The staff at PCOC is well aware that these are very challenging times for our members and their businesses. For now, we are proceeding with plans to hold our PCOC Annual Conference as planned.

However, we are constantly monitoring the situation and exploring contingency plans. PCOC looks forward to the day when we can gather with our members to continue the important work of advocating for pest control companies in California.

The Future of Pest Control Expo
PCOC’s Expo

WHEN:
June 23-26, 2020

WHERE:
MONTEREY MARRIOTT HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER – MONTEREY, CA

RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY!! OUR RATE IS $269/NIGHT!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS ONLINE

Click here for Attendee Registration (Schedule is included)
Click here for Exhibitor and Sponsor Information

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW FOR EXPO!!

The Structural Pest Control Board is currently in the process of updating its examinations for all licensing types and branches. If you are interested in participating in this process please find below a listing of the upcoming examination development workshop dates. Should you find a particular workshop, or workshops, that you are interested in attending you may either fill out the Workshop Interest Form and email us at pestboard@dca.ca.gov,fax it to us at (916) 263-2469, mail it to us at 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1500, Sacramento, CA 95815, or you contact Dave Skelton in the Administration Unit at (916) 561-8700. Once again, thank you very much for your help, we couldn’t do this without you!”

OPES is on the Occupational Analysis (OA) for the Applicators examination. We are looking for some Applicators (possibly 2-3 of your RA’s) who would be willing to do a telephone interview with OPES. The telephone interview will last roughly about an hour and can be scheduled at their convenience during state working hours. They will be asked questions about what an Applicator does on job daily. If you can spare a couple RA’s for this process it would be greatly appreciated! All SPCB will need is their name, license number, email, and a telephone number.

For more information, please visit the SPCB website here.

Is being hit by a car while crossing the street to buy cigarettes covered by workers compensation? Yes, if the injured worker/pedestrian was on a break.

When a woman met her mother in another area to obtain some feminine hygiene products from her and was injured getting there, was that a workers compensation injury? Yes again.

The reason these instances were covered under workers compensation is because they fall under the doctrine of personal comfort.

Ordinarily an injury must occur in the course of employment and be related to the job (arise out of the performance of one’s duties). But there is an exception. An employee is allowed to attend to their own “personal comfort” when on a break or to use the restroom.

“Employees who, within the time and space limits of their employment, engage in acts which minister to personal comfort do not thereby leave the course of employment, unless the … method chosen is so unusual and unreasonable that the conduct cannot be considered an incident of the employment. – Larsen’s Workers Compensation Law (chapter 21, section 5-5)

Under these conditions, referred to as the “personal comfort” doctrine, an employee’s injuries would be fully compensable. Thus, an employee who injured himself helping a fellow employee dislodge a snack from a vending machine during break time was covered. As was a worker injured while playing Frisbee during a lunch break — because doing so was “an accepted regular and normal” activity during lunch breaks at that firm.

On the other hand, a worker helping guests at a picnic was dancing with guests with the employer’s permission and injured his leg. While the injury occurred during the course of his employment, it did not arise out of his employment because he was hired to set up the picnic and serve food, not dance with guests.

Here are our top business tips for the coming months:

1. Stay Positive.  Our number one tip.  While this has likely been a huge challenge the past few months, it's likely the most important item moving forward.  When your customers are coming out of isolation, your team should exude confidence and positivity.  Things may not be business as usual for some time after, but if you do your best to meet customers' needs with a calm attitude and a smile, they will be more inclined to rely on you time and time again.

2. Communicate with your clients and prospects.  Let them know when you’re back to full capacity. Be sure to post clear and concise messaging in the different places people can find you. That includes sharing this messaging with audiences on all platforms, such as your Website, Google My Business page, Facebook and more.

3. Focus on Safety.  Homeowners want to know about the precautions you are taking for their safety and your staff’s safety as well.  It will be a long time before things are completely back to normal, especially when it comes to customers being concerned about their health and wellbeing. Give them the proper reassurances that you are expanding your approach to safety.

4. Maintain your Marketing.  Historically, businesses that "stay the course" during down times tend to outperform businesses that make sweeping cuts during recessions.  A Harvard Business Review study of 4,700 companies confirmed this theory.  If you haven’t ramped your marketing back up yet, it is time to do so. You may have to trade in short-term profits for long-term gains.

5. Focus on Reviews.  People will be looking you up online more now than ever before.  You cannot ignore your review strategy, as those are the first things new customers will see online.  Note that some Google reviews may be delayed right now, but you should still push to get them.  They'll get published as Google My Business returns to normal.

Eventually, this chaotic time will fully fade back into normalcy.  Once the economy starts to bounce back, you don't want to be scrambling to reach whatever milestones you can for 2020.  By making the right decisions now, you won't require the same ramp-up period as some of your competitors.

Alain Parcan, Director of Marketing for Market Hardware, Inc., contributed this article. Alain brings nearly 10 years of experience in educating businesses so they can market themselves more effectively. Market Hardware helps small businesses compete on the web and offers special discounts for PCOC members. You can reach Alain’s team at 888-381-6925.

How to Minimize Incidents Involving the Personal Comfort Doctrine

1   Investigate the location of the accident, including determining if there were defects that might have caused the accident.

2   Determine if there were any policies prohibiting the conduct that caused the injury. Were the rules being followed; if not, did the employer in any way acquiesce to behavior that resulted in the injury in contradiction to the rules?

3   Designate someone in the organization who has sole authority to permit deviations from company policy on any matters concerning prohibited personal conduct.

4   Include a written policy as part of the employee handbook that limits acceptable employee actions while on breaks and restricts horseplay and other deviations from permissible conduct.

5   Require employees to sign a receipt that they have read and understand these company policies. 

If you have questions about the Personal Comfort Doctrine as it applies to your business, please contact the Insurance professionals of EPIC’s PCOC Insurance Program. Call us at: 877.860.7378, or visit us at www.pcocinsuurance.com.

Paul Lindsay
Senior Vice President
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

NPMA has received many questions from members about small business loans, essential services designations and how to offer disinfection services. To help the industry cope with these constantly changing circumstances, NPMA has created an FAQ page on www.pestcontrolcoronavirus.com covering the most frequent questions we receive.

OSHA Update
OSHA has released Enforcement Guidance for Respiratory Protection and the N95 Shortage Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic allowing for the extended use of respirators under certain conditions. 

EPA Update
EPA Administrator Wheeler Discusses Steps to Protect American Consumers from Fraudulent Coronavirus Disinfectant Claims

In uncertain times like these, many business owners will struggle to prioritize the best ways to ramp up their operations following the recent crisis.  Chances are, some contractors will take things as slow as possible - and who could blame them? 

However, that approach to your Web Marketing will create more challenges down the road for your business. 

Remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  And while it may be hard to believe right now, we will back to normal soon, and you will need to be as successful as possible in the last 6 months of the year.  Every business owner should ask themselves, “What can I do to help my business prepare for the next 6-12 months?”