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The Future at Stake: Meeting the Maritime Industry’s Workforce Demands

A significant challenge facing the maritime industry is the shortage of qualified workers. Several organizations, like Maritime High School and Core Plus Maritime, aim to prepare young people for maritime careers and bridge the workforce gap.

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Active Shooter & Armed Assailant: What Are the Insurance Implications?

The insurance landscape for active shooter and armed assailant incidents on passenger vessels in the maritime industry is still emerging and not well-established.

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2024 Affordability Percentage

In Revenue Procedure 2023-29, the IRS has again significantly decreased the affordability percentage from 9.12% in 2023 to 8.39% for 2024. This is the first time the affordability percentage has ever been below 9%. This percentage determines which applicable large employers may face penalties under §4980H(b) for failure to offer affordable coverage as well as which individuals may qualify for subsidized coverage through a public Exchange.

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Risk in Focus :: Education Q3 2023

Schools must prioritize risk mitigation with disaster plans and resilience measures, showing insurers their commitment to risk reduction. Addressing students’ mental health is crucial, as it affects academic performance and wellbeing. Carriers are stepping up with valuable mental health services.

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Paid Leave Oregon (PLO): APPLICATION PROCESS BEGINS

Oregon employees who work for employers who are participating in Oregon’s state mandated PLO program can apply for benefits starting August 14, 2023, and benefits will be available beginning on September 3, 2023.

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Keeping Up With Clinical Risk Management: Transforming Healthcare Delivery Embracing Virtual Nursing for Staffing Challenges

Healthcare facilities continue to struggle with significant nursing turnover, attempting to backfill and continue operations despite shortages. Some healthcare facilities are finding that pivoting to virtual nursing for certain aspects of patient care could be a potential solution.

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Markets in Focus :: Energy Q3 2023

Property valuations are lagging behind true replacement costs due to labor shortages and supply chain disruptions resulting from the pandemic and inflationary pressures. As a result, underwriters are scrutinizing reported values and making frequent indexed valuation adjustments to protect against under-valuation.

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Gag Clause Attestation Guidance Released

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Human Services (HHS) [collectively, “the Departments”] have released guidance regarding the requirement for employer sponsored health plans and health insurance carriers to submit an attestation of compliance with the gag clause prohibitions contained in The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021.

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Markets in Focus :: Commercial Real Estate Q2 2023

U.S. commercial real estate investment activity is slowing as the nation’s economy slips toward a possible recession. Deal volume will decline 15% this year. In a CBRE survey, 60% of investors indicated they would reduce purchases in 2023, most by more than 10%, while only 15% of respondents stated they would increase their activity.

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The False Claims Act and Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative

It has been a pivotal year in Government Contracting. In the last 18 months, we have seen the creation of the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative (2021), three significant CCFI suits, and the recent Supreme Court decision to verify the meaning of “knowingly” in an FCA context (June 2023). These factors, combined with DOJ’s interest in hiring […]

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Avoiding the High Cost of Employment Lawsuits: Proactive Measures for Hospitality Businesses

Sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination—if an employee or former employee sued your business due to one of these situations, do you have the correct insurance to pay for your legal defense or the settlement associated with the lawsuit?

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The David-Bacon and Service Contract Acts

The Davis-Bacon Act (DBA), adopted in 1931 and amended many times since, requires construction contractors and subcontractors working under a federal contract valued at $2,000 or more to pay their laborers on that project no less than the local “prevailing wage.”

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