R&R Insurance Blog

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards Insurance Plan (“Plan”) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Endorsed Agent Program. Five insurance agencies specializing in serving the property and casualty and employee benefits insurance needs of Wisconsin school districts and CESAs have been endorsed by the Plan, R&R Insurance Services of Waukesha, WI is one of the agencies for the Property & Casualty insurance Plan.

The endorsed agencies were selected based on their knowledge, depth of resources, and experience in facilitating the provision of insurance and risk management services meeting the special needs of Wisconsin school districts and CESAs, and their willingness to collaborate with the Plan to expand programming in this regard.

Plan Chair and Elk Mound School District Board member Tim Sivertson is enthused about the new program. “These firms have made a commitment to offer Wisconsin school districts and CESAs insurance and programs which meet districts’ ever-changing needs. That’s vitally important as school boards face the challenges presented by reduced budgets and legislative changes.”

“All employees will benefit from the Endorsed Agent Program as the Plan and agencies work together to analyze and communicate ideas which yield the most favorable results for improving health and reducing injuries,” says Nancy Thompson, Plan Trustee, WASB, Inc. Board President and Waterloo School District Board member.

Wisconsin School districts and CESAs are encouraged to contact R&R Insurance for more information.

R&R Insurance Services: Bill Hattendorf
800-566-7007, Ext. 2128, Bill.Hattendorf@rrins.com

Anything that diverts your attention away from the main task of driving is a distraction. Basically, anything that takes your eyes/mind off the road or your hands off the wheel. This includes cell phone usage, eating, talking, listening to disruptive music, applying make-up, tending to children and navigation systems.

Not Just Texting – Any Cell Phone Usage Can be Deadly

Research has shown that the distraction caused by a phone conversation is the same for hands-free or hand-held cell phones. Even more distracting is the act of text messaging. Now illegal in most states (including Wisconsin), texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds. At 55 mph, this translates into 120 yards without looking at the road.

Manage Your Distractions

• Recognize that driving requires your full attention.
• Ask a passenger to place a call for you and, if possible, speak in your place.
• Do not compose, send or read text messages while driving. In Wisconsin, texting while driving is illegal.
• Ask passengers to help with directions or adjust dashboard controls.
• Secure loose items in the vehicle so they don’t become projectiles or distractions in a sudden stop or crash.
• Avoid intense, complicated or emotional conversations when driving.
• Pull over to care for children.
• Stop to eat or drink, rather than trying to eat or drink while driving.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Program your GPS prior to starting your trip.
• Allow plenty of time for your trip.

R&R offers a free Stop The Distraction Campaign Kit for Wisconsin Schools and families in an effort to help prevent distracted driving. Contact us for your free kit if you are located in Wisconsin. 800-566-7007.

As an independent insurance agency servicing dozens of public and private schools, and tens of thousands of families in Southeastern Wisconsin, we know first-hand how life can change in an instant. For 2013, we've put some muscle behind our campaign to help schools and families prevent distracted driving.

R&R Insurance Services is offering a free Prevent Distracted Driving Campaign Kit to any school, business or family in Southeastern Wisconsin. Our kit includes a poster, two window clings and a pledge card.

Unfortunately, many accidents occur and lives are lost due to something that can be prevented - Distracted Driving! Let's stay focused behind the wheel and focused towards a common goal to prevent distracted driving.

Request your FREE Stop The Distraction Campaign Kit today and help spread the word. We can work together to Stop The Distraction and Save A Life!

Are you trying to save money or clear up the clutter from this holiday season? These tips are sure to help!

• Create a color-coded filing system. Use a different color for each family member and organize a pocket for bills that need to be paid sorted by date (it's not a bad idea to write the due date on the top, so you don't forget to pay it on time!) . You can then move them to the appropriate file once they've been paid.
• Use your cell phone. Take pictures of schedules, lunch menus, and grocery lists.
• Go paperless. Did you know some of our companies will give you a discount for moving to this option? They also may offer you a discount if you opt to have it electonically withdrawn. If you are already going to make the payment and pay an installment fee - why avoid the headache of remembering to pay the bill and the fee by electing this option!! The same is to be said if you're going to pay in full, you may get a discount!
• Consolidate with binders. Binders keep everyint sorted neatly. If you make it simple to locate you'll use it properly and make use of the system.
• Set a date in your calendar. One a week or once a month or whatever it takes - put aside hte time to get organized and maintain your filing systems!

You may believe the reason you pay for homeowner's insurance is so that you can take advantage of it whenever you need it

While no two acquisitions are alike, Inc.com provides five basic components to executing a successful acquisition:

1. Assembling the team - an internal team of finance, sales & marketing, and operations; an external team of experienced advisors such as lawyers, accountants, and investment bankers
2. Initiating a target search - will an investment banker find & evaluate targets or will flow be generated internally through screening, networking and industry contacts?
3. Developing a plan - draft a plan that includes objectives, relevant industry trends, criteria for evaluating target companies, and a timetable for completion
4. Pricing the deal - not only understanding the financials of a business you are looking to acquire, but also looking at the culture of the company and how it may, or may not, work with your own culture
5. Financing the acquisition - determining factors include the size & complexity of the transaction, the buyer's cash position, the terms of the purchase price, and market conditions

As a general rule, if an employee is terminated for cause, the obligation to pay workers compensation benefits continues. Similar to a layoff or the employer's inability to provide light duty work, a termination is viewed in much the same way. The injured worker is still considered to be restricted in the general labor market due to injury, until he or she reaches maximum medical improvement, or is released to return to work without restrictions.

See Brakebush Brothers Inc and Employers Insurance of Wausau vs LIRC 1997

However, in recent years, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has expanded their scope of potential situations where benefits may be suspended as the result of termination.

Here are a few exceptions:

1. The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to the employee's violation of the employer's policy concerning employee drug use during the period when the employee could return to a restricted type of work during the healing period. Compensation for temporary disability may be denied only if prior to the date of injury the employer's policy concerning employee drug use established in writing and regularly enforced by the employer.
2. The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to the employee's alleged commission of a crime, the circumstances of which are substantially related to that employment, and the employee has been charged with the commission of that crime. If the employee is not found guilty of the crime, compensation for temporary disability shall be payable in full.
3. The employee has been convicted of a crime, is incarcerated, and is not available to return to a restricted type of work during the healing period.

The exceptions listed above all make good sense as it relates to benefit cessation. Without those exceptions, the employer's insurance carrier is obligated to continue benefits. This certainly makes good sense as you could create a moral hazard whereby an employer terminates a work simply to circumvent the payment of benefits.