Featuring authors from across our organization on various topics related to risk management and employee benefits, our blog is a great resource to help you stay informed.

Our Scott thought leaders provide content on a regular basis to elevate your thinking surrounding critical components of your company’s culture and overall performance.

Affordable Housing Apartment Building

Affordable Housing’s Economic Impact

The economic impact of affordable housing at the local level is significant. In fact, the development of affordable housing in communities has many short- and long-term economic benefits. This industry combines the investment potential of real estate development with the mission of helping low- and moderate-income individuals and families, while impacting the local economy through job creation and increased government revenue.

 Impact on Employment

One of the primary ways affordable housing positively impacts the economy is through direct and indirect job creation. In Virginia alone, it is estimated that from 1996-2016 266,135 short-term jobs and 10,245 long-term jobs were created due to affordable housing development, according to a report from the Virginia Housing Alliance. Another study released earlier this year, concluded that a total of 329,000 jobs were supported throughout New York State between 2011 and 2015 due to the construction or preservation of affordable housing units. 

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Run-off Insurance A Necessity in Today's Market

Today’s merger and acquisition (M&A) landscape is hyper active. In 2016 alone, there were more than 12,000 M&A deals in the U.S. These opportunities often create significant financial opportunity for the purchasing and selling entities. Alternatively, during the same period corporate bankruptcies totaled over 46,000, revealing that many companies are facing significant difficulties.

Both M&A events and bankruptcies typically lead to significant changes in a company’s corporate structure, which in turn impacts the exposures faced by its directors and officers (D&O), and their respective insurers. So, how does a D&O policy respond to changes in the structure of a business? When should management consider run-off insurance for ongoing protection?  

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OSHA Electronic Reporting Delay

The OSHA electronic reporting rule requires certain establishments to report information electronically from their OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301. The rule also requires OSHA to create a website that can be used to submit the required information. Under the rule, the first reports were due by July 1, 2017

However, on a recent update to its recordkeeping webpage, OSHA indicated that the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) website will not be ready to receive electronic workplace injury and illness reports until Aug. 1, 2017, and has proposed Dec. 1, 2017, as the new deadline.  

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Healthcare Reform

Lee and Moran Announce Opposition to BCRA; McConnell Changes Course

Last night (Monday, July 17) Senators Jerry Moran and Mike Lee simultaneously released statements that they would not vote to proceed to debate on the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). With Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins already in the “no” column, this announcement made it clear to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he would not be able to proceed as planned. In a statement released last night he stated, “Regretfully, it is now apparent that the effort to repeal and immediately replace the failure of Obamacare will not be successful.” He then stated, “In the coming days, the Senate will vote to take up the House bill with the first amendment in order being what a majority of the Senate has already supported in 2015 and that was vetoed by then-President Obama: a repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay to provide for a stable transition period.”

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