By: Kaylyn Zielinski | IIAW Marketing & Communications Coordinator

As we enter the 2020 holiday season, it’s not a surprise that the holidays are feeling very different this year. Holiday parties are being put on hold and end-of-year networking events are being postponed. However, we are gifting you with a solution to allow for much-needed networking in the time of social distancing! You no longer need to sift through the posts on LinkedIn to find content and connections that matter to you - that’s what our Online Community is for: a curated platform for insurance professionals. This holiday season, we’re gifting you with a place for connection, in a time when in-person gatherings are non-existent. 

At the time of writing this article, we have already amassed over 120 members (and growing every day) who are engaged in our Online Community! That’s over 120 people who are ready to connect, collaborate and engage with you!

"

I really like the concept of the Online Community. One of the benefits of being involved in the Big I in general is the opportunity to interact and get to know other agents from across the state. The Online Community is a great new part of that, especially in light of the fact that we can’t get together in-person like we normally would. It gives us the chance to ask questions of our fellow agents and share experiences or advice, all in the interest of making us better as agents and as an industry. And it’s 

so easy to use, even I can do it."

- Steve Leitch, Leitch Insurance Agency, Inc.

Our Online Community is for every single one of our members, whether that be independent agents, carriers, vendors, companies, etc. 

As we’ve mentioned in previous publications, our Online Community is two-fold. Not only are we offering a free and fun platform to exclusively network, but we’re also supporting our local communities through this outlet as well. 

We just celebrated Small Business Saturday on November 28th, 2020, and we can proudly say that the IIAW and our Online Community participants truly played a part in supporting local Wisconsin businesses!

The IIAW awarded Thought Leaders (previously known as committee members) who signed up for our Online Community. Each Thought Leader received a $25 gift card to a local business of their choice. 

Amy Brice, AMERISAFE, used her gift card at Cottage Cafe in Madison

Ryan Waite used his gift card at Forage Kitchen in Madison

Jeff Thiel, R&R Insurance Services, used his gift card at Weissgerber Golden Mast Inn in Okauchee

Steve Leitch, Leitch Insurance Services, Inc., used his gift card at DeVine Liquor in River Falls

We’ve awarded our Thought Leaders (members registered to be a verified resource for questions and content within each of the Online Community Groups) a gift card for a local Wisconsin business of their choice. 

Every person who participates in our Online Community can earn rewards. Each time you engage within the Community, you earn points. Then, at the end of each quarter, if you’ve reached certain point thresholds, you’ll receive some awesome rewards.  

These rewards are: a $25 gift card to a local Wisconsin business of your choice, a $100 donation to a Wisconsin non-profit of your choice and an IIAW swag bag which contains items like Yetis, desktop whiteboards, smart plugs and more!

To join the IIAW’s Online Community, go to iiaw.com/joincommunity. Be sure to check your spam/junk folders for the invite email after filling out the survey on our website. We are looking forward to connecting with all of you in our Online Community! Happy Holidays!

Happy Wednesday! On this week's Big I Buzz, we are discussing what Black Friday 2020 will look like, what employers should know about Gov. Evers' Executive Order #94 and a few steps to help reduce pandemic fatigue. 

What Evers' Executive Order #94 Really Means for Employers

Executive Order #94 calls for unity and working together in an advisory capacity. As an employer, this means that there will be no mandates. Instead, it encourages employers to follow a list of suggestion to help stop the spread of COVID-19 to their employees, customers and communities. 

Second, there will be no government penalties or enforcement provision. Instead, employers should be prepared to address concerns from employees, clients and customers. 

Finally, some health departments are making statements based on the new order to address county- or city-wide requirements issued by authorities. 

Employers should be ready to answer questions regarding the suggestions outlined in Order #94. Great steps to take would be to consult local health departments to determine if there are any updates in response to the order, review and update business COVID-19 response plan and protocols to incorporate updated guidance and prepare talking points to explain the employer's response to Order #94, accordingt o Godfrey & Kahn.

What will Black Friday Look Like in 2020? 

2020 has brought many changes with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the holidays are no different. According to Property Casualty 360, shoppers are shying away from Black Friday. A recent Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey shows that shoppers are minimizing in-store shopping and choosing home delivery. According to the survey, 76% of consumers want retailers to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, and have of those respondents said retail workers deserved a day off. In addition to offering in-home delivery (free and fast) and curbside pickup, Accenture recommends retailers consider appointment-based shopping. Read more about the Accenture survey and how Black Friday may be different in 2020 here. 

7 Steps to Reduce Pandemic Fatigue

The stresses of COVID-19 can cause pandemic fatigue with fears of infection, actual infection, isolation in quarantine and social distance, job losses and more sit at the front of your mind. A clear sign of pandemic fatigue is a sense of inner weariness. You could also feel fear, anxiety, loneliness and hopelessness.  

UCLA Health recommends seven steps to take to reduce pandemic fatigue: 

1. Create new traditions - While many activities you may normally enjoy may not be a possibility any more, instead find a new hobby to bring you joy. Some stay-at-home options: pick up a new craft or new book series to focus on. 

2. Try positive self-talk - ignore the "what-if" thoughts regarding the pandemic, and instead, think about the positives of what you're doing to stay safe. 

3. Accept your feelings - Allow yourself to acknowledge and name your feelings instead of pushing them away. Then, refocus your mind and energy on things you can do to feel better. 

4. Connect with others - Being alone and feeling isolated can be stressful. It's important to connect with others outside of your household. Great options to do so would be making phone calls, arrange video meetings, take a live class online and join IIAW's Online Community where you can connect with other industry professionals. Join the Online Community here: iiaw.com/joincommunity.

5.  Lower your stress - focus on activities that are calming and bring you joy such as any stress-relieving activity like going for a nature walk, yoga or watching a comedy. 

6. Limit your news intake - while it's important to stay up-to-date on current news and COVID-19 updates, consuming too much news can overload you and zap your energy. Consider taking a break from the news for a day or two. 

7. Take care of your body - Make sure you're getting enough sleep, maintaining a nutritious diet and exercising. Doing these will boost your energy, lift your mood and strengthen your immune system. Learn more here. 

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter Big I Buzz. If you aren't subscribed, click  here to add your email to our emailing list. We hope that everyone has a great rest of their week! 

Happy Wednesday, we are almost to the halfway point through November which means we are quickly speeding into the holiday season. On this week's Big I Buzz we are discussing the possibility of a new COVID-19 vaccine, where Gov. Evers' capacity limits currently stand and how social movements and COVID-19 have affected the EPLI market.

First, before we dive into the news from the past week, we want to call out a great fundraising effort from our Emerging Leaders. Last year, the IIAW Emerging Leaders Committee collected gifts for children receiving care at the Children's Hospital during the holidays. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the hospital cannot accept in-kind gifts so instead our Emerging Leaders Committee is making donations to the Child Life Department Fund to purchase gifts for patients throughout the year. Please join us in contributing to this great cause - every bit helps! You can donate here. 

Pfizer Vaccine Trial Success Signals Breakthrough in Pandemic Battle

According to Reuters, "Pfizer Inc's experimental COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90 percent effective based on initial trial results, the drugmaker said on Monday, a major victory in the war against a virus has killed over a million people and battered the world's economy." On Monday, November 9th, we saw the Dow soar 1,500 points after a weekend full of news about the potential for a vaccine from Pfizer, the election and a potentially split Senate. The vaccine had an immediate impact on the market. Learn more about the vaccine trials here. 

Wisconsin Supreme Court Sends Virus Capacity Limits Case to Lower Court

According to Insurance Journal, on November 4th, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to consider reinstating Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' coronavirus restrictions limiting the size of public gatherings deferring to a lower court to decide. Evers' administration issued an order in early October that limited the size of indoor public gatherings to 25% of a building or room's occupancy or 10 people in places without an occupancy limit. The powerful Tavern League of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit challenging the order, arguing it would drive bars and restaurants out of business. A Sawyer County judge blocked it on Oct. 14, only to have a Barron County judge reinstate it five days later. That sparked an appeal from The Mix-Up bar in Amery and Pro-Life Wisconsin, which argues that the capacity restrictions limit its fundraising gatherings. Learn more about Gov. Evers' restrictions here. 

A Changed Landscape: EPLI in the Age of COVID-19 and Social Movements

Headlines regarding social movements and COVID-19 are dominating the headlines in the business environment. According to the Independent Agent Magazine, "As states introduce legislation and rules protecting potential victims, the employment practices liability market is feeling the impact. "We have a lot of states that are enacting separate laws to govern the employee-employer relationship," says Joe Kelly, senior vice president, employment & ERISA liability national practice leader, Sompo International Insurance. "Add to this the ramifications of COVID-19, and we have the perfect storm for the EPLI market."

How will this impact the future? According to the Independent Agent Magazine, "Carries are not looking to take on a lot of extra employer risk right now; some are not even offering terms...For independent agents, making an early start on acquiring the coverage your client is looking for is key." Read more about how COVID-19 and social movements are impacting the EPLI market here. 

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter Big I Buzz. If you aren't subscribed, click  here to add your email to our emailing list. We hope that everyone has a great rest of their week! 

By: WAHVE |  Work At Home Vintage Experts

This article was originally shared in our November 2020 Magazine. Read the full magazine here. 

Zoom fatigue. By now, you’ve not only heard of it – you’ve experienced it. Before the pandemic, those of us who worked from home were accustomed to conducting most of our meetings remotely. Now that remote meetings are the norm, it seems everyone is feeling a little more burnt out than usual. Zoom meetings are causing fatigue because we have to make more emotional effort to appear and stay engaged during hour after hour of online meetings – followed by more Zooming with friends and family after work. In the absence of non-verbal cues, we’re all straining a little harder to pay attention and maintain sustained eye contact all day long, which can be draining. There are a few things all of us can do to combat the fatigue – while still maintaining Zoom etiquette.

To really up your game, adjust your camera to be at eye level so that other people aren’t looking up your nose or at the side of your face. Make sure you have good lighting so that you look less tired from all the extra hours you’re putting in now that the workday never really ends. It’s also important to practice your presentation and how to share your screen before meetings so that you can avoid the embarrassment of everyone looking at the web page you still have up on your desktop called “DIY squirrel picnic benches.” Following these tips can help combat the fatigue to some extent, because you’ll feel less stressed about how to present and how you look.

Beyond this, here are some important ways you can get the most out of Zoom without it getting the most out of you.

Limit video calls only to those that are necessary

Turning on your camera should be optional. Reserve your camera for important communications such as one-on-ones with your manager or leadership calls that require you to follow social cueing. Pick a few meetings each day where you can give your camera – and you – a break. Just remember that turning off the camera doesn’t mean it’s time to multitask. We’ve all been on meetings when someone says “Sorry, I was on mute. Can you repeat that question?” or “I didn’t catch that last part – can you repeat that?” If you’re multitasking, you probably don’t need to spend your time at the meeting – which leads us to the next tip.

Come prepared

Come to the meeting with an expectation about what you will need to be an effective participant. Back when we gathered physically, do you remember the people who wandered into the meeting but didn’t contribute or track to-dos? No paper, no pen, no notebook, no PC.

Don’t be “that person” on a Zoom call, Anticipate the needs of the meeting and be prepared to share data, documents and to give input that helps the team make quick decisions. Too often now on Zoom calls, unprepared people are more than happy to kick the can to the next meeting, or waste 12 minutes sharing their screen while you get a front row to their filing system as they look for the latest spreadsheet or report. If you have your ducks in a row ahead of time, the meeting should be more efficient, and you may be able to end it early.

Track the meeting

Pull out a physical notepad and track the meeting using handwritten notes. The act of tracking forces the brain to stay in lockstep with the meeting, learn something of value, and provide guidance to others because you are practicing the loop of active listening and recording. Think of how wonderful it will be when the meeting ends 8 minutes early because everyone stayed engaged and came to a quick consensus.

Share – but don’t overshare

Spending a few minutes during each meeting connecting with everyone is good Zoom etiquette, but there can be such a thing as too much sharing. The 15 minutes everyone spends “reconnecting” at the beginning of five Zoom meetings per day means that’s happening 20 times a week, and 80 times a month. We’re all craving connection, so consider setting aside regular time that’s specifically reserved for team members to connect and share as needed.

Know your speed keys

If you could get a minute back for every minute someone had to repeat the conversation that they had with themselves while inadvertently on mute, you’d only need 15 minutes to conduct a 30-minute meeting.

Memorize these shortcuts or have a sticky note on the side of your screen that lists the most used quick tasks:

Mute or unmute audio: Alt + A

Start or stop video: Alt + V

Start recording a meeting: Alt + R

Pause or resume screen recording: Alt + P

Pause or resume screen sharing: Alt + S

Being an effective Zoom participant means being an effective communicator. That means coming prepared, being an active listener, and practicing social awareness.  It’s a new world we live in with everyone on cameras and audio, but these few tips can boost your Zoom etiquette and improve how you feel during and after meetings.

By: Misha Lee | IIAW Government Affairs

This article was originally published in our October Wisconsin Independent Agent. Read the full October issue here. 

State Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), Representatives Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) recently unveiled a legislative proposal that would shield Wisconsin businesses, schools, universities, and otherentities from the threat of lawsuits alleging  liability for COVID-19 exposures. Many are still struggling amid the prolonged pandemic and some lawmakers are actively seeking ways to keep the economy moving despite the   Legislature not being in session.

Under the proposal, such liability protections would only apply to those entities that take adequate precautions to keep their premises safe for their employees and customers.  Specifically, the bill protects from the threat of litigation by providing “safe harbor” to owners, lessees, occupants, or other individuals/entities in control of a premises so long as they follow public health orders and take reasonable precautions to protect the public. This liability exemption does not protect bad actors who knowingly violate public health orders or act in a manner that is reckless, willful, or wanton. Passage of this  legislation would put Wisconsin among a growing list of states that have taken the commonsense step of protecting businesses, schools and other entities against predatory lawsuits as a result of COVID-19. As Wisconsinites look to reboot our economy and return to some sort of normalcy in an extremely challenging environment, passage of liability protections are also essential to ensure that people do not fall victim to predatory  lawsuits by some unscrupulous plaintiff’s attorneys who view the pandemic as an opportunity.

In early September, a broad and diverse coalition of 70 groups, including the  Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (IIAW), Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), National Federation of Independent  Businesses (NFIB-Wisconsin), Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC), Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB), Wisconsin Builders  Association (WBA), Wisconsin Restaurant

Association (WRA), Midwest Food Products Association (MFPA), many local chambers of

commerce and Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin (ABC), sent a memo urging the Legislature to co-sponsor and take  action on the bill with committee hearings and floor votes in both houses. Unfortunately, the Legislature is not in session as lawmakers are in full campaign mode with the November fall elections approaching quickly. There is a slight possibility that the Republicans would convene a extraordinary session following the election to act on this and other targeted issues related to the pandemic. It appears more likely that any action on liability reforms will happen in early 2021 when the Legislature convenes its 2022-23 session. However, it also is unclear whether or not  Governor Tony Evers would support such a  measure.

See a copy of the proposal LRB-6434 relating to COVID-19 Safe Harbor Liability Reform at 

http://bit.ly/OctGovAffairs.