IRMI Update
Risk Management & Insurance
Commentary, Tips, and Tactics
June 17, 2009 | Issue 208 | ISSN: 1530-7948
In This Issue
Colleague,
Identity theft is perhaps the fastest growing crime in the world, and
thieves will go to great lengths to acquire your personal data. Recently it
was reported that scammers posing as state insurance regulators were phoning
insurance agents in a few states to tell them they were going to lose their
licenses due to failure to provide appropriate paperwork. They then ask for
personal data, including Social Security and credit card numbers.
Unfortunately, many regulatory agencies still require Social Security
numbers, which would make agents less reluctant than normal to give them out
under this threat. This is a pet peeve of mine. As a national insurance
continuing education (CE) provider, IRMI runs into this all the time.
While
many states no longer require Social Security numbers on insurance CE
certificates of completion or instructor qualification forms, several still
do, including one of the major insurance centers. This then requires us to
obtain them from some of our customers and speakers, transmit them on forms
or electronic files to the state regulators, and securely store them in our
office for future access. For good reason, our customers and speakers object
to this practice. So do we.
If this affects you, consider filing a loud
complaint to your state insurance superintendent or commissioner. He or she
wouldn’t want their Social Security numbers floating around and should
understand your concern.
Back to my main topic, identity theft. The key to
avoiding this problem is to keep important data away from the criminals.
What steps do you take to safeguard your identity that you can share with
readers?
Please share your thoughts and comments with fellow readers.
The second
webinar in our Construction Contract Tips and Tactics series, on the
risks imposed by various contract conditions, will take place tomorrow.
As a reminder, you can still buy
the entire series of six webinars for the price of five and view the
archive version of any you have missed.
Thanks for choosing to be a member
of the 35,000-strong IRMI Update subscriber family!
Have a great day.
Jack
Jack P. Gibson, CPCU, CRIS, ARM
President
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.
Risk Tip
Be There for Injured Employees
Following an injury, the opportunity to manage both the costs and the
outcome begins. Prompt employer contact with the injured employees result in
better outcomes overall. Many companies have a dedicated professional who
maintains that communication as well as communication with the file handler,
nurse case manager, and primary medical provider. This professional makes
certain that the employee knows that he has opportunity and responsibility
to return to work as soon as possible. Neglected employees often go the
wrong sources for answers and, as a result, receive misinformation.
It is important to realize that this is YOUR employee. When an employer
lets that important fact slide, the claim becomes costlier and more out of
control as the employee founders in a system that is designed, at best, to
be adversarial. What other healthcare system allows or encourages us to
litigate for care and benefits? Train your employees to report injuries
immediately. If they are out of work as a result, be sure they know they can
turn to your company for answers to basic questions. Assure them that they
will receive answers and make a solid commitment to bring them back into the
workplace as soon as they are able. Going this extra mile can add up to a
ton of workers compensation premium savings.
By: Simone A. Engelhardt, Sr. Injury Resolution Consultant
CM-Services, Inc.
Plymouth, ME
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What's New in Your IRMI Library
Prevent EPL Claims with Protective Legal Documents
Despite the publicity garnered by large employment-related verdicts and
claim settlements, many firms still fail to use the kinds of protective
legal documents that might prevent or at least mitigate the costs associated
with these claims. The spring 2009 issue of
EPLiC discusses how three types of legal documents—"at-will"
statements in employee handbooks, "management rights" statements, and
arbitration agreements—can be used to reduce employment practices liability
exposures. Check it out on the online delivery platform to which you
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go to
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