{"id":1413,"date":"2019-12-09T16:42:11","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T21:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/?p=1413"},"modified":"2019-12-09T16:42:12","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T21:42:12","slug":"anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/2019\/12\/09\/anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Anti-harassment and data protection laws: are your agents and policy holders compliant? Does a Carrier have responsibilities?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the past few years, politicians have become increasingly involved in legislation to protect consumers and employees.&nbsp; As a result of the #MeToo movement, 7 states have enacted regulations requiring private companies to provide anti-harassment training to their employees, and this is in addition to stricter laws protecting individuals and employees.&nbsp; These regulations can apply to companies as small as 1 employee!&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/state-anti-sexual-harassment-training-regs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to see a list of states and their relevant anti-harassment laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add to this, all the press around data breaches and most States have enacted a wide range of consumer protections.&nbsp; These include everything from how companies can use customer data to how they need to dispose of customer data.&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/state-data-security-laws-2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to see a list of states and their relevant data security laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e99141a3a9c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e99141a3a9c\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/2019\/12\/09\/anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities\/#No_data_is_safe\" >No data is safe.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/2019\/12\/09\/anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities\/#Do_you_have_a_process_in_place_to_stay_abreast_of_new_regulations\" >Do you have a process in place to stay abreast of new regulations?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/2019\/12\/09\/anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities\/#Your_Agents\" >Your Agents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/2019\/12\/09\/anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities\/#Potential_Steps_you_Could_Take\" >Potential Steps you Could Take<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_data_is_safe\"><\/span><strong>No data is safe.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a report of a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infosecurity-magazine.com\/news\/tens-of-millions-exposed-by-sms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SMS data leak<\/a> affecting 10M+ TrueDialog clients and their customers.&nbsp; Have you implemented an SMS program to keep your Agents and policy holders informed of key activities?&nbsp; Do you use a TPA?&nbsp; If either of you used TrueDialog, your policy holder\u2019s private information was exposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/coverager.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/sexual-harassment-ad-nyc-sml-1.jpg\" alt=\"anti-harassment training poster\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_you_have_a_process_in_place_to_stay_abreast_of_new_regulations\"><\/span><strong>Do you have a process in place to stay abreast of new regulations?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you monitor if your insureds are following state mandates?&nbsp; Would you cover a claim if your insured wasn\u2019t aware of the regulations or didn\u2019t think they applied to them?&nbsp; &nbsp;Most EPLI policies would not cover a claim if the policy holder was not compliant with State or Federal requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In New York, if a business didn\u2019t train their employees and there was a complaint, the courts are expected to be less forgiving and provide for larger awards and penalties.&nbsp; Driving up litigation and loss exposure expenses, perhaps into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new California Consumer Privacy Act comes into force January 2020.&nbsp; Companies will have to disclose to California customers what data of theirs has been collected, delete it and stop selling it if the customer requests. The fines could easily add up \u2014 $7,500 per violation if intentional, $2,500 for those lacking intent and $750 per affected user in civil damages.&nbsp; In addition, the law has specific requirements for <strong>IoT<\/strong> manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/coverager.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dataprotection.png\" alt=\"data protection\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_Agents\"><\/span><strong>Your Agents <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What about your independent agents?&nbsp; Do you know if they comply with relevant state regulations? What if they violated any of the state regulations?&nbsp; How would you respond?&nbsp; How could this impact your reputation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are just a few questions that a carrier needs to think about in our ever-changing world. These changing regulations impact you, your suppliers, agents, and your policy holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Potential_Steps_you_Could_Take\"><\/span><strong>Potential Steps you Could Take<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carriers should take the following steps to mitigate exposure for the carrier, agent, and insured:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Determine what state laws apply to your organization and suppliers<\/strong><ul><li>For instance, do you have any employees working in New York or New York City?<\/li><li>Do you have any policy holders or suppliers in California?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Review your policies, arbitration agreements, and NDA\u2019s<\/strong><ul><li>Update your existing harassment and data policies to meet the requirements of the relevant state and local laws.<\/li><li>Review your current arbitration agreements and NDA\u2019s with employees.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Agents<\/strong><ul><li>Evaluate if you need to require your independent agents to be in compliance with relevant state and local laws.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Decide on your role<\/strong><ul><li>Do you want to take a proactive role with your agents and policy holders?<\/li><li>If you do, how and what do you want to do?<\/li><li>Should you consider amending the commercial policy holder application to ask questions about adherence to state laws?<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please reach out if you have any further questions about these laws and their potential impact on you, your suppliers, agents, and policy holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What do you think?&nbsp; Should a carrier be proactive with their agents and insureds?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\"><strong>About Insurtech Advisors<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Insurtech Advisors is dedicated to helping regional insurance carriers plan for the future today.&nbsp; We help you identify and partner with Insurtechs.&nbsp; This enables you to thrive and continue to meet the needs of your members, employees, and independent agents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"card-text\">Over the past few years, politicians have become increasingly involved in legislation to protect consumers and employees.&nbsp; As a result of the #MeToo movement, 7 states have enacted regulations requiring private companies to provide anti-harassment training to their employees, and this is in addition to stricter laws protecting individuals and employees.&nbsp; These regulations can apply [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"m-0\"><a class=\"btn btn-outline-secondary btn-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/2019\/12\/09\/anti-harassment-and-data-protection-laws-are-your-agents-and-policy-holders-compliant-does-a-carrier-have-responsibilities\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","content-type":"","wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insurtechadvisors.com\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}