Month: July 2020

Legal BrandingLocal Branding

Driving for Work: Safety Requirements for Employers and Employees

Motor vehicle incidents represent one of the biggest risks employees are exposed to. To make matters worse, it’s a kind of risk that is taken daily, especially when it comes to professional drivers or those who need to drive around the country for work. It’s quite difficult to avoid damage and loss caused by various problems that might occur, which means that preventive measures are of utmost importance.

All those operating a motor vehicle as part of their job are at risk of being involved in a roadway crash, which can have devastating consequences to both those directly involved and their companies. We’re talking about loss of lives, families losing a member who brings substantial income and companies that may be left without a reliable worker. Needless to say, such problems also affect the company’s performance in terms of meeting agreed on deadlines, potentially losing jobs and having to pay substantial amounts of money to repair the damaged vehicles. In order to help you minimize this risk and prevent problems in the first place, we’ve compiled the following list of things to consider.

Safe driving program

No matter how big your company is, if the employees are obliged to drive as part of their job, there needs to be a driver safety program implemented. The goal is to save lives, reduce the risk of life-altering injuries, protect the company’s human and financial resources, as well as guard against potential company and personal liabilities associated with motor vehicle incidents.

Such program should be treated as an investment, not expenditure. The reason is simple: companies need to protect their employees and save money by preventing expensive and potentially devastating accidents. The desired outcome of a safe driving program is to change driver attitudes, if necessary, and improve their driving skills in order to prevent vehicle crashes and tragedies.

Policies and procedures

Having a safe driving program is necessary, but so is having a written statement emphasizing the commitment to reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries. A set of comprehensive and enforceable safety policies should be created and communicated to all employees with an aim to reduce the number of accidents. Such policies can be communicated by posting them throughout the workplace, distributing copies or organizing regular meetings where the policies are discussed. It might be a good idea to offer bonuses and incentives to those drivers who stick to the rules.

Ensure premium insurance coverage

Needless to say, you need insurance for all the vehicles owned by your company, but you need to be aware that the minimum coverage won’t give you maximum protection. That’s why you should choose comprehensive plans that cover the cost of repairs and losses in the most common scenarios. Australia, for example, is a country that has specific and strict rules and regulations when it comes to insurance. Finding the most comprehensive car insurance in Australia that covers accidents, natural disasters, theft, and damage to someone else’s property, as well as emergency roadside assistance, is a must for many small companies there. Your employees who drive, as well as company vehicles, are exposed to road risks everyday so it’s always a good idea to look for the most comprehensive package that suits your needs.

Regular maintenance and inspection

It goes without saying that your fleet needs to be properly selected and regularly maintained in order to minimise the risk of crashes and related losses. All vehicles must be subject to a routine preventive maintenance schedule for servicing and checking safety equipment and you need to strictly follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when it comes to specific mileage in the context of performing regular maintenance.

Another thing to consider is the age of your drivers. With most of the working population being millennials, you should know that they expect their vehicles to feature as much safety equipment as possible. When it comes to millennials at work and perspectives from a new generation, they want all the equipment and gear they are supposed to handle to be in perfect condition, so that injuries are avoided and work is done efficiently. That means you should upgrade your vehicles with as many safety features as possible.

Tracking technology

Every employer needs to know where their vehicles are at all times to make sure the drivers are not slacking on the job. Unauthorized use of a company vehicle is grounds for termination, since it has the potential to be a serious liability and can damage the reputation of your company, not to mention the possibility of theft or vandalism. Luckily, tracking technology allows you to analyze employees’ drive times and location and you should definitely use it to keep track of your vehicles.

If you follow these tips, you’ll definitely improve the safety of your employees who drive a company car or drive for work. You should be aware that investments in safety decrease the number of problems you may encounter and that higher safety standards protect your valuable assets and improve your employer branding significantly.

Legal BrandingPersonal Branding

How to Build a Brand Your Mom Will Be Proud Of

Small business owners create their brands in a variety of ways. Pride is a thread that connects most of those efforts, however. Most people don’t want to feel ashamed of their businesses. They want them to get attention for all the right reasons. Here are some practical, effective ways to create a brand that you’ll love to mention when someone asks, “So, what do you do?”

Offer High-Quality Products

Providing high-quality products to your customers might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many brands prefer to merely get their products into customers’ hands. Representatives from those enterprises only think about the initial purchase — not repeat buyers. They don’t care if the items fall apart or stop working outside the time frame for returns. 

In a 2019 survey, 85% of respondents agreed that quality was a deal-breaker or deciding factor in their purchases. Make the quality of your products so evident that people can immediately see, feel or perceive it in other ways. 

Speak to quality in your product descriptions, too. You might say, “Our team of engineers worked for five years to design a tent that’s durable, simple to pitch and pack and reliable in any weather. If you’re dissatisfied for any reason, we want to make things right.”

Treat Your Employees Well

Workers collectively make up the backbone of the most successful brands. When workers love their employers, they’re more likely to be eager brand ambassadors. However, if employees get mistreated — or perceive they do — the ramifications could affect your whole operation. Most consumers don’t like the idea of supporting companies that don’t value their employees.

Consider if a customer walks into a store and notices that most workers are grumpy or bored. The matter could worsen if the workforce becomes so disgruntled that outspoken members take their complaints to social media or the press. Some employees may even strike. 

You can prevent unhappy employees from ruining your company’s reputation, however. Get to the heart of what’s wrong by showing a willingness to listen and take them seriously. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, but show you’re committed to implementing improvements. Think about having a formal process for gathering feedback. Consider letting people provide input anonymously if preferred. 

Investigate Custom Packaging Options

A well-crafted brand immediately stands out from the competition. Customized packaging can help you achieve that goal. An eye-catching box makes people get excited whenever they see it. You can design boxes with bright colors, creative fonts, quotes or even graphics. All of those things help to strengthen your identity. 

You can also put thoughtful details into the box, such as a strip a recipient can pull to open the package, letting them avoid struggling with scissors. The lid of the box might have tabs that slot into the bottom section, helping people easily open and close the packaging. 

Another nice thing about custom packaging is that people are more likely to reuse it. An appealing, branded box that a person got after ordering from an e-commerce site could get repurposed as a container for anything ranging from office supplies to snack-size packs of trail mix. 

Provide Consistency

Whether you operate a neighborhood deli, a furniture store or a web design company, customers want to feel they’ll get the same outstanding brand experience no matter how many times they visit. Begin by thinking about what aspects shape how people see your company. Perhaps your top-notch customer service or inviting in-store atmosphere. Maybe people appreciate your witty brand voice or your well-designed, mobile-friendly website. 

Think about the things in your power that maintain those factors. You might need to invest in more staff training. An in-house style guide can also remove uncertainty about matters like color schemes, word choices and punctuation preferences. 

Regardless of  which individual approaches you take, ensure that everything looks similar across all platforms and ways people access your business. Consumers notice that attention to detail. It helps them know what to expect when dealing with you. 

Respond to Customer Issues

The customer experience occasionally becomes tarnished, even at companies well-known for their amazing brands. It’s your responsibility to be available when people want to reach out after things go wrong.

Maybe someone feels upset due to an inefficient cashier. Perhaps they opened the box from an online order and discovered the product inside was something other than what they purchased. 

Ignoring these problems will not make them go away and is likely to make them worse. Show customers that their concerns matter to you and that you want to fix the issues. Waiting too long to answer them gives the impression that customers are not your priority, and you don’t care about earning or keeping their loyalty. 

Choose Causes to Support

Aligning your business with causes that matter to you and your workers could positively impact profits and how many new customers you gain. A 2018 survey found that charitable giving affects 73% of Americans’ purchase decisions. The same study revealed that 65% of those polled believe companies have a responsibility to give back. 

Strive for authenticity when picking what matters most to you. Try to select causes that relate to your business. If the company sells water filtration products, you might support a charity that brings clean water to disadvantaged areas. 

Talk to your employees about how they could get involved with causes, too. Some might participate in a fundraiser or a community clean-up day, for example. They’ll like knowing that their contributions span beyond your business. 

Admit to Your Mistakes

No one’s perfect, and that reality will inevitably manifest in your business. Maybe you’ll make a blunder that causes some customers to leave. Perhaps you’ll cling too tightly to a plan despite overwhelming evidence of its failure.

Owning up to your mistakes isn’t fun, but it’s a crucial part of being an effective and admired leader. Learn from your errors, too. Dig into what caused them, and figure out proactive prevention measures.

Decide how to communicate with outside external parties. Should you publish a press release, or might it work better to post a YouTube video? The right format varies depending on the severity of the issue and what you want — or need — to convey.

Building Blocks for Your Brand

These actions are not the only ones that make up a fabulous brand that people praise. However, they’ll get you off to a good start in earning positive recognition and customer satisfaction.

Lexie is a branding enthusiast and web designer. She loves checking out local flea markets and taking her Goldendoodle on hikes. Follow her on Twitter @lexieludesigner and check out her design blog, Design Roast.

Legal Branding

Legal Recruitment – How New Lawyers Can Explore Career Options

The legal domain is full of opportunities but everything boils down to nailing the one that is just right for you. As a new lawyer, you need to understand your career options and decide carefully so that you don’t end up being in the wrong place. The apt career choices right from the start, on the other hand, can give you a head start and have you well-established in the field sooner than you expect. Here are some facts about legal recruitment and career planning that you should know while exploring career options in this field.

Decide the specialization that appeals to you

Once you near the end of your training, you will have to choose an area you would want to specialize in. Since the options in the legal domain are endless, the choice can be confusing. However, you will probably have an inclination right from the start. Consider what appeals to you, whether you would want to opt for something intriguing like criminal law or something more humanitarian like personal injury law. Think about the short-term and long-term implications of the choice, in terms of working hours, income prospects, and the kind of clients you will have to deal with. Seek advice from a seasoned mentor if you cannot decide on your own.

Understand the possibilities

Once you are sorted out with the core area of expertise for your legal career, the next important decision would be about the working option you would want to explore. You may want to work with the same firm you have been training with or move to a different one. The best thing to do in this situation is to look for attorney placements with reputed law firms in your area. There is also the option of private practice instead of working with a firm. You may consider joining a business as an in-house member of their legal counsel team. Remember that you need not consider this choice as a permanent arrangement and can switch when you want to.

The choice between practice and in-house

The biggest question that any new lawyer faces while making their career choice is whether they should opt for practice or work in-house with a law firm or business organization. It makes sense to join a firm at the early stages of your career because you get ample training opportunities and support, which is something you should prioritize at this time. Further, this is a safe choice from the income perspective as well because you will get a salary rather than depend on clients and cases. However, there are some facts that you must bear in mind while choosing the organization you would want to join in an in-house role. First things first, look for one that is reputed and works in your core area of specialization. The expected speed of career progression, salary, level of responsibility, work hours, and environment are some other factors to consider.

Your career decisions as a new lawyer can have a far-reaching impact on your professional and financial growth in the long run. So this is something you must do with great care and consideration.

Local Branding

Purchasing an Insurance Policy, Here’s What to Consider

Life is brimming with vulnerabilities and health-related crises are one of them. With the expanding cost of medicinal services, purchasing an insurance policy, for example, health care coverage is practically inescapable.

Be that as it may, with such huge numbers of alternatives accessible, it can get confounding to discover a policy that would work perfectly for you. Try not to stress, this post has disentangled this for you. Here is a brisk once-over of the things that you can consider to purchase the best insurance plan for yourself and your family. Prepare to investigate!

Above all else, the claim procedure

The more straightforward the claims procedure and the quicker the settlement of the claims, the better it is for you. Along these lines, these two are a central point concerning the choice of insurance. Great client care is an extra preferred position one should search for.

Consider bundling several policies with one insurance carrier

There might be an incentive in packaging a few plans with one insurance bearer. In case you’re hoping to protect numerous vehicles or get different kinds of business inclusion, at that point you might need to locate a solitary insurance supplier who conveys various items they might have the option to offer you multi-strategy limits or faithfulness programs.

Consider investing in a policy where you can get maximum coverage

On the off chance that you read the terms and conditions segment of your approach report, you will find that there are a few fundamental focuses recorded in it. There are tops or cutoff points on the costs related to the treatment. For example, you can get a medical clinic room-lease in front of $80-100 per day. You can’t record a case in case you’re experiencing a prior ailment. In certain approaches, you can’t profit from emergency vehicle spread, etc. In this way, it is fundamental to guarantee the sort of inclusion you can get. Pick a plan where you can get inclusion for a wide scope of ailments, including prior conditions.

Network hospitals

Check the rundown of network hospitals and see whether it incorporates the hospitals that you regularly visit. It is likewise a significant factor to consider on the off chance that you travel or move urban areas because your medical coverage should go with you. Additionally, cashless hospitals must be benefited from in-arrange medical clinics.

The revival time frame

An insurance policy will slip by when premium installments are not made on schedule and the beautiful time frame has likewise been crossed. Be that as it may, insurance agencies give an alternative to reactivate the past plan, inside a particular period post the beauty time frame by paying the unpaid premium and a specific measure of enthusiasm on the unpaid sum. This is the recovery time frame. The period is as of now two years, and policyholders must know about any progressions made in guidelines identified with it.

Do consider the cumulative bonus

This alludes to the addition in the total guaranteed if no case has been made against the plan in the earlier years. This sum is added to the aggregate safeguarded at the hour of strategy reestablishment. Additionally, do explain on this point before concluding the approach.

The objective of insurance policy

It is imperative to characterize the target of an insurance policy before buying in a discussion with all relatives. Professionals at https://shelterbay.ca/million-dollar-insurance-policy/ say if you are purchasing a million-dollar insurance policy only for venture reason, at that point, there are otherwise speculation plans. The insurance policy ought to be purchased with the sole goal of giving money related security to relatives.

No claim bonus

If you are thinking about what happens if you buy medical coverage and don’t become sick, don’t get hospitalized, and don’t guarantee medical coverage? Unwind, all your cash isn’t going down the channel. Your medical coverage organization will give you the previously mentioned no claim bonus for each free year.

Finally, discover an agent when purchasing insurance

Insurance agents are in terms of relationship to an insurance organization. Alluded to as hostage suppliers, they own their business and normally are attempting to make a salary while creating business for the supplier. Specialists are more advantageous than managing the supplier because they are close to home communications and somebody to respond to questions.

As there are a lot of insurers offering diverse insurance plans, it is smarter to do some examination from your end before buying any. Some significant factors other than the ones referenced above are-holding up period, guarantee settlement proportion, cost, and so forth. These will assist you in making a brilliant move the correct way.

Local Branding

Personal v/s Bodily Injury: Experts Explain the Difference

Millions of dollars worth of claims are offered to the survivors of injuries, every year. Car accidents, workplace negligence, and slip and fall are some of the most common reasons for sustaining an injury. Usually, a claim is made to either an insurance company or with an at-fault party who is believed to be responsible for the injuries. Since these cases tend to be not-so-easy, personal injury lawyers are usually involved.

We consulted a number of experienced personal injury attorneys who have been practicing for several years. And the most remarkable thing that most of them came up with was that many of their clients didn’t really understand the difference between bodily injury and personal injury. During our research, we also came across this article explaining the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer, which happens to include the true claiming process for bodily as well as personal injuries. Let’s take a stroll through what the experts have to say in this concern.

The Definition

In layman’s terms, personal injury refers to the damages and losses incurred by an individual due to an unfortunate accident. It can include all sorts of losses such as property damages, assets damages, loss of income, or even moral and physical damages to the body. Whereas, on the contrary, bodily injuries refer to only the physical pain and trauma that an injured goes through.

Experts suggest that when filing a claim, be it against an individual, a group of individuals, or even an insurance company, it is necessary to specify these injuries separately. But, at the same time, it is important to include both of these in the claim, especially, when the injuries have been caused due to the other party’s negligence.

Legalities Involved in the Process

When filing an injury claim, experts suggest that the legal framework has some set guidelines about how the claim should be handled and what shall be included. More importantly, the legal framework is in place to ensure that justice is served for both, the injured and the at-fault party.

  • Statutory Limitations

Every province handles personal injury claims differently, and therefore have different statutes of limitation. For example, some provinces may consider damages to your vehicle or your house within the same category as that of other damages, while other provinces may consider them as a separate legal claim altogether. But, every province does have a limitation to the period for filing the claim. In other words, an injured can file for a claim within a certain period of time. For most of the provinces, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is about a year. However, this period may vary with respect to the losses and damages included in the claim. Notably, for bodily injuries the time to file the claim is a year, but not for other damages such as the damage to personal belongings. Experts suggest getting in touch with the local authorities or the insurer to understand the legalities better.

  • Liability of Claim

Determining the liability of a claim is not that easy since every province makes use of a separate legal framework. Generally, the jury or the judge tries to estimate the plaintiff’s share in sustaining the injuries. For example, in a road accident, the jury may determine either partial or complete fault of the defendant, which would mean that there’s a share in fault by the plaintiff as well. In such cases, the compensation might be reduced for the plaintiff, or if found completely defaulter, might even have to pay the compensation instead. Additionally, such a mistake could even lead the plaintiff into more legal trouble. A legal attorney could help plaintiffs get the facts and figures in place so that they don’t end up in legal tussles.

  • Legal Documentation

Another issue with both bodily injury claims and personal injury claims is the process of filing for compensation. The legal formalities are not so easy for a common man to fulfill, which ultimately either results in rejection of the case or ruling out the case unjustly. Through their years of experience, Nova Scotia personal injury lawyers suggest that plaintiffs must begin their filing procedure under the careful supervision of a legal attorney. The reason being these experts know the in and out of every possible outcome and therefore can help avoid unnecessary troubles and suffering.

  • Offering the Compensation

Lastly, the decision for determining the claim value and compensation to be made rests with the court or the jury. The decision-makers consider several factors including the cause of injury, the extent of loss, and of course, the effect on the quality of life of the injured when ruling the case. It is noteworthy that for personal injury claims, the compensatory relief stands a much higher value as compared to bodily injuries which usually only include medical expenses. Notably, in a personal injury claim, the compensation offered includes loss of income, medical expenses, support values, and even the future losses for the plaintiff. All of these claims usually inflate the net compensation value for the plaintiff.

If the legal experts are to be believed, it is the personal injury claim that is more justified considering the loss to the plaintiff is not only just physical. Many of the injury survivors often struggle with mental trauma long after they’ve recovered from the bodily injury. In fact, it is not only the injured who suffer, but also their family and friends, who lose quality companionship.

In light of these differences, it is, therefore, best to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help understand the steps to be followed. Moreover, a lawyer could also guide the plaintiffs through the legal loops and help them utilize these in their favor thus promising a favorable relief for their clients.

Legal BrandingLocal Branding

All About the Home Improvement Loan With Bad Credit Score

Home is considered as one of the biggest investments for anyone, and your home reflects your true self. If your home needs renovation or any improvement, then you make this investment less burden for you by taking the loan. The cost of the home improvement project of your house will depend on a variety of factors like labors and supplies. The loan can cover your expenses and that too home improvement loans. You can get a home improvement loan easily if you have an excellent or good credit score. However, home improvement loans with bad credit are something that is difficult to get.  

How to Choose Home Improvement Loans If You Have Bad Credit?

Earlier it was not possible to get the home repair loans with bad credit but with time the online lending market has transformed drastically. Now the borrowers with poor or average credit scores too can get the home improvement loans. However, finding the best loan can be exhaustive as you as a borrower need to evaluate the terms and rates of the loan. You need to consider few things while you look bad credit home improvement loan options available in the market:

  • Interest Rates

One of the essential indicators, whether one can afford the loan, is the interest rate. Therefore, you first need to compare interest rates of all the options that are present. Few lenders will offer you personalized rates with a simple soft credit inquiry that will even give access to compare the rates. However, don’t forget that while comparing the rates, your score will not be damaged with hard credit pull. All the lender does not give you this option; that is why you need to be sure which type of credit inquiry will be made once you have submitted the information.

  • Terms

You must know longer the loan term; more will be the interest you will pay. So, it merely means a longer loan period means you have to pay the lesser monthly payment for the longer duration of your life. Likewise, the loan with a shorter term means that you have to pay a higher monthly payment. That is why you must choose the loan term which can be managed easily. Make sure that the payment that you have to pay each month for your loan should fit your budget as you will not want the late payment to affect your credit score further.

  • Fee

There are times when borrowers who want home repair loans for bad credit scores have to pay administration fees. This administration fee will be added to the total cost of the loan; that’s why you need to compare the loan while keeping this in mind. Moreover, you need to find how this fee will be applied. Some lenders will charge them in the principal balance, and other lenders will add these fees to your payment amount.

  • Customer Review

Some lenders can take advantage of the borrower with a bad credit score. That is why borrowers need to do proper research before applying for the home improvement loan. You can check the website and customer reviews for finding the potential lenders.

Application Process of Home Improvement Loan

You can apply for the home improvement loans with bad credit by filling the application form online too. The borrowers need to submit the following documents for getting the home improvement loan are:

  • Valid ID card
  • Valid address, phone number, email address
  • Proof on income (pay stubs or tax returns)
  • Bank account information.

The lenders can ask you to submit additional information if you have a poor or bad credit score. You can get your loan approved by making your loan secure with the collateral or by adding the qualified cosigner to the application of a home improvement loan.

How Can You Improve the Credit Score for Getting the Home Repair Loan?

Improving the credit score is one of the smartest ideas to make you eligible for the home improvement loan. This will not only help you get the loan at better rates and terms but can even make you get the loan easily. If you are thinking, how can you raise your credit score so that you can get home improvement loan at a lower interest rate, then follow the steps given below:

  • Pay all your bills on time and that too every time.
  • You can reduce your credit utilization by paying the debt.
  • You have to review your credit report carefully so that you can see all the information mentioned in the report is valid.
  • Credit cards should be used responsibly as it can improve your credit.

Securing a bad credit home improvement loan can be difficult, but numerous lenders are there to offer home loans to the borrower with poor credit history. The key which can help you to find the best loan is based on reviewing the terms and interest rates of the loan. Moreover, another factor can decide your loan, and that is how loan payment will affect your monthly budget.