Insurance

SB 1343: New Sexual Harassment Training Requirements for CA Employers

Posted on by Brandon Meyer

Dear Valued Customers,

As we move further into 2026, we want to take a moment to remind you of an important — and ongoing — compliance requirement that’s easy to lose track of: Senate Bill 1343 (SB 1343).

What SB 1343 Requires

California law requires any employer with 5 or more employees — including temporary and seasonal staff — to provide sexual harassment prevention training on a recurring basis:

  • Supervisory employees: at least 2 hours of training
  • Nonsupervisory employees: at least 1 hour of training

Training must be completed within 6 months of an employee’s hire date or promotion into a supervisory role, and must be repeated every 2 years after that. For seasonal or temporary employees working less than 6 months, training must be completed within 30 calendar days or 100 hours worked, whichever comes first.

Why This Still Matters

SB 1343 has been in effect for a few years now, so it’s easy to assume it’s “old news” and that your business is already covered. But compliance isn’t a one-time task — it’s a recurring obligation. If your last round of training was two years ago (or you’re not sure when it was), now is a good time to check.

Falling out of compliance carries real risk. If a harassment claim is ever filed against your business, a lack of documented training can be used as evidence that reasonable steps weren’t taken to prevent it — turning a training oversight into a much bigger liability.

What You Should Do

  1. Check your records. Confirm when each employee — supervisory and non supervisory — last completed training, and flag anyone approaching their 2-year renewal date.
  2. Train new hires promptly. Don’t let new employees or newly promoted supervisors slip past the 6-month window.
  3. Keep documentation. Save certificates of completion, training dates, and attendance records. If you’re ever questioned, this is your best evidence of compliance.
  4. Set a recurring reminder. Because this requirement repeats every two years, building it into your regular HR calendar can help you avoid last-minute scrambles.

A Quick Note on Enforcement

While the training requirements themselves haven’t changed, agencies are placing more emphasis on documentation and consistency when reviewing complaints. In other words: it’s not just about doing the training — it’s about being able to prove it happened.

If you have any questions about your compliance status or how to structure ongoing training for your team, our office is happy to help point you in the right direction.

Thank you, as always, for your continued business.

Sincerely, The RKM Team

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Three Claims Denied: Why “Normal Wear and Tear” Can Cost You Everything

Posted on by Brandon Meyer

Dear valued customer;

With the rainy season upon us, we feel it’s a good time to re-address this very important issue;  Where insurance companies exclude claims that arise from normal wear and tear and/or improper maintenance.

Sometimes we think “Well, I’ve been paying all this money every year for insurance, therefore, I should be covered on any claim” unfortunately, this is not a valid argument.   ALL insurance companies exclude these type of claims which arise out of normal wear and tear and/or improper maintenance.

Examples of excluded wear/tear claims and improper maintenance claims:

  • Monument sign blew down and fell during heavy wind storm – after the insurance company did their investigation, they determined that the reason the sign fell was due to the fact that the base of sign had severely rusted and deteriorated over the years.  And if it was maintained properly, it would not have fallen down. The insurance company declined coverage.
  • Water pipe burst underground and caused severe damage – after the insurance company investigation, it was determined that the reason the pipe burst, was due to it being old and corroded. So the insurance company declined coverage.
  • During a heavy rain storm, water ran down the inside wall of the mini mart and did damage to walls and equipment. When the insurance company completed their investigation, they found that the drains on the roof were plugged, which then allowed the water to build up and spill over the water proofing material causing the leak inside the store. It was determined that if the drains were maintained properly and kept clean, this damage would not have occurred.  The claim was declined.

So, what’s the moral of this story:  Make sure to check and clean those gutters periodically, also check all your property periodically, and repair anything showing significant wear/tear BEFORE you find out the hard way and have your claim denied to due avoidable negligence.

We hope you find this information useful.  If you would like to add any thought to this subject, or have any suggestions you would like to know about for future newsletters, we would love to hear from you.  Your input is always welcome and appreciate.

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Gasoline Theft Alert: How Thieves Are Stealing Thousands in Fuel — and How to Stop Them

Posted on by Brandon Meyer

Dear valued customers,

Gasoline Theft Alert!

Fuel theft is starting to happen at a greater frequency and these thieves not only have figured out how to open and free flow the pumps (mainly diesel ) but they are now coming in with bigger tanks (Some with 1,000 gal. Capacity ).  With the gas prices as high as they are it is very attractive to them and very painful to your profit and loss’s bottom line.

Claim#1- A large flatbed truck pulled up to the diesel gas and underneath the truck was a 1,000 gallon tank custom built into the chassis. They were there for almost 2 hours , once they were done a second truck (exactly the same) took another 1,000 gallons, and 2 hours later a third truck pulled up and stole another 1,000 gallons. 3,000 gallons in total stolen in a little over 6 hours.  (thought…this should have raised huge suspicion)

Claim#-2- Customer came in and paid the cashier $300 and ask to activate pumps 5 & 6 . Then he must of opened the pump , tampered with the electronics and told the employee that the pump did not work and the cashier gave him back his $300. That same customer ended up staying at the pump for an hour and a half,  filling up not only his trucks , but several other thieves came by and continued to steal Diesel. (thought…cashier should contact  a manger/Owner  to check it out/verify first)

Important Training suggestions;

Have weekly or monthly meetings with all your employees. Explain to them what is happening and that they need to pay attention, watch the pumps and if anything is suspicious to report it immediately. If there is all of a sudden a long line at the diesel pump, the employee should investigate immediately.  If there is a large truck at the same pump for a long period of time, say over 30 minutes, again investigate.  While these are commonsense practices, your employees need to be aware and follow this process  when they see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary.  Another helpful suggestion is to make sure you place cameras in those hidden areas to be monitored as well.

Possible Prevention;

From what we have been told, there may be locking devices to help prevent the theft from happening in the first place. Check with your maintenance companies and see what they might have to offer.  One of our customers shared that they installed a very loud alarm system at the pumps that

would sound off if opened without authorization. 

If you do get hit by these gasoline bandits, make sure to file a police report immediately, this is an insurance requirement, and keep any video and/or witness information.

Thank you for your continued support!  And as always we are here to help with any questions you may have.

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Assault & Battery Exclusions: What Your Service Station Needs to Know

Posted on by Brandon Meyer

Dear Valued Customers,

We hope this message finds you well.

As part of our commitment to keeping you informed about important developments in insurance coverage, we want to draw your attention to a significant update regarding commercial property policies.

Assault & Battery Exclusions: What You Need to Know

In recent times, there has been a notable trend among insurance providers to exclude coverage for incidents related to assault and battery. This exclusion means that any damages, liabilities, or losses resulting from assault or battery incidents may not be covered under some existing policy.

Why is this important – Because in the last several months we have now had three incidences with our service station client are being sued for alleged “Assault and Battery” by one of their employee’s.

Whether your policy has this exclusion or not,  it’s imperative to take proactive steps to protect your business from potential risks. Here are some recommended actions to consider:

  1. Enhanced Security Measures: Implement security measures to help prevent assault and battery incidents on your premises. This may involve installing more surveillance cameras and implementing access control measures.
  2. Employee Training: Provide comprehensive training to your staff on conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques, and how to respond effectively to potentially volatile situations. Equipping your employees with the necessary skills can help mitigate the risk of incidents escalating into violence.
  3. Customer Communication: Clearly communicate your zero-tolerance policy for violence and aggressive behavior to your customers. Post signs outlining your expectations for conduct on your premises and take prompt action to address any violations.
  4. Incident Response Plan: Develop a detailed incident response plan outlining the steps to be taken in the event of an assault or battery incident. This should include protocols for contacting law enforcement, documenting evidence, and providing support to affected individuals.
  5. Regular Policy Reviews: Regularly review and update your insurance policies to ensure they adequately reflect the evolving needs and risks of your business. Work closely with your insurance agent or broker to identify any gaps in coverage and make necessary adjustments.

By taking proactive measures to address the risk of assault and battery incidents, you can help protect your business and minimize potential liabilities. Our team is here to support you every step of the way and provide tailored insurance solutions to meet your specific needs.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the assault and battery exclusion or any other aspect of your insurance coverage, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to help and are committed to ensuring that you have the protection and support you need to safeguard your business interests effectively.

Thank you for entrusting us with your insurance needs. We look forward to continuing to serve you and to providing you with the highest level of service and support.   

Remember, you can view our previous ongoing newsletters any time by visiting our website at  www.RKM-INS.com.

Sincerely,

The RKM Team.

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How Simple Maintenance and Cameras Can Save Your Service Station Thousands

Posted on by Brandon Meyer

Dear Valued Customer,

We should all know by now that the Service Station insurance marketplace has become very challenging  and in many cases very expensive. This is why claim prevention should be an important priority in your daily operations. Many of our service stations with only one or two claims on their records are seeing significant increase in premiums, with lesser coverage’s.

NOW is the time that you can be proactive in protecting your business in today’s insurance climate.

Preventing & Mitigating Slip & Falls with proper procedures & Cameras

  • Set up a documented procedure to regularly inspect your premises, multiple times a day, and immediately cleanup and/or fix any trip/slip and fall hazards. We might sound repetitive, but please note the following:
    • We have now just recently received a claim because of a customer tripping on a pot hole. If that pot hole was detected earlier and fixed, it would have prevented that claim and now the insured may be looking at considerable increases in premium come renewal time. What cost more, a couple hundred dollars to fix the pot hole or several more thousand dollars in increased premiums.
    • We are still getting inspection reports back from the insurance carriers that show large cracks and pot holes. AGAIN, it shouldn’t be the inspection report that points these hazards out to you. They should have been already repaired.
  • Video backup and documentation – When an incident occurs (whether or not it develops into a claim), please save the video, document who was working at the time and get a statement from them. As mentioned in prior newsletters, in CA the injured party has up to 2 years to report a bodily injury claim.

Maintaining a clean and well-organized premises is not only essential for customer satisfaction and employee morale but also plays a significant role in mitigating insurance risks. A cluttered or poorly maintained environment not only increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries but also raises concerns about compliance with health and safety regulations.

Insurers often conduct risk assessments of business premises as part of the underwriting process, taking into account factors such as cleanliness, maintenance practices, and adherence to safety protocols. Businesses that demonstrate a commitment to cleanliness and proactive maintenance not only reduce their exposure to liability claims but also present a lower risk profile to insurers, potentially leading to lower premiums and more favorable coverage terms.

Vehicle damage to premises:

  • Whenever a vehicle does damage to your property, get as much info on the vehicle. This would include car info, driver info and insurance info. If there’s a video, make a backup immediately. This way we will make every attempt to get their insurance company to cover the loss.

As businesses navigate the complex landscape of commercial insurance in California, proactive risk management strategies are essential for protecting assets, minimizing disruptions, and ensuring long-term viability. By leveraging tools such as surveillance cameras and prioritizing cleanliness and maintenance, insured businesses can mitigate risks, streamline the claims process, and ultimately enhance their bottom line.

This turbulent insurance environment will continue to worsen for at least 1 – 2 years.

Remember, you can view our previous ongoing newsletters any time by visiting our website at  www.RKM-INS.com.

Remember, your agent is always available to you to discuss this and other issues with you. We are just a call away.

Thank you for your continuing business

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