What to Watch for: Questionable Claims
Questionable claims are worker’s compensation claims insurers refer to the NICB for closer review and investigation because they appear to be fraudulent. According to the NICB’s analysis, insurers reported 3,474 claims as questionable in 2011. That number continues to increase based on data analysis of the first six months’ reported questionable claims. Insurers may choose to refer a worker’s compensation claim to the NICB as questionable for several reasons. However, according to the recent report, the three most common are claimant fraud, prior injury/not related to work and malingering....
Read MoreEmergency Plans a Must for Your Small Business
Tornados and earthquakes, fires and flooding, chemical spills and terrorist attacks—disasters, natural and otherwise, can happen anytime and anywhere. Even if an unforeseen event doesn’t directly damage your property, the power outages and travel disruptions that occur during many emergencies may prevent you from shipping and receiving products and supplies or otherwise affect your day-to-day business operations. Fortunately, an emergency plan can help prepare your small business for the unthinkable. According to the Red Cross, as many as 40 percent of small businesses that are closed due to...
Read MoreBest Practices for Managing Remote Employees
Remote employees are increasingly common in today’s businesses. According to a New York Times article published last year, the number of remote workers—which includes full-time telecommuters, self-employed freelancers, and other professionals whose work is traditionally done outside an office—could presently be as high as 30 percent of the American workforce. As an employer, offering work-from-home flexibility can increase your company’s appeal in the eyes of job candidates—giving you a competitive edge in the war for top talent. Additionally, outsourcing some projects to self-employed...
Read MoreManagement Style: Being a Leader Not Just a Boss
The difference between being a leader and a boss is more than simply the word someone uses to describe a supervisor. Employees perceive a leader and a boss in completely different ways, and leaders are far more effective than mere bosses, who often appear stuck in the 1950s, although they may view themselves as progressive. If you’re not sure about your management style, here are three quick questions to help determine how your employees see you — and what you can do keep from falling into the trap of ineffective management. Do you do more talking or listening? While no one expects you to be...
Read MoreReducing Employee Fraud
Most business managers and owners are well aware of the threat of loss from outsiders, and use a variety of methods to reduce this risk. From locks on the doors, to security guards and dogs, to complex electronic burglar alarm systems, many preventative steps are taken. However, it is often the case that less attention is dedicated to reducing the risk of theft by an insider. No one wants to believe that an employee will purposely defraud the company of money. Most people want to trust their employees, and rightly so. But it only takes one bad apple to do significant damage. Depending on...
Read MoreBeware of Small Business Scams
Whether you’re a small business, medium-sized organization or non-profit group, one thing is for certain: there are numerous fraudsters—both online and off—who would be happy to relieve you of your money. Fraud directed towards small businesses is so common, in fact, that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has produced a free booklet (available for order here) outlining the most common tactics. The following scams are included. Directory Listing Scams If you receive a phone call from a business to “verify” or “confirm” your company’s information for listing in a business directory, you may...
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