Archive December 2011

Public liability Insurance – A common misconception that can lead to disappointment

21/12/2011 in Public Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance provides an indemnity for loss or damage to third party property and for accidental bodily injury to third parties, where the policyholder is legally liable.

Some policyholders however may not be aware that most public liability policies contain an exclusion relating to property that is in the care, custody or control of the policyholder.

In view of this, it’s important that, if in the course of your business you are taking responsibility for third party property, that you ensure adequate arrangements are made. This could involve the policyholder extending a material damage policy to insure “goods in trust” or letting the customer know that you are not taking responsibility for insurance, so that they can make their own insurance arrangements.

If you would like further advice on public liability insurance please contact Tony Gibbs on 0118 9452944, or complete one of our enquiry forms.

Insurance for importers – A cheaper way to insure

21/12/2011 in Business

Companies that are importing goods to sell in the UK and Europe could potentially save on their insurance premiums by arranging their stock cover on a stock throughput policy.

This type of marine insurance policy covers the goods in transit to the UK, whilst in storage pending sales and the onward transit to the end purchaser. The premiums charged for stock by marine insurers are often less than those charged under a conventional business combined insurance policy.

The arrangement works particularly well if the importer is using a fulfilment warehouse to service orders.

For more information on marine throughput insurance, please contact Tony Gibbs on 0118 9452944 or complete one of our enquiry forms.

Recycling at Christmas

18/12/2011 in Recycling Insurance

Macbeth specialise in insurance for recycling companies. Here however are few interesting facts about recycling at Christmas.

One billion Christmas cards ended up in waste bins in the UK this year. One tree is needed to make three thousand cards.

We used 500 million more aluminium can drinks over Christmas.

Over 3 thousand tonnes of aluminium foil was used to wrap food in.

An extra 750 million glass bottles and jars were used over Christmas and New Year.

We use approximately 83km2 of wrapping paper.

8 billion Christmas trees were used last year and most of them were thrown away.

The amount of plastic that was thrown away in the UK last year was equivalent to 50,000 polar bears.

An incredible 9,000 tonnes of extra rubbish is created every year from Christmas trees, that’s almost five times the weight of the London Eye.

Happy Christmas from all at Macbeth’s

Recruitment Companies – Group Accident Insurance for temporary placements

13/12/2011 in Recruitment Industry Insurance

Recruitment companies and employment agencies that are supplying temporary staff could benefit from a group accident policy for the temps they supply.

Group accident insurance is designed to pay a lump sum in the event of death, permanent disablement or loss of limb and a weekly benefit for temporary total disablement, as a result of an accident.

The benefits are:

• An additional revenue stream for the agency as an administration charge can be made for facilitating the cover.

• A lump sum or weekly benefit is paid to the temp, offering them greater financial security if they are injured as a result of an accident at work

• The end client may also benefit, as with accident insurance in place the likelihood of an employer’s liability claim could be reduced.

For further information of how group accident insurance coul d benefit your business, please call Tony Gibbs on 0118 9452944 or complete one of our enquiry form.

Accident cover benefits temporary workers

Planning for the Christmas Holidays

11/12/2011 in Business, Business Combined

Christmas and New Year 2011 will be a difficult year from two entirely different perspectives….

More and more employees are being required to work during the holiday period yet at the same time unemployment is likely to reach levels not seen for some 10-15 years.

Retailers will be desperate to maximise sales during what is usually their peak period and as a consequence hours will be stretched to ‘catch-all’. It will be interesting to see what the previously upward trend in eating out does as less money is available for such luxuries but no doubt the hotel and catering industry will be hoping and planning to staff accordingly. Conversely manufacturing and construction will tend to shut down and hope that 2009 brings some relief.
Whatever your situation pre-planning is essential and we do have some tips and reminders for you.

Christmas cards and gifts
Let’s put this one to bed! There is nothing wrong in sending Christmas cards, having a Christmas tree and decorating the office or workplace. However some sense does need to prevail – it would not be sensible to make a gift of alcohol to a Muslim and, if you do not know the recipient personally, send general greeting cards rather than those with a Christian theme.
Where business gifts are given and received then ensure that your own policy is circulated and adhered to and check out your client’s policy. Be discreet – wrapping up lots of ‘freebees’ for customers in the general office will not go down too well if they have been told they are not having a salary increase again this year.

Shut Down
Employers do have the right to control when employees take their holidays but it is important to ensure that the rules are spelt out. Where there is a shut down it is essential that employees are informed about ensuring that sufficient entitlement is retained. Where you have new employees you will also need to spell out their position when they start employment. If they have insufficient holidays accrued then you have several options:

• Treat the time off as unpaid leave (this must be made clear in their offer letter or contract)

• Allow them to bring forward entitlement (in which case you need to ensure that you have a clear written agreement that they will have payments deducted if they leave your employment before accruing sufficient entitlement)

Holiday staffing
If you require some employees to attend work during the holiday period in order to maintain service levels or for security or production then it is important to ensure that selection is fair and that sufficient notice is given. The best option may be to look for volunteers initially – not everybody looks upon Christmas as a time to have off to enjoy themselves!
Absentees

There is always one at least who fails to turn in after the holiday, or who asks for time off which is refused and then coincidentally goes ill on the same days. Its good practice to remind staff well in advance what the arrangements are for taking holiday and returning to work. Some employers will require medical certificates from employees who are off ill immediately following the holiday. This may not be possible for some employees so a judgement may need to be made and providing it is spelt out in advance payment of holiday pay may be conditional upon your being reasonably satisfied that the illness was genuine.
Seasonal Workers

Recruitment of seasonal workers should not be an excuse for discarding good practice and your legal obligations.Health and safety training is essential as is the requirement to ensure that the worker is legally entitled to work in the UK.They are also entitled to receive at least the national Minimum Wage and be covered by the same Working Time Regulations as permanent workers.
Other Religious Festivals
It is essential (and a legal requirement) to ensure that members of all religions are treated the same.Requests for time off for religious observance should be considered seriously and either taken as part of holiday entitlement or unpaid leave.

The Christmas party
You may be cutting out Christmas parties this year but for those of you that are continuing this practice please put the usual checks in place:

• Check the venue – make sure it is safe and an acceptable venue to all your workers.
• Make sure everybody is included; including those on long term absence/maternity. Also include ALL partners – not just “spouse” or “husband/wife”.
• Remind people about drink driving rules and arrange transport if at all possible.
• Look out for underage drinking – you have a responsibility for your younger workers.
• Don’t offer unlimited alcoholic drinks – you also have a responsibility for all workers and should not be surprised if the is alcohol fuelled trouble caused by your over generosity.
• Remind employees that they are still covered by the terms of their employment as it is a work sponsored event.
• Look out for harassment or any form of unwelcome personal attention. The office junior may have a smile on her face but does she welcome the close attention of her 50 year old boss?

Try and enjoy yourself!

The Root Cause!

01/12/2011 in High Value Homes, Private Clients

Although by no means the only cause, research over the years has estimated that around 60% of all subsidence problems with domestic houses, in clay subsoil areas, can be attributed to trees that are too close to the property, extracting moisture. Most trees have a significant radial root system, sometimes extending out a distance of 1 to 1.5 times the height of the tree.

One of the most common fears is that their roots will damage house foundations. In fact this is seldom the case as most foundations are able to withstand the odd tree root. But it is possible for roots to cause indirect damage through subsidence. Subsidence is what may happen to buildings on soils such as clay that shrink and expend in response to their moisture content. In summer, (or drought) clay soils shrink and in winter (or prolonged rain) they expand. This shrinkage and expansion causes movement, which may lead to subsidence. In some circumstances trees can make the situation worse.

In a large proportion of cases, offending tree(s) were within 16ft of the building and mostly all cases were where the damage was on “shrinkable” soils.

A few simple actions can be taken to protect your property and prevent long term problems if you live in a clay soil area are:

1. Do not plant trees or large shrubs close to the house or outbuildings – this table provides a guide to how far it is generally acceptable that species of trees can be planted.

2. Trees that are older than the property but within safe distances can be managed. Seek specialist advice from a tree surgeon or arboriculturalist – often maintenance programmes can be put in place to restrict growth by pollarding or crown thinning to control the amount of foliage produced, which in turn reduces the amount of water it requires

3. If trees are planted within the safe distance from your property after the house was built, it is recommended that they are removed, but never remove or in any way alter a tree that has a preservation order without the appropriate consent

4. The tree may be within a neighbouring garden or in the street. If you are worried about the potential subsidence problems, discuss it amicably and try to persuade then to take an appropriate action.

The Root Cause - Keeping a Sensible Distance

For further information about how the proximately of trees can affect your household insurance, please contact Jeremy Edwards on 0118 9452944 or complete one of our enquiry forms.

The Root Cause – Keeping a Sensible Distance

01/12/2011 in Factsheet, High Value Homes, Property Insurance

The Root Cause - Keeping a Sensible Distance