COVID-19 Guidance for Our Insureds
We remain committed to staying accessible during this crisis. While the physical office is not open to the public, our associates are working remotely to keep business operating as usual. Please know that all calls and emails will be responded to as soon as possible.
Our Website has our agencies staff direct phone numbers, emails, as well as our carrier websites and phones numbers. We are here to help anyway we can.
Everyone here at the Emerling Agency wanted to let you know that we share your concern over the effects COVID-19 has on your personal and professional lives. Most small businesses across the country will feel a negative impact as a result of this virus. To help, we would like to share some of the information from the insurance carriers we work with. While many have different nuances, this is a summary of some of the options that might be available to you:
Billing
Many insurance carriers are offering deferred payment options to their insureds. Please contact us if you have any questions about your specific carrier.
General Liability and Worker’s Compensation Policies
As you know, many General Liability policies are rated based on estimated gross annual sales or gross annual payroll, while all Worker’s Compensation policies are based on gross annual payroll. If you would like to adjust your estimated exposures downward to lower your premium and/or enroll in pay-as-you-go Worker’s Compensation payment plans, please contact our office and we will assist you.
Automobile Policies
If you are looking to obtain additional cost savings, you can take a defensive driving class online. The $25 investment can provide you a 10% savings on your premiums for over 3 years. You can visit the NYS Defensive Driving site from the menu on our homepage.
HR Questions:
Below is a message we received from our HR specialists for informational purposes only. It contains important links for both employers and employees. We encourage you to reach out to your own HR professionals for further advice.
Federal Law Alert
COVID-19: April 1 Effective Date for FFCRA Leaves
On Tuesday, March 24, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the effective date of the leaves available through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will be April 1, 2020.
Based on the language in the bill, the effective date was widely believed to be April 2.
The DOL announced the effective date in a “Questions and Answers” document where it also provided answers to some common questions. Other than the April 1 effective date, the information is in line with what we have been advising. The DOL also released two Fact Sheets, both of which appear to contain the same information, but it’s possible they will each be updated in the future with information that is geared more toward employees or employers.