The rise in layoffs, soaring unemployment rates and economic recession has sparked an increase in the number of people trying to cheat the system. Some workers resort to fraudulent unemployment claims, while others will find it more lucrative to collect workers’ compensation. Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported that it saved or recovered $4.1 million through its workers’ compensation fraud investigations in 2008. The impact is millions of dollars in overpayments that could ultimately exhaust benefit funds leading to higher payroll taxes and expenses for businesses.
The most common way people scam the system is to continue filing for unemployment benefits even after getting a new job. Others collect unemployment benefits while earning unreported cash revenue. As unemployment rates rise, investigators estimate there will be a sharp increase in the number of people coning the system for unemployment benefits.
For some employees, collecting workers’ comp looks far more attractive than collecting unemployment. As economic times worsen, more workers may be tempted to fake injuries or claim an old one is “acting up again.”
Historically, workers’ comp fraud increases during economic downturns. Industry analysts predict an increase in claim frequency and the length of time injured workers remain out. Read these tips on how to recognizing fraud and prevent fraudulent claims from happening to your business.
Examples of claims fraud include a worker who:
Fakes an injury at work to get paid time off (”fake slip and fall”)
Exaggerates the severity of a legitimate injury to extend time away from work
Claims an injury occurred on the job when it actually occurred off the job site
Workers’ Comp Fraud Red Flags:
Injury that has no witness other than the employee
Accident/Injury occurring late Friday or early Monday
Injury not reported until a week or more after it supposedly occurred
Injury occurs in location where the employee would not normally work
Injury that is inconsistent with employee’s normal job duties
Employee has history making workers’ comp claims
Evidence of employee working elsewhere while drawing benefits
Safeguards to Prevent Workers’ Comp/Slip and Fall Fraud:
Established policies and practices to create employee awareness. Ensures employees know that workers’ comp fraud is a serious crime and will not be tolerated.
Install security cameras in your workplace to capture accidents: Employees are less likely to commit fraud when a video surveillance system is monitoring their actions. A visual record will also help support legitimate workers comp claims while discrediting bogus injuries.
Always conduct thorough background checks on potential employees.
Frequently make routine inspections of working and walking areas.
Provide extensive safety training on the prevention of slips and falls to all new employees
All slips, trips and falls, with or without injury, should be reported promptly, recorded and thoroughly investigated.
Choose a proactive security strategy and prevent employee fraud before it raises your expenses and takes away from your bottom line. Protect your business whether it be in San Antonio, Houston or Dallas metropolitan, We have security specialists located throughout Texas. Contact us today for a free on site security survey or call 1-866-618-CAMS to talk to one of our qualified sales team members.
Important notice for business owners: Nationwide, Farmers, and State Farm have confirmed that installing security camera systems in your place of business will lower your insurance rate. Business owners should ask their insurance agent if installing a security camera system will lower their rate and premium. Insurance companies base their rates on risks, and when cameras are installed, the risk dramatically decreases. Installing a surveillance security system protects your business from risks which include robbery, theft, vandalism, false claims, sexual harassment and others.
Robbery/ Break-ins: The last thing criminals want is to be caught on tape. Having security cameras will deter burglars from stealing. Theft and vandalism cost businesses millions of dollars each year. With the newest surveillance technology, 911 Security Cameras can provide your business with the best possible security camera solution to protect your business against these crimes.
False Claims: Perhaps an employee claims to have fallen or that a co-worker/supervisor has mistreated them. By installing a video surveillance system, you reduce the risk that you face. Having a security camera system installed throughout your business can effectively lower instances of workplace violence, detect other unwanted employee conduct and record instances of workers’ compensation claims.
Inside Theft/Employee Theft: Significantly lower any losses your business experiences due to Inside/Employee Theft by catching employees in the act. Installing security cameras allow you to monitor employee behaviors and deter theft before it happens. Studies show that installing security cameras in the workplace actually boosts employee productivity and morale.
Sexual Harassment: Security cameras offer the opportunity to catch and correct sexual harassment behaviors even before a complaint is made. When a complaint is made, a video record will be available. For more on how to protect your business and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace read Steps to Protect Your Company Against Sexual Harassment Law Suits
Workplace Safety Hazards: The power to remotely monitor stores, warehouses, and other work spaces can be used to identify and correct any safety hazards. Exterior cameras offer an additional layer of protection for employees as they walk to their cars at night, and for customers. Installing interior and exterior security cameras help contribute to a safer work environment.
Just as many insurance companies reduce insurance rates for safe drivers and for drivers who own cars with GPS enabled tracking devices, Insurance companies also reduce rates for their business customers that install security camera systems. Not only can you save money from lowered insurance rates and premiums, security cameras are often tax-deductible for businesses which means more savings. The money your business saves from decreased insurance rates/premiums and tax deductions will usually cover all costs of monthly monitoring fees that security services charge. Installing affordable security cameras can pay for themselves very quickly, and give you peace of mind from knowing that your business is protected from risks.
With so many benefits that have a tangible effect on your business’s bottom line, it is easy to see how significant the return on your investment is on a well-designed and professional security video surveillance system. Ultimately a security system will be most beneficial if it is tailored to your specific business needs. That’s why 911 Security Cameras provides custom-tailored video surveillance systems by sending a consultant to perform a security camera site survey and assess your business needs.
For more information on how our video surveillance systems can protect your company from risks, fraudulent claims and liabilities while providing a safe work environment for your employees, contact us today at 1-866-618-2267.
Sexual harassment lawsuits are on the rise. According to UCLA’s recent statistics, over 400 million dollars where paid by companies for sexual harassment lawsuits. Prevention is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment is a serious matter especially for business owners. Employers are encouraged to take steps necessary to safeguard the workplace against sexual harassment.
So what can you do to prevent such a disaster?
1. Written Company Policy
The most important step an employer can take to defend against a sexual harassment claim is to have a written company policy prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace and a defined procedure that puts the policy into operation. This policy should be part of initial employee training and also should be visibly posted in the workplace as a constant reminder. This constant reminder will help all employees acknowledge that the company takes this problem very seriously and comes with consequences for those who engage in sexually inappropriate acts against fellow co-workers.
Courts across the United States have found that not having a written policy is the same as not taking reasonable steps toward being aware that sexual harassment is taking place. Likewise courts have ruled in favor of employers who could prove that they had exercised reasonable care to prevent and promptly correct any sexually harassing behavior, have provided clear definitions of sexual harassment, and have given adequate education on sexual harassment.
What Must A Written Sexual Harassment Policy Contain?
A clear, concise statement of the law, coupled with a clear statement that such improper conduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Employees have a right to know what conduct is being prohibited by the policy.
The procedure for filing a complaint. What documents to fill out, who to report to and what steps need to be taken.
A guarantee that complaints will be properly investigated according to procedure with confidentially. Having an outside investigator might be the best way to go in most cases to guarantee subjectivity and confidentiality
A guarantee that there will be no retaliation against an employee for filing a complaint. This is simply a statement of the law, to which there is no exception. Violation of this guarantee can be extremely expensive for an employer.
A statement that corrective action will be taken if it is found that sexual harassment has taken place, and that anyone found guilty of harassment will be dealt with appropriately, including disciplinary action that could include firing. Employees must know that there will be severe consequences if the company’s no-sexual-harassment policy is violated.
However, no matter how good or extensive the written policy is, it is worthless if employees are not aware and properly trained. Copies of the policy should be given to all current employees and to all new employees upon hiring.
2. Security Cameras and Digital Video Surveillance in The Workplace
Strategically implementing security cameras throughout the workplace creates an environment that both prevents sexual harassment and promotes a healthy working atmosphere. Watching employees’ interactions could be your best way to monitor your employees behavior and stop sexual harassment before it happens. Security cameras will also act as good deterrent since employees will behave and perform better when they know the are being monitored. Security cameras operate as the best and most reliable witness to incidents in the workplace. Another great advantage of having security cameras monitor the workplace is being able to playback a particular incident and use it in court against fraudulent sexual harassment law suites. 911securitycameras.com will evaluate, customize, and install the best possible security camera solution specifically tailored to meet your business’s needs. Visit our website at 911securitycameras.com or call us at 1-866-618-2267 to discuss affordable video surveillance options.
3. Train and Educate Your Employees About Sexual Harassment
Provide sexual harassment training for supervisors, managers, and all workers that explains what sexual harassment means and how it can be recognized, confronted, and averted. Recurrent training, at least once a year, should be conducted to remind employees of the existence of the policy. These sessions should teach employees what sexual harassment is, explain that employees have a right to a workplace free of sexual harassment, review your complaint procedure, and encourage employees to use it. Also employers should conduct yearly training sessions for supervisors and managers that are separate from the employee sessions. The sessions should educate the managers and supervisors about sexual harassment and explain how to deal with complaints.
As a business owner, manager or supervisor, you have a responsibility to take steps to prevent sexual harassment from occurring, and to respond quickly and appropriately when it has occurred. The above steps can give you a great start in meeting those responsibilities and, at the same time, reducing your employer liability.
Today, the time is right for businesses to begin to manage their risk in this area more wisely. Preventing sexual harassment in the workplace does require an investment of time and personnel. In the end, however, these costs will be offset by significant savings in legal fees and health-care costs. Companies will also benefit from increased worker productivity. From a purely business perspective, a company only stands to gain if it takes a no-nonsense position on sexual harassment. 911securitycameras.com can protect your company from allowing the potentially devastating aftermath of sexual harassment effect your financial statement. For more information on how our video surveillance systems can help your company provide a safe work environment for your employees, contact us today at 1-866-618-2267.
Woman caught on security cameras faking a slip and fall at a local supermarket
In-store video surveillance cameras saves a local supermarket in Plano, Texas from a possible lawsuit. The woman in the video from their security system clearly set the stage for a fraudulent lawsuit against this local supermarket when she poured oil on the floor. Research done by the University of Florida shows that on average every business that revenues more than 1 million dollars is subject to a fraudulent lawsuit once every two years.
Most common types of lawsuits:
Slip and fall/ Injury by customer
Slip and Fall/ Injury by employee
Sexual Harassment
Racism
Abuse
Beware of such claims in your busniess. for more information visit our website www.911securitycameras.com
