BOLT Insurance Agency Blog

No matter what type, size or location of your business, you are at risk of employee theft. There are a variety of reasons why an employee chooses to steal from their employer. These range from pre-meditated theft to stealing due to convenience to an opportunity even when it wasn’t planned. By knowing the causes of employee theft, you can create extra security measures to ensure your company has the best possible chance at avoiding acts of employee theft and deceit.

Online reputation is quickly becoming essential when you have a small business. Customers are beginning to rely on customer feedback, reviews, and ratings of products and services provided by small businesses with more frequency. According to Opinion Research Corporation, 84% of shoppers in America rely on online reviews for their purchasing decisions. Promoting and marketing tactics now must include gaining experience in building your small business online reputation, learning how to manage it properly, and using various methods to improve it.

Having an excellent online reputation is crucial for many small businesses, especially those with online shops that sell their products or services. The following are five important ways to manage your small business online reputation.

Retail stores tend to have a high rate of shoplifting simply because thieves have more opportunity to steal. For this reason, having surveillance cameras in retail stores is vital to protect your store’s goods, as well as track -- and potentially catch -- a potential shoplifter. Surveillance cameras can also catch other acts inside your store such as mugging, employee theft, and monitor employee’s actions and behavior more closely. Surveillance cameras come in a variety of styles and price ranges. But no matter what type you decide to install in your store, you know you are giving your store additional security and receiving the following benefits of surveillance cameras in retail stores.

Starting a new business can be a highly satisfying experience. But it can also be a stressful and daunting one when you factor in the financial burden associated with the fees and costs of opening the business. Luckily, business loans exist for opening small businesses, which you may need for financial assistance to get your business up and running. By obtaining the appropriate small business loans, you can focus your attention on the other facets of the business for a well-rounded and rewarding venture.

Not all business loans are created equal though, and there are a large variety of small business loans to choose from. Each one has its own benefits to the business owner. The following types of small business loans are the most common:

Safety, security, and protection are important aspects of running a successful business. Therefore, it's important to include the right amount of preparation to ensure your business is adequately protected. While you may feel you have took the necessary steps to ensure this is true, do you know what your employees will do in the case of a natural disaster or other foreseen event? If not, it's a great time to create a detailed continuity plan that will list each and every step of the process should something like this occur.

Your small business continuity plan consists of a number of steps, including preparations you can make now before a disaster or accident occurs, as well as a list of things to do during or after the event occurs.

What is Office Ergonomics?

Ergonomics, the method of arranging the work environment in order to protect the human needs of the physical body, is essential in any office environment. Proper ergonomics in the office helps to avoid repetitive motion injuries and strain and stress of various parts of the body including the wrists, arms, neck, shoulders, and back. With nearly 80% of Americans having sedentary jobs, according to Time Healthland, the importance of office ergonomics in workplace safety has become a crucial part of an employee’s work environment. Office ergonomics also offers additional benefits for the employer.

Key Steps in Setting up an Office Ergonomics Programs

An office ergonomics program should not only assist employees in improving comfort during business tasks and reducing injuries, but provide important training about ergonomics while identifying hazards in the office environment. Implementing an office ergonomics program in your workplace includes a number of relevant tasks, which can include the following: