Navigating the revised Hazard Communication Standard Adjustments can be difficult. They’re even tougher with a negative attitude. By Michael Wayne Twelve years ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a revision of its Hazard Communication Standard. Early on, there were issues, confusion, and frustration enough for organizations to fail to comply with aspects ..read more

When a literal and minor technicality was litigated, appealed and re-appealed Technically, the medical center “won.” Practically speaking, every party lost. By Bruce D. Hicks, CPCU, CLU The Court Decisions column is a popular part of Rough Notes magazine. One reason for this is that the court room is where the promises made in an ..read more

How anxiety looks and feels will be different for each person experiencing it According to the World Health Organization, 4% of the population has an anxiety disorder, making anxiety disorders the most common of all mental disorders. By Meg McKeen, CIC Before we dive into this month’s column, let me offer this quick heads up ..read more

What is the appropriate course of action when a candidate works for a competitor? With any key hiring decision, time and analysis are needed to identify risks and exposures and to determine the proper control and mitigation methods. By Sarah J. Warhaftig, J.D., CRM You’re the owner of a regional brokerage that presently enjoys a ..read more

Take continuing education seriously For those of us who are agents, the evolution of exposures—and in many cases corresponding coverage forms—is why continuing education is so crucial. By Marc McNulty, CIC, CRM If you’re new to the insurance industry, one of the things you’ll soon learn is that the industry is always evolving (although not ..read more

The NAIC will provide anonymized climate data to the feds The association will launder the industry data through its servers and remove the stains of any … attributable … redlines. By Kevin P. Hennosy As this edition of Rough Notes goes to print, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) of the U.S. Treasury Department will be ..read more

How will coverages be affected, if at all, by the use of AI? By Paul Broussard Artificial  intelligence (AI) will without a doubt reshape industries. As AI integration becomes more widely accepted and adopted in various industries, the insurance industry will adapt in response. Different industries are already using AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s ..read more

Spreading the good word Perhaps we can take a lesson from Mother Nature that applies equally to our industry, our organizations, and our own careers. By Cheryl Koch, CPCU, ARM, AAI, ACSR, AFIS, and Mary Belka, CPCU, ARM, ARe, RPLU, CIC Feeling both eager and frustrated, aspiring leaders often approach us for support because they’re ..read more

Propel your agency beyond the competition with an effective differentiation strategy By setting yourself apart from competitors, you eliminate the need to compete on price. By Carolyn Smith, APR, TRA Are you tired of finding yourself in a 90-day bidding war where price becomes the sole determining factor? Perhaps you’re the one consistently quoting, thinking ..read more

DC plan providers, employers share their strategies “[A]utomatically re-enrolling employees in our [DC] plan … has helped narrow the gap in participation among racial and ethnic groups.” —Carole Mendoza                                                     ..read more