Many employers are grappling with low levels of employee engagement and morale. Factors like increased workloads, lack of recognition and insufficient communication create a workplace atmosphere in which employees may feel undervalued and disconnected. This...
Join PIANJ’s E&O and hard market panel
In today’s challenging insurance landscape, managing errors-and-omissions risk is crucial. The hard market has brought with it unprecedented operational challenges—from staffing shortages, to shifting carrier appetites—and insurance agents must adapt quickly to avoid...
What is a restrictive covenant; why do I care?
In my completely biased opinion, the legal field has one of the best lexicons of any profession. Usurious, champerty, tortfeasor, and restrictive covenants are just a few of the myriad legal terms that all sound exceptionally legal and are almost completely opaque....
4 reasons ‘quiet firing’ is bad for business
While the phenomenon of quiet quitting—representing employees doing the least required for their job to just get by until they opt to leave or are let go—has gained its fair share of attention in recent years, another clandestine workplace practice is underway: quiet...
Is AI the answer to talent shortages in claims?
Talent shortages continue to rank in the top 10 concerns of insurance industry stakeholders.[1] According to the U.S. Census Bureau 12,000 people per day will turn 65 in 2024, calling this milestone “Peak 65.” Peak 65 is expected to lead to talent shortages in the...
New York takes steps to establish a first-in-the-nation statewide paid prenatal leave
As part of her annual State of the State address, which also laid out her legislative priorities for 2024,[1] New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled her plan to expand the state’s Paid Family Leave Policy, which paves the way for the state to be the first in the nation...
Where the legal risks lurk in human resources: Reduce the risk of wage-and-hour violations
As an employment lawyer and human resources expert spending my career working with businesses of various sizes, I believe the single most important thing employers can do is make sure they are handling their employees’ wages properly. When people’s livelihoods are...
Just starting out … what’s your business structure?
When starting an insurance agency, one of the first key decisions is choosing a business structure that aligns with your goals. This critical choice impacts liability protection, startup costs, administrative duties, taxes, raising capital, and planning for the...
N.Y.: Updates to Workers’ Compensation Law
There have been recent changes to New York state’s workers’ compensation law that is important to for employers to note—starting in 2024. In September 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed S.1161-A/A.2034-A into law, which will increase the minimum benefits for workers’...
Five ways to attract and keep top insurance agency talent
Building a strong team is a crucial part of running a successful independent insurance agency. This is especially true in times of economic uncertainty. Having the right people in place can help your agency continue to win when things get tough. With recent shifts in...