, including those undergoing cancer treatment, taking immunosuppressive drugs, or who have had an organ transplant, should also continue to wear masks indoors. You may want to reinstitute mask requirements if your small business is in an affected area.

Maintain social distance

Companies can reduce the rate of COVID-19 transmission by limiting the number of employees in the workplace through hybrid work and staggered schedules. When employees are in the workplace, spread out workstations and limit the use of common areas. For example, if the capacity of your conference room with social distancing guidelines is 2 people, make sure the capacity is posted throughout the conference room and provide virtual options for meetings of more than 2 people.

Improve workplace ventilation

Increasing the amount of air exchanged indoors decreases the likelihood of a COVID-19 infection in the workplace. While this sounds like an expensive project, many workplaces can add more air exchanges and improve the filtration systems on their existing air-handling systems. Or, simply open more windows when the weather cooperates.

Encourage employees to get tested

COVID-19 antigen tests are now readily available, typically free, and results are available in real-time. You can ask employees to test themselves at home and then arrange for a follow-up test for those who have no symptoms but are positive. All employees should be instructed not to come to the workplace if they feel ill.

Be honest about at-work exposure

If you learn that some in your workplace tested positive for COVID-19, you should communicate honestly about the exposure while respecting the infected employee’s medical privacy. Contact tracing helps identify cases quickly to protect employees, their families, and their community. Contact tracing includes:

• Letting people know they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms
• Helping people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested
• Asking all people, including those who are fully vaccinated, to self-isolate if they have COVID-19
• Asking unvaccinated people to self-quarantine if they are a close contact

Accommodate high-risk workers

Older adults and people with certain medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from all forms of COVID-19. And, since some vaccinated people have experienced breakthrough infections, employees who live with people with health conditions or children who can’t get vaccinated may have safety concerns. Be prepared to field more requests to work from home, and have a plan to accommodate those requests, if possible.

Consider mandating vaccination

Historically, vaccines have played a key role in eradicating several deadly diseases. In response to the highly infectious Delta variant, employers across the country have been weighing whether it makes sense to mandate vaccination for its workers. Mandates are most common in healthcare and education, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine will likely lead to mandates in other industries, experts say. Consider offering employees PTO for vaccination and side effects, or a small financial incentive, generally under $100.

Stay current on COVID-19 interventions

As more data becomes available, guidance for small business owners is likely to change. For example, in spring 2020, employers were urged to check employees’ temperatures at the door to screen for the virus. Now, however, experts say temperature screening is an ineffective way to decrease workplace transmission.

Focus workplace cleaning efforts

In most cases, traditional workplace cleaning protocols are adequate to protect against COVID-19 infections. Focus high-level disinfection efforts on high-touch, high-traffic surfaces and workplaces with a known COVID-19 case.

Rethink corporate travel

Most companies grounded employees from international business travel earlier in the pandemic, and many curbed domestic travel as well. Because the Delta variant is more contagious, you may want employees to continue to conduct business meetings by videoconference instead of flying to high-risk areas. The silver lining is less travel will save your company time and money—while also giving the environment a much-needed break.

Support mental health care

This pandemic has been a trying time for everyone. In fact, rates of depression and anxiety have spiked over the last 18 months. Encourage employees to use your company’s employee assistance plan (EAP) if you have one, or provide guidance about what mental health benefits are included in your workplace medical plan. And let employees know that it’s okay to take a mental health day if needed.

What employees should do to stay safe

Employees will also need to take steps to stay safe at work. Encourage employees to:

• Wear masks indoors if they are in locations with high COVID-19 transmission rates, have a compromised immune system or other high-risk medical condition, or are unvaccinated
• Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially in public places, after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing, and after using shared equipment.
• Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if they’re unable to wash with soap and water
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Practice social distancing to avoid close contact with other employees
• Get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they haven’t yet
• Stay home if they are sick

Unfortunately, the end of the COVID-19 pandemic does not appear to be in sight—yet. The Delta variant has added another layer of uncertainty and fear. Small business owners must stay vigilant to maintain a safe work environment. By continuing to be creative and flexible, you can help reduce and contain outbreaks as they arise.

Thanks for reading! Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As best practices change regularly, you should refer to your trusted advisor for specific counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or check your workers’ compensation rate in 3 minutes.

The post 12 Delta Variant safety measures for small businesses appeared first on Pie Insurance.

In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act earmarked nearly $350 billion to the PPP to help small businesses keep workers employed during the pandemic. Through this program, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. The best part is that—as a small business owner—if you maintain your business’s payroll during the crisis or restore it after businesses are back up and running, you may not have to return the loan.

What you should know about the 2021 PPP

The SBA is currently offering first draw and second draw loans.

First Draw PPP Loans are for businesses that didn’t receive a PPP loan before August 8, 2020. Here are the highlights:

• Loans can be used to cover payroll costs, including benefits.
• Loans also may be used to pay your mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.
• Loans have an interest rate of 1%.
• Loans issued after June 5, 2020, have a maturity of five years.
• Loan payments will be deferred for borrowers who apply for loan forgiveness until the SBA remits the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount to the lender. If a borrower doesn’t apply for loan forgiveness, payments will be deferred for 10 months after the end of the covered period for the borrower’s loan forgiveness (either 8 weeks or 24 weeks).
• No collateral or personal guarantees are required.
• No fees will be charged by the government or by lenders.

Am I eligible for a First-Draw PPP Loan?

The following COVID-19-affected business entities are eligible for First-Draw PPP Loans:

• Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed persons
• Any small business that meets the SBA’s size standards (either the industry-based sized standard or the alternative size standard)
• Any business, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans’ organization, or Tribal business concern with 500 or fewer employees or a business that meets the SBA industry size standard if more than 500 employees
• Any business with a NAICS Code that starts with 72 (Accommodations and Food Services) with more than one location and less than 500 employees per location

Additional PPP funds are available for current borrowers

Second Draw PPP Loans are for businesses that have 300 employees or less and received already received a PPP loan. Here are the highlights:

• Loans can be used to cover payroll costs, including benefits.
• Loans also may be used to pay your mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.
• Lenders must be able to demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.
• At least $25 billion has been allocated specifically for eligible borrowers with 10 or fewer employees or for loans of $250,000 or less to eligible borrowers in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods.
• The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP Loan is $2 million.

In both the first-draw and second-draw programs, the SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met and funds are used for eligible expenses.

More resources:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Find a lender
• Find your local SBA office
• COVID-19 Emergency Loans Small Business Guide
• U.S. Department of Treasury COVID-19 Assistance for Small Businesses
• PPP Application
• First-Draw PPP Application
• Second-Draw PPP Application

Thanks for reading our article posted on January 20, 2021. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As COVID-19 laws and funding change regularly, you should refer to your state legislation and/or an advisor for specific legal counsel. See more small business resources or check your current rate in 3 minutes.

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Keeping that in mind, what then happens if an employee working remotely suffers an injury? Are your employees still covered under your workers’ compensation insurance? While the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered everyday life, remote working is not a new concept. Typically, if a remote worker is injured while conducting work-related activities, he or she is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

When it comes to protecting your business and employees, understanding workers’ comp remote worker requirements is critical. We’re going to outline the basic requirements and provide tips for providing workers’ comp coverage to remote workers.

Does workers’ comp cover employees working from home?

The short answer is sometimes. This all depends on the specific nature of the injury, the state the workplace is located in, and the details of the remote working policy.

How do you define “work-related injuries” for remote workers? In general, an employee injury or illness is compensable under workers’ comp if it “arises out of and in the course of employment,” regardless of where the injury occurs. To break it down:

• “Arising out of” relates to what the employee was doing at the time of the injury
• “In the course of” relates to when the injury happened

A workplace injury may occur suddenly (like a minor burn) or develop over time (like carpal tunnel syndrome). In either case, a compensable injury must have occurred during work hours and from an activity related to the employee’s job.

How does workers’ comp work for remote employees?

Most often, the hurt employee has the burden of proving that the injury was work-related and needs adequate evidence in their favor. Since many telecommuters are home alone while they work, there may not always be someone who can corroborate the incident.

Take, for example, Verizon Pennsylvania v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Alston). In 2006, an employee was working from home when she fell down the stairs to her home office, injuring her neck. She had been working in her basement home office when she went upstairs to get a drink. She fell walking back downstairs to the office to answer a ringing phone.

Even though she had briefly stopped working to get a drink, the workers’ compensation judge, Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, and the Commonwealth Court ruled in favor of the injured worker. The Commonwealth Court determined that the home office was an approved “secondary work premise.” The claimant was injured in the course and scope of her employment, so benefits were awarded.

Because state laws differ when it comes to what’s considered a “work-related injury,” it’s important to define each employee’s normal working hours and specific job duties to help determine what is—and is not—a work-related claim.

Is workers’ comp required for remote employees?

If you have even one employee, it’s most likely required by state law that your business has workers’ comp insurance. This is regardless of employees being remote or not.

It’s common for small business owners to think they don’t need to purchase workers’ compensation insurance if work operations are low-risk and they have only a few employees. However, that’s a very risky assumption to make. If you don’t have your state’s required workers’ comp coverage for employees, you’re at risk for being charged with fines, penalties, and even imprisonment, depending on the severity of your state law.

To find your state’s workers’ comp remote worker requirements, it’s best to go directly to the source: your state workers’ compensation board. Find your state’s workers’ comp requirements.

Regardless of state law, it is always a smart idea to invest in workers’ compensation insurance for all employees. This will help keep both your business and your workers protected in case of injury, especially during unexpected emergencies. We’ve created a comprehensive resource section where you can find your answers to small business workers’ comp questions.

Tips for ensuring safe telecommuting practices

Since the actions of remote workers cannot be directly monitored by a supervisor, small business owners may be at an additional risk of liability for these employees. To reduce the risk of injury in an employee’s home-based workspace, it’s important to take as thorough precautions as possible to ensure that home offices are safe work environments.

Here are a few tips for implementing safe telecommuting practices.

• Create a remote working policy that details your expectations for telecommuters. Review it with employees and ask them to sign an acknowledgment that they received and reviewed the policy.
• Set fixed work hours and meal and rest times for remote workers to better define “in the course of employment.”
• Clearly define each employee’s scope of work. The policy should state that activities falling outside the employee’s job description are not the employer’s responsibility.
• Establish standards for a home office, such as requiring a designated and dedicated work area.
• Provide training on workstation setup and safety measures, including ergonomic best practices.
• Detail the equipment used by each employee.
• Enact guidelines for check-ins (such as geo-tracking or equipment tracking) or other reporting milestones.

Still have concerns about COVID-19’s impact on remote workers’ comp?

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how business is now conducted. As a small business owner, it might be a rocky road to recovery, but hopefully, you are making positive progress. As you re-evaluate how to optimize your budget so that you can get operations up and running again, there are a variety of expenses that need to be considered—including workers’ comp coverage.

Your insurance provider should be able to help guide you along the best path when it comes to workers’ comp for remote workers. There are several important questions you should ask your workers’ comp provider about changes you may need to make to your coverage during COVID-19. These include:

• Do you provide billing leniency?
• Will you accept a good-faith deposit?
• What happens if I have a lapse in coverage?
• What if I now have fewer employees on payroll?
• What are other ways you’re helping customers?

Workers’ compensation insurance made easy

If figuring out workers’ compensation insurance seems overwhelming, you’re not alone. Pie Insurance can help make workers’ comp as easy as pie. We’ve taken the guesswork out of the process and we’re passionate about providing workers’ comp insurance for small businesses across the country.

Thanks for reading our article. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As laws change regularly, you should refer to your state legislation and/or an advisor for specific legal counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or check your current rate in 3 minutes.

The post Workers’ comp for remote employees appeared first on Pie Insurance.

Each state develops its own workers’ comp rules, requirements, and standards that are based on industry, occupation, and the size and structure of a business. Workers’ comp presumption laws—which presume that a worker’s injury or illness was acquired through their job—are being written in some states in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Does workers’ comp insurance cover COVID-19?

In general, workers’ comp insurance doesn’t cover routine community-spread illnesses like a cold or the flu because infection typically can’t be directly tied to the workplace. However, during the COVID-19 crisis, many jobs that weren’t considered particularly hazardous before (grocery store workers, for example) have suddenly become potentially dangerous for employees. While workers deemed “essential” during this crisis may have a higher risk of exposure to the virus, more hazardous working conditions don’t guarantee that a COVID-19 infection will be covered under workers’ comp coverage in every state.

Recently, many states have passed or are working to extend workers’ compensation coverage for COVID-19 to first responders, healthcare workers, and in some cases, other workers deemed essential. What constitutes an essential worker is defined by each state—and varies widely across the states.

As of August 13, 2020, 14 states have taken steps to extend workers’ comp coverage to include COVID-19 as a work-related illness:

• Six states have enacted legislation creating a presumption of coverage for various types of workers. Alaska, Minnesota, Utah, and Wisconsin limit coverage to first responders and healthcare workers, while Illinois covers all “essential” workers and Wyoming covers all workers.

• Four states—Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and North Dakota—have used executive authority to implement presumption policies for first responders and healthcare workers.

• Four additional states—Arkansas, California, Connecticut, and Kentucky—have taken executive action to provide coverage to first responders and healthcare workers plus other essential workers like grocery store employees who are presumed to have contracted COVID-19 at work.

In most cases, state rules have been amended so that COVID-19 infections in first responders, medical personnel, and—in some states—“essential” workers, are presumed to be work-related and therefore more likely to be covered under a workers’ comp policy. Some states have implemented a rebuttable presumption, which allows the employer and insurer to provide evidence that an infection was not work-related. Some employers and insurers have voiced concerns that presumption laws and orders will adversely affect insurance costs for employers at a time when businesses are already facing financial and workforce challenges.

Presumption laws in California

On May 6, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom was the first governor to create a rebuttable presumption for 16 classes of workers deemed essential. The executive order states that employees who test positive for COVID-19 are presumed to have contracted the virus in the course of employment for purposes of awarding workers’ comp benefits if certain requirements are met.

According to the order, any COVID-19-related illness that occurred between March 19 and July 5, 2020, is presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment if all of the following requirements are met:

1. The employee tests positive for or was diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days after he or she performed work at the place of employment and at the employer’s direction;

2. The day the employee performed work was on or after March 19, 2020;

3. The place of employment where the work was performed was not the employee’s residence; and

4. The diagnosis (as opposed to testing positive) was completed by a physician licensed by the California Medical Board and confirmed by additional testing within 30 days of diagnosis.

Remember that insurers—and employers—can dispute the presumption with other evidence. However, choosing not to accept COVID-19 claims from workers may be risky for employers in states like California with high litigation costs.

Experts report that as of August 13, 2020, COVID-19 claims aren’t dramatically impacting the workers’ comp system because most claims have a short duration and involve relatively inexpensive medical costs.

The National Council on Compensation Insurance is tracking how each state is handling COVID-19-related workers’ comp presumptions weekly and provides links to applicable executive orders.

Thanks for reading our article posted on August 13, 2020. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As the circumstance surrounding COVID-19 change regularly, you should refer to your state legislation and/or an advisor for specific legal counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or check your current rate in 3 minutes.

The post What are COVID-19 presumption laws? appeared first on Pie Insurance.

Workplace safety resources

Toolbox Talks – Toolbox Talks, from the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), are designed to make your safety meetings engaging and straightforward. They are geared toward several industries and are released monthly to supplement existing workplace safety programs. OSHA also suggests using props to maintain interest, opening the floor for Q&A after the plan has been announced, keeping records of topics and attendance, and modeling safety for employees. There are currently over 100 accessible Toolbox Talks on topics like fall prevention, scaffold safety, ladder use, electrical safety, fire prevention, personal protective equipment (PPE), and much more.

COVID-19 Information for Workers – This educational website, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is full of valuable information on how you can help reduce the risk of exposure and to COVID-19 in your small business. There you’ll find guidance on preparing your workplace for virus prevention, tips on coping with work stress and building reliance, and information on appropriate PPE. It also includes general workplace safety and health topics regarding hazards and exposures, chemicals, emergency response and preparedness, disease and illness, safety and prevention, and more.

OSHA Safety and Health Topics – This alphabetical index of links gives you unlimited access to hundreds of OSHA safety topics. It’s a one-stop-shop for all your small business safety needs. From “A” (accident investigation) to “Z” (Zika virus), this index practically covers it all. Each topic included (like dermal exposure, confined spaces, reproductive hazards, respiratory protection, solvents, and wood dust) typically link to photos, standards, compliance materials, federal notices, case studies, and other helpful resources.

PATHS Safety Talks – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has published a series of engaging safety talk topics that small business owners can download for free. The PATHS talks are useful regardless of what state your business is in, and they cover topics including carelessness, common sense, housekeeping, heat exhaustion, driving in bad weather, and the “Ten Commandments” of good safety.

OSHA Safety Videos – If you’re more comfortable showing videos than leading safety presentations yourself, OSHA has a great selection of videos you can share with your employees. From instructional snippets (that last less than a minute) to detailed presentations (that are over 20 minutes long), you’re sure to find what you need. Topics include suggestions for assembly lines, ergonomics, fall protection, healthcare, OSHA inspections, respirator use, social distancing, worker rights, and more. There is also a useful selection of videos that are recorded in Spanish.

The SafetyPro Podcast – If you’re a fan of podcasts, you can catch up on workplace safety while you brush your teeth, work-out, or commute. The SafetyPro Podcast, hosted by Blaine J. Hoffmann, MS, OHSM, is aimed at providing you with all the relevant information necessary to achieve a safer, more productive workplace with actionable info you can use immediately. The SafetyPro Podcast episodes average 30 minutes and cover issues like psychological safety, OSHA items to watch, employee engagement, continuous process improvement, and safety for women in the workforce.

Hopefully, these resources will breathe new life into your workplace safety training program. Remember to use safety opportunities to show your workers you care about their well-being—and that you value their contributions to the team.

Thanks for reading our educational resource posted on June 8, 2020 Any above reference to a specific company or product is meant for educational purposes only and is not specifically endorsed by Pie. If you’re a small business owner, see more small business resources or get a workers’ compensation quote in 3 minutes.

The post Top safety resources for small businesses appeared first on Pie Insurance.

The general use of PPE has been increasingly important during the COVID-19 crisis. For both healthcare providers and regular citizens, proper PPE creates a barrier between an individual’s skin, mouth, nose, or eyes—and infections like coronavirus. For medical professionals, specifically, gloves, gowns, and N95 respirator masks are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and must meet its regulations.

How to choose PPE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed standards for the use of PPE and requires that many categories of personal protective equipment meet or exceed the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Employers must provide PPE to their workers and ensure its proper use. The equipment should be designed and constructed to maximize safety. It should fit comfortably—if an item doesn’t fit properly, it can leave a worker dangerously exposed.

Employers also are required to train each worker:

• When PPE is necessary

• What kind of PPE is required

• How to properly put it on, adjust, and take it off (often called donning and doffing)

• About the limitations of the equipment

• How to properly maintain and dispose of PPE

Other helpful resources

• OSHA – PPE Hazards and Solutions

• PPE Standards for Construction

Thanks for reading our resource posted on June 4, 2020. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic change regularly, you should refer to your trusted advisor for specific counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workplace safety or check your workers’ comp rate in 3 minutes.

The post What is PPE? appeared first on Pie Insurance.

Many scammers, posing as lenders, are trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on small businesses. Loan scams can cost small business owners thousands of dollars and also expose them to identity theft. In 2019 alone, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 3.2 million fraud reports. Imposter scams—when a thief pretends to be from a well-known business, like a lender or the government—topped the list by causing $667 million in losses in 2019.

How to recognize a loan scam

Often, if a loan seems too good to be true—it probably is. Here are some red flags to look for when communicating with a potential lender:

• A name similar to a well-known bank or other financial institution

• A lender who only uses a P.O. Box, not a physical address

• A generic email address, like one through Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail

• Non-traditional advertising, like direct messages on Facebook, ads on Craigslist, or yard signs on the side of the highway

• A lender who isn’t registered with your state attorney general’s office, which lenders and loan brokers are required to be

• A company that has many consumer complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website (you should also check with the BBB’s Scam Tracker)

• Seemingly-unrealistic promises

• A lack of detailed loan cost information

• Any offer of “guaranteed” money that occurs without checking your credit record

• Getting approval for a loan that you didn’t ask for

• Any requests for immediate payment or upfront fees to receive the loan

• Any requests that you pay through a wire transfer, gift card, or prepaid debit card

• Any requests to send payments directly to a person, instead of a company

• Any overly-aggressive sales tactics

Many loan scammers frequently change their names, phone numbers, websites, and email addresses. If you can’t find any type of digital trail about the company, steer clear.

Examples of loan scams

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, loan scams are on the rise. If the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers you a business grant (which is not a service it provides) or the System for Award Management (SAM) requires a registration fee (it doesn’t), you’ve likely come in contact with a scammer.

Check verified government resources for the best source of accurate information.

Tips for avoiding scams

Here are some ways to can help safeguard your company from falling victim to a scam:

• Don’t provide private information—particularly Social Security numbers, credit card information, or banking information—in response to an unsolicited call, letter, or email.

• Contact the Better Business Bureau for more information on a company before you sign anything.

• Search “scam” or “scams” on the SBA’s website to review the scams that have already been reported to the SBA.

• Contact your state Attorney General’s office to see if the company has been reported for fraud.

• Do a reverse search of the phone number on the internet, which may reveal if others have reported that the number belongs to a scammer. If you don’t have caller ID, ask the caller to provide their number to you.

What to do if you are a victim of a scam loan

If you believe that you’re a victim of a loan scam:

• Call your local police or sheriff’s department. Be prepared to share the lender’s contact information and any paperwork you have, including letters, contracts, and emails.

• Report the incident to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which will review your complaint and add it to its public Complaint Database. The bureau may take legal action if enough people report the same kind of scam.

• If you shared personal information with a scammer, you may need to call your credit card issuer or your bank.

• Contact the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian—to put fraud alerts on your credit report.

• If you’re a victim of online loan fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

• If the scam was processed through the mail, file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission’s website or call 877-FTC-HELP.

• Report the scam to the BBB’s Scam Tracker.

Thanks for reading our article posted on May 26, 2020. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As COVID-19 laws and funding change regularly, you should refer to your state legislation and/or an advisor for specific legal counsel. See more small business resources or check your current workers’ comp rate in 3 minutes.

The post How to identify and avoid loan scams during COVID-19 appeared first on Pie Insurance.

The COVID-19 virus has changed a lot about how business is done. Hopefully, your small business has started down the road to recovery. If you were required to shut down part or all of your operations, you may even be in the process of reopening your small business. Part of that process is likely adjusting your various costs of doing business. Here are five important questions you should ask your workers’ comp provider about changes you may need to make to your coverage during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an undeniable impact on the economy. Many small business owners, in particular, have made significant changes to the products and services they provide and the ways in which they provide them. Restaurants have reduced service to takeout only, brick-and-mortar shops have shifted to online sales, and essential businesses everywhere have made big adjustments to how workers and customers are able to interact.

Of course, the pandemic has also had huge implications on how small businesses generate and deploy their financial resources. Though government and private loans can help maintain some operations, many business owners have had to identify which expenses are critical and which can be reduced. One significant expense of running a company can be the cost of small business insurance.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance is coverage most small businesses are legally required to carry if they have employees. If you own a small business, you likely need to continue your workers’ comp coverage—but there are several ways you may be able to reduce or postpone your payments.

If you own a small business and have workers’ compensation, here are five questions you should ask your workers’ comp insurance provider.

1. Do you provide billing leniency?

If your workers’ comp provider is willing and able, they may allow you to postpone some or all of your payments. In fact, certain states like Calfornia have required that insurance companies provide billing leniency during part of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Will you accept a good-faith deposit?

If you’re unable to make your full payment, ask your worker’s comp provider if they will accept a good-faith deposit. A good-faith deposit is essentially a “down payment” that allows you to continue your coverage without making the full premium payments for an agreed-upon amount of time.

3. What happens if I have a lapse in coverage?

Small businesses that have a lapse in workers’ compensation coverage will likely find it difficult to regain future coverage at a similar cost. Some insurance providers will not cover a business that has had a lapse in coverage—so maintaining consistent coverage is critical.

4. What if I now have fewer employees on payroll?

If you had to lay off some or all of your employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be able to lower your workers’ comp premiums. The number of workers you employ is a significant factor in the cost of your workers’ compensation insurance. If you’ve had a change in employee payroll, let your provider know.

5. What are other ways you’re helping customers?

At Pie, our priority is serving small business owners. The COVID-19 pandemic has only clarified and strengthened that mission. If you own a small business, ask your workers’ comp provider, “What are other ways you’re helping customers and how else can you help me right now?” The answer might just surprise you—and, hopefully, make a huge difference in the road to recovery for your business.

For more information about workers’ comp and COVID-19, see our complete list of COVID-19 resources for small businesses.

Thanks for reading our article posted on May 21, 2020. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As the circumstance surrounding COVID-19 change regularly, you should refer to your state legislation and/or an advisor for specific legal counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or check your current rate in 3 minutes.

The post 5 questions to ask your workers’ comp provider during COVID-19 appeared first on Pie Insurance.

If your small business shut down part or all of its operations and is beginning plans to reopen, it’s important to remember that it may take substantial time for your customers to feel comfortable visiting your business in person. You may want to continue exploring alternate ways to offer your goods and services.

Of course, if your state is still under a “stay at home” order, now is the time to plan how you’ll need to re-engineer your business practices to keep your customers and workers safe when you do reopen.

Reopening best practices for small business owners

Answering the following questions can help small business owners identify ways to help keep customers and employees safe while reopening their businesses.

• Can you add online shopping or virtual communication to offer your services or deliver your products to consumers?

• Are there new products or services you can offer in response to the crisis?

• What will be important to your customers when you reopen? Will they be reluctant to engage with your business? List all of the potential barriers that your customers may have.

• Do you need to reconfigure your retail layout to accommodate social distancing?

• Are there new cleaning or disinfecting procedures that you need to roll out?

• How can you make the entire customer experience safer and more efficient?

• What physical accommodations do you need to make so customers can feel more comfortable?

• Can you offer work-from-home options for employees?

• Can you stagger shifts to reduce the number of people in your workplace at the same time?

Tips for preparing a workplace for reopening

As states lift restrictions on non-essential businesses, they will likely add new requirements for small businesses that help limit risks to employees and customers. These may include restrictions on how many people can gather in one space or how close people can stand or sit next to one another. You’ll also need to ensure that the workspace is clean and sanitary. Think about the changes you’ll need to make to meet these government standards—both in public and employee-only areas.

Here are some tips for preparing your small business workplace:

• Develop and post policies for social distancing, cleaning, business travel, and other areas of your business operations that are impacted by coronavirus guidelines

• Conduct employee temperature checks before allowing them to enter the building and do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider

• Develop a policy for contact tracing should an employee test positive for COVID-19

• Allow workers to return to work in phases

• Consider closing common areas or enforcing strict gathering protocols

• Minimize nonessential employee travel

• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and handrails

• Flush the plumbing of your building to remove standing water that was left in the pipes over the previous weeks or months. This includes flushing appliances like ice machines, dishwashers, and water coolers while wearing the appropriate protective equipment.

• Inspect mechanical equipment, such as boilers and hot water systems

• Change all of the air filters in the building after cleaning them thoroughly; filters can remove leftover germs from the air

• Post signs to remind workers about proper handwashing and etiquette for coughing and sneezing

• Consider using no-touch garbage cans

• Supply disinfectants, cleaning wipes, face masks, gloves, and liquid soap to workers

• Install hand sanitizer dispensers near elevators, doorways, and shared equipment

Additional resources for small businesses 

Here are additional resources to help plan your business reopening:

State by State Reopening Guidance
Reopening Toolkit for Small Business
OSHA Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
4 Business Owners on How They’re Reopening Their Businesses Post-Coronavirus
Customizable Flyer to Communicate Precautions to Customers
How Will Small Businesses Address Cleanliness and Decontamination in a Post-Coronavirus World

If you need financial assistance to accommodate these guidelines, the Small Business Administration offers a variety of loans and programs.

Thanks for reading our resource posted on May 18, 2020. Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic change regularly, you should refer to your trusted advisor for specific counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workplace safety or check your workers’ comp rate in 3 minutes.

The post How to safely reopen your small business appeared first on Pie Insurance.