​A Texas Business Insurance Update
No one wants to think about an event so severe that it would cause your business to close.  However, disaster planning needs to be part of your ongoing business plan.  Major events can include floods, storms, data breach, fires, accidents, death of an owner, or lawsuits.  Whatever the risk, a little pre-planning can go a long way toward getting your business up and running again.
A key part of your plan should be a review of your Texas business insurance program.  Your business insurance should include the following:
Property insurance: Covers your buildings, equipment, machines, and other property from loss or damage. Coverage should include business income coverage.
Commercial Liability Insurance: Provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others.
Commercial Auto Insurance: Covers your company vehicles if they are involved in an accident. It can also cover your business if you, or an employee, uses a personally owned vehicle on behalf of the business.
Cyber Liability Insurance: This insurance can protect your business from a data breach.  If your business stores sensitive or non-public information about employees or clients, you are responsible for protecting that information. 
Management Liability Insurance: Management Liability can encompass these important business insurance coverage’s: Professional liability, and Directors and Officers Liability.
Having the right kind of business insurance is not the only thing your business should consider. You need to develop a plan in the event your business is shut down.
Business Continuation Practices

• Identify your risk- Develop an understanding of what kind of risks could leave employees, customers, and vendors vulnerable.
• Define the impact – Determine what you need to do to restore critical operations.
• Be proactive - Your prevention and mitigation plans should address, among other things, emergency response, public relations, resource management, and employee communications.
• Practice -Test and update your plan yearly or any time critical functions, facilities, suppliers or personnel change. Train employees to understand their role in executing the plan, too.

As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help.   Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your business insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote. 
 

A Texas Personal Insurance Update
The holiday shopping season is upon us, and many of us are searching our favorite web pages for the best deals on the items that top this year’s wish list.  Last year, cyber Monday was the year’s single biggest day for shopping, generating over 2 billion dollars in sales.  This year, consumer experts predict an even bigger day.  However, this online activity is also a big day for cyber criminals.
We recommend that you have us review your personal insurance to make sure you have the right kind of insurance, including identity theft protection, to protect you and your family throughout the holiday season.
Holiday Cyber Safety Tips

• Use a credit card rather than a debit card.  It is easier to resolve issues.
• Make sure your computer has updated security software.  Verify that your antivirus software is up-to-date with the latest virus definitions, and that useful features like real-time scanning are enabled.
• Update your passwords and make sure they are strong.  Do not use 1234 as your password.
• Don’t open email advertisement for sources you do not know.
• Use only familiar websites.
• Check you statements to make sure charges are correct.
• Always log out of websites after your shopping is complete.  Cookies can often keep you logged into accounts even after you close the browsing tab, an obvious no-no.  Get in the habit of clicking the "log out" button.
• Try not to do your online banking on the same computer you use to shop online.
• An extremely important online shopping safety tip is to keep your personal information protected.  No store needs your social security number or your birthday.
• The National Retail Federation predicts that 25 percent of adults will do online browsing with their smartphones to find gifts.  If you use your smart phone to shop, make sure that you are only browsing safe, well-known sites.

Strive Insurance Group, Inc. is a full-service independent insurance agency that has been serving the insurance needs of the Dallas area since 1984 (formerly Gordon Lund Insurance). Don't worry, nothing has changed, but our name. In addition to having a presence in the Dallas and North Texas area, we have also expanded to Austin and Central Texas with agent representation and the same professional service.
 
Sources – Protection one, CNET, Identity Hawk.com, and Tripwire. 
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​Business Insurance update 
This is the time of year when your business will be hiring part time workers to help you manage the holiday season. For the most part, you will not need to modify your business insurance, but if you add new classifications or payroll, it may affect your workers’ compensation insurance.  Now might be a good time to have us complete a review of all your business insurance policies.
Here are few tips to help you manage seasonal employees

• Make sure seasonal employees get the same training as all other employees.
• Conduct background screenings on seasonal candidates.
• Unless the job requires it, it is not a good idea to give seasonal employees access to computers or other secure information.
• Don’t allow seasonal employees to work alone.
• Remember the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to properly classify workers, pay the legal minimum wage, and pay overtime if applicable.
• Seasonal employees should also read and sign the employee handbook.
• Your business is legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, as most fair-employment laws cover seasonal employees. 
• If you notice cliques or bad habits forming, don’t assume that they will self-correct. 
• Employers with 15 or more employees are subject to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state employment laws. This means your seasonal employees, just like your regular workforce, must receive adequate training on what conduct is illegal, how to report it, and how to request a reasonable accommodation.
• Maintain a detailed account of where each employee works, the kinds of tasks they are assigned, number of hours completed, and their rate of pay.
• When it is time to end the seasonal employment, follow the same procedures as you would with a full-time or permanent employee.

As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help.   Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your business insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.