A recent survey by the National Business Group on Health reveals that large U.S. employers predict their health care benefits costs will rise an average of 8.9 percent in 2011 (up from 7 percent in 2010). Top strategies employers plan to use to control costs include: Raising employee contributions (63 percent) Raising out-of-pocket maximums (46» Read Full Article

Trick-or-Treaters: Never trick-or-treat alone. Have at least two friends go with you. Plan your entire route and make sure your family knows what it is. Carry a bright flashlight to illuminate sidewalks, steps and paths. Use new flashlight batteries and check it before you leave the house.  Chemical glow light sticks can be used along» Read Full Article

Effective August 1, 2010, Employer Notification is available to employers of regular Class D drivers. Employers may enroll any employee whose employment responsibilities include the operation of any motor vehicle. Wisconsin Statutes 343.245 authorizes this program. Employer Notification allows participants to create and maintain their own roster of employed drivers in PARS. The program will» Read Full Article

OSHA is implementing several changes to its administrative penalty calculation system. Many of the agency’s current penalty adjustment factors have been in place since the early 1970′s, resulting in penalties which are often too low to have an adequate deterrent effect. Administrative penalty adjustments will therefore be made to several factors which impact the final» Read Full Article

In September 2009, ACORD revised the ACORD 25 Certificate of Insurance form.  R&R Insurance will begin using this new form in the near future. You will notice that the new ACORD Certificate of Insurance has a new appearance, and is now a single-sided document, making faxing and emailing more efficient.  Most notably is the removal» Read Full Article

Contractors’ equipment may be insured either on a scheduled basis, meaning listing an amount of insurance for each item, or on a blanket basis, with a larger amount shown for all tools and equipment.  With either method, it’s important to realize that the insurance policy almost always requires the contractor to insure the equipment for» Read Full Article