ANIELLO'S "TWO CENTS WORTH"
HOLIDAY EDITION
Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. This year it will be celebrated on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Thanks to President Harry S. Truman, it’s a day to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces.
One way to celebrate Armed Forces Day is to enhance the morale and well-being of the deployed troops worldwide by sending a care package. You may not know how to go about it so we have provided some resources to help you.
There is a variety of ways to go about it from putting together your own package, to having an organization do it for you. There are many items that they have no access to unless someone sends them over so it's a perfect way to thank them and honor their service.

Armed Forces Day: Saturday, May 18, 2019
Day To Honor And Appreciate All Active Military Service

Memorial Day: Monday, May 27, 2019
Memorial Day Honors Those That Died While In Military Service

Veteran's Day: Monday, November 11, 2019
Celebrates The Service Of All Military Veterans


DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Is Someone you love experiencing the signs
of dementia or Alzheimer's Disease?
There are many resources that can help you and your loved one get the help they need.
Dementia  is an  umbrella  term used to describe a group of diseases that may cause the brain to fail. ... The damage caused by all types of  dementia  leads to the progressive loss of brain tissue, which in turn will affect a person's: memory.
All forms of dementia have many things in common and learning tactics for dealing with them can lessen the frustration and distress for the patient as well as the caregive
THE 411 ON THE MEASLES OUTBREAK:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMMERCIAL AUTO RATES LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN 2019
The  2018 Q3 report from The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB)  notes that commercial auto insurance premiums have seen the 29th consecutive quarter of rate increases.. While it is the first quarter in the last year that the rate increase was less than the previous quarter, commercial auto increase have remained on average three to four times that of other lines of business.
Commercial auto policies are unlikely to lead to an underwriting profit and often take several years (if ever) to become profitable. Additionally, in the past ten years, two major carriers have left the market, reducing the competitive landscape for these policies. The Council’s President/CEO, Ken Crerar stated, “Due to distracted driving and more people on the roads, commercial auto claims have increased in both frequency and severity and it remains an industry-wide concern that The Council will continue to monitor in 2019.”

A  recent article  from Carrier Management identifies a number of trends leading to increased claims on commercial auto policies, and ultimately increased premiums.

  1. As a result of the improved economy, more vehicles are being produced and are on the roads which increases the likelihood for an accident.
  2. Trucking companies tend to hire more inexperienced drivers as a result of a tightened labor market.
  3. Technology enhancements in cars may help provide new safety features, but they also may create new risks. Cars are becoming more sophisticated with GPS, radio, auto-drive and the ability for your phone to connect to your car. These features are extremely helpful but may lead to drivers to become even more distracted.
  4. Claim severity is also impacting the premium costs. More and more bodily injury claims are being litigated.
  5. Third-party litigation funding or litigation finance, is also contributing to claim severity.

All of these components have significantly impacted the rates for commercial auto. While the increases seem inevitable, there are steps you can take to try to ensure the best rates possible. Taking a risk management approach to your training programs, hiring requirements and safety procedures can help to control your claim activity. Combining that risk management approach with a broker that has strong, long-standing carrier relationships can help position your company, organization or institution for the best possible outcome. Call us today to discuss how to lower your rates. We will work hard to help you.
MOTHER'S DAY IDEAS
Whether your celebrating and honoring the mom who raised you, your mother-in-law, Gramma, the mother of your child or the woman who has been a mother figure to you, Mother's Day is a day to really show your appreciation and to make the "Mom" in your life feels special.

Coming up with unique ideas, whether its a gift, a cool activity, or just a good meal together can be difficult year after year.
Here is a little help!
Wage and Hour Division
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Overtime Update
On March 7, 2019 the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would make more than a million more American workers eligible for overtime.
Under currently enforced law, employees with a salary below $455 per week ($23,660 annually) must be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours per week. Workers making at least this salary level may be eligible for overtime based on their job duties.
This proposal would boost the proposed standard salary level to $679 per week (equivalent to $35,308 per year). Above this salary level, eligibility for overtime varies based on job duties.
The NPRM includes:
  • The proposal increases the minimum salary required for an employee to qualify for exemption from the currently-enforced level of $455 to $679 per week (equivalent to $35,308 per year).
  • The proposal increases the total annual compensation requirement for “highly compensated employees” (HCE) from the currently-enforced level of $100,000 to $147,414 per year.
  • A commitment to periodic review to update the salary threshold. An update would continue to require notice-and-comment rulemaking.
  • Allowing employers to use nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) that are paid annually or more frequently to satisfy up to 10 percent of the standard salary level.
  • No changes in overtime protections for:
  • Police Officers
  • Fire Fighters
  • Paramedics
  • Nurses
  • Laborers including: non-management production-line employees
  • Non-management employees in maintenance, construction and similar occupations such as carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, iron workers, craftsmen, operating engineers, longshoremen, and other construction workers
  • No changes to the job duties test.
  • No automatic adjustments to the salary threshold.
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