1) Provide financial support. Consider paying for some or all of the costs of an employee’s telework expenses, including internet charges, agency cell phone charges and home office equipment.
2) Encourage employees to maintain a regular work routine. Employees should work consistent hours and take breaks, including lunch. Continuously working on a computer can cause eye strain and headaches, and it’s important to take a mental break and return re-energized.
3) Schedule regular group and individual meetings. It is important for managers to be open to discussing concerns with team members. Employees still have concerns about returning to the office, compulsory vaccinations and if employers will protect employees. Apprehension regarding returning to work and employment issues should be handled delicately and professionally.
Also, employees should never use text messaging to communicate with customers regarding coverage requests. Because of the pandemic, most discussions regarding app-ro-priate coverage or requests for coverage are being done by phone or email, which means it’s more
important today for employees to document coverage requests and correspondence.
Additionally, employees must use their agency email for communication with all customers, not their personal email. The employee’s signature should contain their current contact information, including any agency cell phone number. If they are unavailable, an out-of-office message
should provide the contact information of a colleague in the event there is an emergency or a customer needs immediate assistance.
COVID-19 has presented challenges to running an insurance agency. However, agency owners who have stepped up to meet the challenges must remain vigilant and prevent claims.
Kristina Miller is an assistant vice president and claims specialist with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and works out of the Chicago office. Insurance products underwritten by Westport Insurance Corporation, Kansas City, Missouri, a member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.
This article is intended to be used for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Swiss Re shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the
information contained or referenced in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, accounting or professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Swiss Re Group (“Swiss Re”) and/or its subsidiaries and/or management and/or shareholders.
