Insurance Insights

Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), also commonly referred to as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), is a fairly new concept in which employers are giving permission to their employees to use their own personal mobile devices in order to complete work-related tasks. These devices may include their mobile phone, typically smart phones with its advanced tools and technology, as well as tablet PC’s, like Apple’s iPad. While BYOT is enticing to employees as many feel more comfortable in the workplace when they can use mobile devices they are more accustomed to for occupational duties, there are a variety of security risks that must be addressed prior to giving consent to employees.

Benefits of BYOT

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<a href="https://agency.boltinsurance.com/news/miscellaneous/employee-work-hours-infographic"><noscript><img decoding="async" src="https://agency.boltinsurance.com/MarketingSite/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/employee-work-hours-around-the-world.jpg" alt="employee-work-hours-around-the-world" width="800" border="0" /></noscript><img class="lazyload" decoding="async" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20800%20533.333333333%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://agency.boltinsurance.com/MarketingSite/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/employee-work-hours-around-the-world.jpg" alt="employee-work-hours-around-the-world" width="800" border="0" /></a><br />Via: <a href="https://agency.boltinsurance.com/">BOLT Insurance</a>

We humans are a hardworking species, but some of us put in longer hours at work than others. In our latest infographic, find out which countries put in the most work hours per week, which countries get the longest vacations, which positions work the most, and more.

As social networking sites rise in popularity, employers have additional options for recruiting and pre-screening job applicants. Almost two in five companies, or 37 percent, use social networking websites to research potential job candidates, according to a recent study performed by CareerBuilder.  With millions of Facebook users, it is becoming a go-to social media site for employers and recruiters to get to know their job applicants a little better, as well as use Facebook profile information to decide whether or not this is someone they would consider hiring. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to using Facebook as a pre-screening tool for job applicants, along with a few caveats.
Pro’s of Using Facebook to Pre-Screen Job Applicants
1) Extension of resume. A job applicant’s Facebook profile can act as an extension of their resume, by showing her passion and knowledge for certain skills and interests. For instance, a job candidate that is applying for a position at a veterinary office might show a variety of status updates, posts, and photos of working with animals; this validates their passion and credibility as someone who is interested in this type of work.
2) Character verification. A Facebook profile can showcase the character and personality traits of a job applicant, which may be an important aspect of hiring the right individual. Having skills and credentials is only the first step of finding a job candidate; this potential employee will also want to have other traits that a recruiter deems important, such as showing a high level of motivation, respect for others, and being a responsible individual.
3) Proven work ethic. In many cases, the Facebook page of a job applicant may hint towards having a strong work ethic based on their posts about previous employment and how they interact on a more professional level. In the case of an individual applying for a job in the marketing or advertising field, it might be important that this individual behaves in a professional manner even on their personal Facebook page or demonstrate the building of a network. For some job positions, maintaining a certain level of positive representation on social media sites is crucial.

As social networking sites rise in popularity, employers have additional options for recruiting and pre-screening job applicants. Almost two in five companies, or 37 percent, use social networking websites to research potential job candidates, according to a recent study performed by CareerBuilder.  With millions of Facebook users, it is becoming a go-to social media site for employers and recruiters to get to know their job applicants a little better, as well as use Facebook profile information to decide whether or not this is someone they would consider hiring. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to using Facebook as a pre-screening tool for job applicants, along with a few caveats.

Cloud computing and services offer businesses the chance to combine various business-related technology applications and business functions into one grouping, called a cloud. Using the cloud for your small business offers a number of benefits, which is prompting many companies throughout the country to consider cloud services as part of their business plan. Not only is it a more convenient way to do business, but many small business owners are finding additional advantages to using the cloud system.

Having access to your business bank account and funds online is a convenient way to manage your business finances, but it also poses a variety of risks. In order to keep your online funds secure from theft, security breaches, employee deceitful practices, or other online security issues, it is important to keep your online banking account and business funds protected from these potential risks. The following is a list of best practices for keeping your online funds secure for protection of associated online banking risks.

If you are a transporter of freight or other commodities, you assume responsibility for the care of the cargo under your control. The amount of that responsibility should be detailed clearly and understood by both the owner and shipper — before the cargo shipment is moved — through a contract or bill of lading.

Testing employees for drugs before completing the hiring process isn’t a new concept, but it continues to be used for the majority of companies throughout the United States. According to the US Department of Labor, more than 6% of the population has used illegal drugs in the last 30 days, many of which are working individuals between the ages of 16 and 25. It’s no surprise that businesses want to be involved in a drug testing program to maintain a drug-free workplace, but there are more reasons to drug test your employees, aside from the initial testing.

Running a tailor shop involves providing altering and repair services for your customers. You may be responsible for altering a wedding dress, repairing a football jersey, or even creating custom clothing for your neighborhood dance team. As a tailor, you have a variety of risks both as a business owner and a professional. Risks include possible theft of clothing that is left in your shop overnight, damage to your building and its contents from fire or flood, and electrical outages that affect your business operations. Protect these and other risks by obtaining tailor shop insurance.
Types of Tailor Shop Insurance

As a business owner, you trust your employees to do their job well and follow all safety precautions. When it’s the employee’s job to drive for work duties, likeas picking up or dropping off supplies, or driving to different job sites, it is crucial that they remain awake and alert. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15 people every day are killed as a result of a distracted driver, and 1,200 people are injured in crashes every day from distracted driving. The risks of distracted employee driving not only affect the driver and your company, but other people on the road as well, including pedestrians.