Big I Virginia E-News

The Pledge of Performance allows us, once again, to emphasize the unrivaled attributes that you bring to your clients and prospective clients. Thousands of independent agencies across the country have used the Pledge of Performance on their websites, business proposals and marketing materials.

 

If your agency has used the Pledge of Performance before, we encourage you to update yours to this new version. If you or your agency has never used it, we invite you to do so and join the groundswell of independent insurance agents nationwide that make us the trusted choice for consumers.  

We have some sad news to share. Dick Spiers, one of our industry’s true icons, passed away Saturday, June 17. Dick began his career in the insurance industry in the late 1950s with the Royal Insurance Company and later went to work for, and retired from, Utica Insurance. He was a member of the VAIA Board of Directors and most recently served that board as Director Emeritus.

 

After retirement, Dick stayed active in the industry and continued teaching. During his lengthy career, he taught CPCU at the University of Richmond, was on the CIC faculty, and taught ACSR, AAI, E&O and P&C pre-licensing for the IIAV. In addition, he was one of the initial members of the Virginia Insurance Continuing Education Board, remaining on that board until 2007.

 

If you have taken any insurance courses since 1970, Dick was probably one of your teachers. My first memory of Dick is from a reception I attended (1972 or 1973?) for folks new to the CPCU program. I had just completed my first course and I remember Dick encouraging me to continue. That was my first exposure to his quick smile, quick wit and exceptional way with words. His classes were peppered with “stories” relating to the subject matter. Dick was my teacher for my final CPCU course in 1978-79. At most every class, he would urge me to study because he didn’t want me to hold him responsible for not getting the designation. I will miss him.      

– Joe Hudgins 

The cost of the insurance that covers medical bills and lost wages when Virginians are hurt or die at work is set to decline again. The basic building blocks for what insurers charge businesses for workers’ compensation coverage — called loss cost — would decline 0.5% for voluntary coverage and 2.5% for assigned risk coverage beginning next spring if the State Corporation Commission accepts the just-filed proposal from the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

 

Answer: Most employers have the right to dictate policies and procedures such as work schedule and
dress code. Usually, these policies can be changed at any time at the discretion of the company. Just like you relaxed them at the beginning of the summer, you can reinstitute the stricter guidelines after summer. Even if employees did not realize they were temporary changes, you can change them back. Of course, if employees are unhappy, they have the right to search elsewhere for employment if that new-found flexibility is important to them.

 

Rather, the question to ask yourself is, "Do the changes need to be reversed?" If productivity
stayed the same (or maybe even improved), do you really need to go back to the way things were?
But, if there are legitimate reasons to return to the status quo (e.g., summer is typically slow but
you get busy again in the fall), explain that to your employees so they know it is not an arbitrary
decision.

 

If your employees react so favorably to small efforts like that, perhaps consider other ways to
offer employees some form of flexibility in the future to keep them engaged and happy.

Sheryl A. Chasse has been named the next Association Executive at PIA of Virginia & DC and PIA of North Carolina. She will be taking over for Kevin P. Kowar, who after eight years at the helm, will be retiring on August 31.

 

“Sheryl has done an outstanding job, navigating many challenges, to grow our education programs to historical levels. She is truly deserving of this opportunity,” said PIA VA/DC President Josh T. Sojda. He added “she has such a passion for PIA and our members. I look forward to watching her take PIA to new heights.”

 

Sheryl has been the drector of education and event planner for PIA VA/DC for the past 11 years. Three years ago, she also added PIA NC to her responsibilities. Prior to that, she was heavily involved with recruiting for several Richmond area firms including Colonial Life, where she was awarded the #1 recruiting manager in the nation in 2009.

 

Sheryl holds the Virginia Property and Casualty and Health, Life and Annuities licenses and works closely with the Young Professionals Council, the Education Committee and the Convention Committee.