Written by: ​Jimmy Norton, CPCU

Virginia passed two laws in 2020:

1. Effective July 1,2020, workers can sue their employers for past wages, benefits and other compensation.  Under this law, all workers are considered employees, and employers must prove that they are independent contractors to avoid liability for the prior expenses.
2. The second law went into effect on Jan 1, 2021.  It prohibits employee misclassification and allows the Virginia Department of Taxation to impose civil penalties for violations. 

 
Who determines whom is what?

The Virginia laws use the IRS test to determine the correct classification. 

According to the IRS, “The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.”

Alternately, they use the common law definition of employee as anyone performing services for you “if you can control what will be done and how it will be done. This is so even when you give the employee freedom of action. What matters is that you have the right to control the details of how the services are performed.”

The degree of control and independence can vary and create a huge gray area.  Businesses must weigh several factors which the IRS organizes into 3 categories:

1. Behavioral: Does the company control or have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does his or her job?
2. Financial: Are the business aspects of the worker’s job controlled by the payer? (these include things like how worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, who provides tools/supplies, etc.)
3. Type of Relationship: Are there written contracts or employee type benefits (i.e. pension plan, insurance, vacation pay, etc.)? Will the relationship continue and is the work performed a key aspect of the business?

 
Washington DC uses the following:
​
The ordinary rules of common law relative to "master and servant" apply in defining  employers and employees. In determining who is an employee and who is an independent contractor, the Department of Employment Services considers the following:

• Who has the right to supervise regarding the means by which the intermediate work should be done?
• What is the method of compensation?
• Is the individual providing service engaged in an independent trade, occupation, profession or business?

Over the past few months, insurance carriers have asserted that the virus exclusion and the definition of “direct physical loss” were the determining factors for throwing out thousands of business interruption cases due to Government sanctioned COVID-19 closures. But as Wakefern Food Corp v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. demonstrated, loss of physical functionality and use does constitute a covered loss. So, what does this new precedent mean for the other 1200+ cases making their way through the US court system?

Both the plaintiffs and the defendants in these cases are relying on precedence to sway the court to rule in their favor. But, as insurance contracts are contracts of adhesion, any ambiguity in the language is in favor of the party that did not write the terms, i.e. the business owners. The implication is then, hundreds of thousands of denied claims may be reversed. As this was never the intention of the business interruption endorsement on the policy, what are the consequences for the insurance industry in total?

Click below to look at the article below from PropertyCasualty360 that breaks down the case findings in the context of the policy language. 
​
Want to learn more? Check out our blog page at www.brocknorton.com

COVID-19 continues to affect us all.  Here are Brock-Norton we are committed to keeping our clients abreast of any updates or resources that we can provide during this challenging time. As you are aware, the outbreak of COVID-19 has placed considerable stress not only on individuals and families but the business community as well. We know many are concerned about cash-flow and future revenue. If your business has been adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, here are a few things we can do to help:
 

1. Reach out to carrier partners to discuss flexible premium payment options.   Several carriers have been waiving late fees and offering extensions on due dates.  We can contact your carrier to see what payment arrangements can be made for you.

 

1. Update policy payroll and sales exposures to reflect the quarantine’s effect on your business.  Many policy premiums are based on payroll and gross sales estimates.  If you had to lay off or furlough employees due to the closures or had a reduction in work available for current staff, your gross payrolls will decrease.  We can review your policies to determine if any adjustments are needed that can reduce your premium.  Insurance carriers have started discounting furlough payroll from Work Comp audits.  See our post, Pandemic Payroll Tips for Work Comp Audits, for more info. 

 

1. Provide recommendations for vendors offering short term lending or loans to assist you in maintaining operations. We have information from companies like Heartland, Complete Business Capital, and the SBA that can provide financial assistance via loans for business owners. Please note that we have no control over any terms or acceptance for any financial products.  We are simply here to provide the information if you choose to pursue that avenue.

 

1. Speak to you about your coverages and how they may respond to claims related to the Coronavirus pandemic. We always strive to help you understand your coverages and how they protect your most valuable investments. We are happy to discuss coverage scenarios and review individual policy language. As always, we cannot guarantee coverage of any claim as the ultimate decision resides with the carriers and/or courts within your jurisdiction.  Please see our article on The Effects of Coronavirus on Your Business for additional information.  

 
We understand that these are unprecedented times and require unprecedented solutions. We hope that you will look for opportunities to stay positive and spread love and joy wherever and whenever possible. If you can stay quarantined, please do so out of consideration for healthcare workers and those with compromised immune systems. We will continue to provide resources as they become available.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of further assistance. We appreciate your time and look forward to continuing to be of service.

By; Marie White

Travel Smarts for Your Money and Identity

Thieves love tourists. It’s nothing personal. They’re just looking for an easy target – someone who’s carrying cash and credit cards, tablets and cameras, passports and other identification, all while being distracted by the new sights and sounds all around them.
 
So how do you take it all in without allowing a thief to take off with your money, identity and other valuables? These five travel tips should help:
 

1. Stay aware of your surroundings. This applies to all situations, from your hotel room to crowded public spaces. If a stranger bumps you, check your belongings immediately, even if it seemed accidental. Also use caution if you notice a public disturbance or other commotion – thieves appreciate a good distraction.

 

1. Watch out for digital thieves, too. If you use public wi-fi, only visit secure sites (addresses starting with “https”), and log out of accounts after each session. Need cash from an ATM? Paying for gas at the pump? Watch for “skimmer” devices designed to steal your information. They can be hard to detect, so look for card readers that don’t seem to match the rest of the machine.
   
   
2. Lock up your devices. Make sure your smartphone, computer and tablet all require secure passwords for access. Otherwise, a thief who makes off with your electronics could also make off with your personal information. Leaving devices behind at the hotel? Store them in your hotel room safe.

 

1. Always have some cash. There are situations where cash is just better than credit. If a merchant or barista just doesn’t seem trustworthy, use cash. Credit cards are best when you know the location is secure, such as at an airport or chain store, or when you want the purchase protection your card offers for a big-ticket item.

 

1. Think about home. Don’t let burglars ruin your return from vacation. Stop your mail and newspaper delivery, put some lights on timers and make your {city, state or region} home looks occupied. Just in case someone does get in, keep your documents and valuables in a secure area. 

 
Remember, travel is supposed to be fun! Taking just a few common sense precautions will help make sure you’re free to wander without worry. ​

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in dramatic ways.  Companies have closed their doors or reduced operations out of public health concerns.  Employees were furloughed or laid off until businesses could operate safely.  Fortunately, disaster assistance programs like the PPP helped employers keep people on the payroll during the pandemic. 
 
If you carry a Workers’ Compensation policy, you will soon face your annual audit.  The Insurance Auditor will want to see your actual payroll records for the policy term.  Here are a few important things to remember if you paid employees to stay home or perform different duties. 
 
Workers’ Compensation policy premiums are based on gross payroll assigned to different classifications based on the type of work performed.  Each classification carries a different rate based on the hazards associated with it.  How do you classify an employee who sits home while on a paid furlough from work?  Ratemakers in the insurance industry feel they have an answer to this question.  The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) announced that payroll for paid furloughed employees can be classified under a special code – 0012.   This rule was put in place effective 3/1/20 and will run until 12/31/20.  This expiration may be extended depending on the circumstances. 
 
In addition to furloughs, many companies have had to dramatically alter their operations due COVID.  If employees were placed in new roles during this time, then companies may be able to reclassify them into different categories.  For example, a salesperson moved from outside sales to inside sales while quarantining at home.  Chesapeake Employers Insurance provides other examples:
 
EXAMPLE: A retail store that remains open for delivery of goods but closes the showroom to consumers. Several of the retail showroom employees work from home to assist with phone orders, customer service calls, and related clerical paperwork. These employees may be reassigned to Code 8871—Clerical Telecommuter Employees. In addition, this same employer has other showroom employees delivering goods to customers. These employees would be reassigned to Code 7380—Drivers, Chauffeurs, Messengers, and Their Helpers NOC—Commercial while they are in their new role as delivery drivers. In both situations, the employees’ original job descriptions were included in the applicable store code, but their new job descriptions place them in a new code. Once the employees return to their former roles after the pandemic has passed, their payroll would return to the store code that was assigned before the employer closed the showroom.
 
In many cases, employees performing more hazardous work will be assigned to less hazardous work due to a change in the company operations.  This means that employee’s payroll will go from a higher Work Comp rate to a lower Work Comp rate. 
 
It will be important to notify Insurance Auditors about changes in employee duties as well as paid employees who stayed home on furlough.  Auditors WILL REQUIRE that companies maintain separate payroll records, so make sure to start tracking this now.  It will be much easier to track the changes now than to have to look back and recalculate at audit time.  As with any audit, if separate payroll records are not maintained, then employee payroll is assigned to the highest rated applicable classification. 
 
Good luck and please contact us here at Brock-Norton if you have any questions. 
 
For more information on NCCI’s changes, you can visit their COVID-19 page here:  https://www.ncci.com/Articles/Pages/Insights-Coronavirus-FAQs.aspx
 
Brock-Norton’s website has other COVID-19 information and resources, too.  http://www.brocknorton.com/covid-19.html

Written by: Venee Galloway, SBCS, CLCS, CBIA
​
With the COVID-19 epidemic sweeping across the globe, more and more businesses are using technology to carryout tasks.  Aside from the increased use of web conferencing platforms and online adherence software, everyone is seeing an uptick in emails. Inboxes are now inundated with messages from vendors, clients and colleagues all sharing COVID-19 related information to help sustain your business during this time.
Unfortunately, hackers are taking advantage of the situation.  There have been marked increases in the number of cyber attacks on US businesses. According to Evolve, a leading Cyber Liability managing general agent (MGA), over 4000 fraudulent domains containing the words “COVID and/or Corona” have been registered. These domains are, without a doubt, going to be used to execute phishing and ransomware attacks by posing as recognizable businesses and organizations.
On March 15, 2020 the US Department of Health and Human Services reported that a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack had been leveled against their website. In Italy, the same type of attack took down their Social Security website preventing citizens from applying for their €600 relief payments. Now that we are aware of the increased potential for a breach, we want to help you to protect your systems and data from unauthorized capture.

Multi Factor Authentication – If you are not using MFA to secure your logins, then there is no time like the present. MFA adds an additional step to ensure that only authorized users are logging into your systems and applications. Many banks and social media sites have already implemented MFA, and we recommend doing the same wherever and whenever possible. Typically, once you have logged into an application with MFA, you will receive a text or email to a separate account with a validation code. That code is then entered into the application to confirm and grant access

Phishing – Phishing is a way for hackers to infiltrate a network with fraudulent emails or text messages that appear to come from legitimate users. For example, you may get an email that appears to come  from within your organization or from an existing vendor.  Always be sure to trust your instincts. If something looks off, then it probably is. Before opening any attachments, always verify the sender by clicking their name to view the full email address. See the example below provided by FTC.gov: 

Written By: Jimmy Norton, CPCU

I've been studying insurance industry articles on how different policies may respond to Coronavirus-related claims.  Naturally, coverage for any claim depends upon the specific circumstances. Please don't interpret this article as proof positive of any insurance protection.  These are just my thoughts as I study this topic.
 
LOSS OF REVENUE
Fear of infection may keep people at home.  If people aren't going out to meet, eat, shop and exercise, then revenue will decrease.  The insurance industry treats this as a business risk and cannot provide coverage against this financial loss.  Insurance policies require that there be some physical damage or Government mandate to trigger coverage.  
 
Business Interruption insurance covers loss of net income and continuing operating expenses if your business cannot operate after a loss.  This coverage requires that there be a direct, physical loss at your premises - or at the premises of a business on which your company revenue depends.  The presence of an infectious disease may not be considered direct, physical damage and therefore not trigger the Business Interruption coverage.  
 
Moreover, many Property policies contain exclusions for viruses and bacteria, so these will prevent coverage for most Coronavirus-related Interruption claims.
 
A company may not suffer a direct physical loss, but its income can be affected if public access is restricted due to the mandate of a Civil Authority.  There is an insurance coverage that applies to this - aptly named "Business Income due to Civil Authority." It requires that access to your premises be specifically prohibited by order of a civil authority "as the direct result of a Covered Cause of Loss to property in the immediate area" of your premises.  If the Government states that people cannot go to certain establishments or areas, then it's possible that this coverage could apply. Again, the Coronavirus infection trigger would have to meet your policy definition of "covered cause of loss." If your policy has a virus exclusion, then it may apply here, too.
 
 
WORKERS COMPENSATION
What if my employees get Coronavirus while at work?  State Work Comp Commissions may have to decide the answer to this question.  If an employee files a Work Comp claim for Coronavirus, they would need to show that illness "arose out of and was in the course and scope of the employment" and "caused by conditions peculiar" to the work.  In a public health situation, it might be difficult to prove that the employee's exposure to Covid-19 was peculiar to their employment for your company - unless you are in a healthcare-related industry. In the event of such a claim, your Work Comp carrier would investigate and either grant benefits or issue a denial based on the Work Comp laws of your state.  
 
Here is a great article about this topic if you'd like to read a little more about it.
 
 
LIABILITY
How could your company be sued as a result of a Coronavirus infection?  Would General Liability provide coverage if someone alleges that they were infected at my business?  Such a claim might be difficult to prove due to the very public nature of this virus. However, people have sued for worse reasons.  General Liability policies respond to bodily injury or illness claims. Many GL policies contain an exclusion for communicable diseases that would prevent coverage for such a claim.  Check your policy or ask your Agent if yours includes such an exclusion.
 
Fear of the disease may bring claims of discrimination or harassment by individuals who were denied services from your business.  Employees with a cough may be ostracized or sent home out of fear of infecting the rest of the office. Asian-Americans have been victimized by racist and discriminatory attacks. 
 
Allegations of discrimination and harassment are covered under an Employment Practices Liability policy.  We have a blog post on this coverage. Click here for further reading.
 
 
CYBER 
Beware of emails purporting to be from the World Health Organization (WHO) or other agencies asking for sensitive information or directing you to websites with important virus information.  These emails may contain attachments or links for "important updates." Hackers are taking advantage of public concern over Coronavirus. The links and attachments may release ransomware onto your computer.  
 
The WHO issued a warning about this on their website. 
 
Their warning states:
 
The World Health Organization will:  
 

• never ask you to login to view safety information
• never email attachments you didn’t ask for
• never ask you to visit a link outside of www.who.int 
• never charge money to apply for a job, register for a conference, or reserve a hotel
• never conduct lotteries or offer prizes, grants, certificates or funding through email
• never ask you to donate directly to emergency response plans or funding appeals.

 
Beware that criminals use email, websites, phone calls, text messages, and even fax messages for their scams.
 
You can verify if communication is legit by contacting WHO directly.
 
Contact WHO
Report a scam
 
A Cyber Liability policy that includes coverage for Cyber Extortion will respond to claims from a ransomware attack.  Check your policy or ask your Agent about including the coverage in your policy.
 
(source: https://www.corvusinsurance.com/news-and-insights/the-cyber-threat-of-covid-19/?utm_content=119940438&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-16190758)
 
 
MAKE PLANS NOW, DON'T RELY ON INSURANCE
The best way to prevent or minimize a loss is to plan ahead.  As you've seen in my comments above, you may not be able to rely on an insurance policy to repay you for a Coronavirus-related loss.  Risk Management will be your best defense. The CDC has a web page that provides guidance for businesses and employers to plan and respond to this disease.  This is a good place to start. 
 
If you send your employees on travel, be sure to check the CDC's Travelers' Health page first.
 
We'll be sure to update you as we learn more about this issue.  If you have any questions, please contact us here at Brock-Norton Insurance. 

"Insurance audits are the best!" said no one ever.  As an Insurance Agent, I realize this fact of life and have dedicated myself to improving the audit experience from "wretched" to just "mildly annoying." 
 
Workers' Compensation policy premiums are based on "remuneration" (explained below).  You pay your initial premium based on an estimate for the upcoming year.  Once the policy expires, the insurance company sends an Auditor to total the actual numbers for the period.  The insurance company then adjusts the premium based on the actual numbers vs the estimate.  If the actuals are higher, they send you a bill.  If the actuals are lower, you get a credit or a refund. 
 
General Liability (GL) policies are also based on estimated exposures including payroll, gross sales and subcontracted costs.  Other types of policies can be audited as well.  This discussion focuses mainly on Work Comp.  
 
The best approach to an audit is prepare, prepare, prepare!  Auditors are people, too.  They don't want to sit there for a prolonged interview any more than you do.  They are often juggling busy schedules and need to get to their next appointments.  The more homework you do in advance; the shorter and sweeter the audit experience will be.  I promise!
 
Your Auditor will send a letter asking for specific reports, including:

• Quarterly IRS 941s
• State Unemployment reports
• Payroll Summary for the time period
• Profit and Loss statement
• Schedule of 1099/Independent Contractor payments
• Certificates of Insurance for the 1099s/Contractors paid during the term 

TIP:  Respond to the audit request!  If they don't hear back from you, they will return the audit as NONCOMPLIANT.  Insurance companies assess Audit Noncompliance Charges, which can be flat fees or a multiplying factor of the policy payroll.  Essentially, they double your premium and send you the bill. 
 
Many factors go into that final audit number.  Here's a few to keep in mind:
 
 Remuneration 
Policy premiums are not based just on gross pay.  Remuneration also includes bonuses, overtime, commissions, sick pay and vacation pay.  Include those numbers in your payroll summaries.
 
TIP:  Separate Overtime!  When summarizing total remuneration for the Auditor, be sure to break out Overtime.  Auditors reduce the Overtime number back down to straight pay for the audit.  If you lump OT in with the rest of the payroll figures, then you won't receive the benefit of that deduction.  They need to see a record of it, however.  They won't just take it on faith. 
 
 
Class Codes
On Work Comp and General Liability policies, employees are grouped into different class codes according to their duties.  Each class code carries a different rate based on the history of claims paid for that work.  Familiarize yourself with the class codes used in your industry.  Summarize your employees & payroll by class code in advance.  Auditors check to make sure that employees are classified correctly.  They will ask you to describe their duties, and they WILL make changes based on the info that you give them.  Those changes could result in a huge audit bill.  If you've summarized the employees by duties in advance, then it will help to reduce the questioning. 
 
TIP:  Document hours worked for different jobs!  Employees' work is often a mix between high hazard and low hazard.  Insurance companies will lump all of the payroll into the highest hazard code.  Some class codes do allow for a split between individual employees or crews.  Make sure you can document the hours worked on the high hazard vs the low hazard.  Auditors will not split anything without documentation to back it up. 
 
 
 
Subcontractors
If you use subcontractors in your business, make sure they provide you with a Certificate of Insurance (COI) that shows Work Comp and General Liability insurance.  If your Sub does not have their own coverage, then the insurance company will add their cost to your policy premium basis.  Some Subs are individuals and often not legally required to carry Work Comp.  That doesn't matter to the insurance company.  That Sub could file a claim against your policy if they are injured while working for you.  Insurance companies need to charge premium for that exposure. 
 
Uninsured sub costs will create big audit bills for you.  Uninsured sub claims will go on your policy record and affect your rates for years to come.  Make them carry their own coverage, so their company will pay the claim - not yours.
 
Please refer to our Workers Compensation Audits youtube video for more information about this topic: Youtube.com/Insurance-in-an-instant 
 
I'm just scratching the surface here, but hopefully this information will help you when the Auditor comes a-calling.  Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.  Good luck!!  

Here at Brock-Norton Insurance Agency we all love our pets. Almost everyone in the office has a pet, and we would do anything to make sure our pets are happy and healthy.  As pet owners, we know that costs for Veterinary visits can be unpredictable.*

There are many reasons for the bill for your pet’s exam to be expensive. Your bill can include charges for:

• Professional services, which may include the physical exam, medical exam, extended exam, and hospitalization patient exam. 
• Diagnostic services, which may include blood pressure evaluation and more. 
• Diagnostic imaging services, which could range from ultrasounds to radiographs. 
• Lab work services, which may include collecting labs, running, and analyzing samples that test the blood chemistry for leukemia, other types of cancer, heartworms, thyroid, immunity, and much more. 
• Surgical Procedures. 
• Anesthesia for procedures, which could include intubation and monitoring.
• Hospitalization services, which could possibly include overnight stays, inpatient monitoring and more. 

To go into some depth about the average costs of vet visits, most routine physical exams cost around $45 to $55. Most of the times those exams will include routine vaccinations. The average costs of those vaccinations per shot are between $15 and $28. Here are some additional costs for tests and services; 

• Fecal Exams: $25-$45
• Heartworm Tests: $45-$50
• Dental Cleaning: $70-$400
• Allergy Testing: $195-$200 for skin test and $200-$300 for blood test
• Geriatric Screening: $85-$110

On average, the typical vet visit for dogs will cost between $200-$400 and $90-$200 for cats.  If an illness is discovered, the costs increase.  For example, if your dog’s heartworm test is positive, the treatment could cost between $400 and $1,000. Emergency treatment is another expense that can quickly add up and run up past $1,000. 
​(Source: Wellness Pet Food, https://www.wellnesspetfood.com/our-community/wellness-blog/average-cost-taking-your-pet-veterinarian). 
 
Pet Insurance is an option to help control these costs.  Safeco Insurance Company offers an affordable Pet Insurance policy. 
From Safeco website (https://www.safeco.com/products/pet-health-insurance)

Coverage for Your Pets

• Coverage available for accidents and illness with the option of adding preventive care coverage at an additional cost.
• Choose from a range of different annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement percentages.
• You'll have the freedom to choose any veterinarian, specialist, or emergency clinic.
• No waiting period for Preventive Care.

 
Dig Deeper Into the Details

• Annual coverage limit options of $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
• Annual deductible options of $100, $250, or $500.
• Reimbursement options of 70%, 80%, or 90% of eligible charges.
• Discounts are available for multiple pets.
• Add Preventive Care coverage to your policy for dental cleanings, wellness exams, heartworm tests, DHLPP vaccines, and more.

 
Call us or email us for more information. We'll be happy to run some quotes for you. 
 
*Keep in mind that is it possible for the vest costs to vary greatly depending on where you live*

Snowy morning. BMW 4 series ($45,000) and Tesla Model S ($77,000) up ahead.
Do you have enough Liability coverage to protect you in case you hit one?  or both?
What if someone is injured?
​
The state of Virginia requires all auto policies carry at least $25,000 for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage.
What's on your policy?

Brock-Norton recommends limits of $100,000 / $300,000 / $100,000 or higher.
​Talk to us about how you can improve your protection. ​

Great article provided by Encompass Insurance...

Given their global and cultural impact, it seems a bit hard to believe that smartphones are still a young technology. Facebook and Twitter, for example, both predate the first versions of the iPhone.

In fewer than 10 years, smartphones have gone from
​non-existent to essential. According to a report from Pew Research Center, nearly 80 percent of U.S. residents own smartphones — a number that rises to 92 percent for those under the age of 30.
 
Because smartphones are still relatively new, it's not always easy to ensure that the technology is being used in the safest manner possible. Take steps to help ensure that you (and your sensitive data) remain protected.
 
Safeguarding your information
 
Your smartphone is an extension of you — that's one of the reasons it can do so many important things. It contains a vast repository of information about you, your family and friends, your education level and work history, your financial transactions and much more. As a result, a smartphone is an inviting target for those who would like to steal your data.
 
A study conducted by Nokia showed that malware intrusions are becoming more common on smartphones, representing 60 percent of all “attacks” in the mobile space.
 
So how can you protect all your valuable data?
​
 
Here are a few tips:
​

• Pay attention to what your apps are doing. Many people would be alarmed to realize just how much data some apps are harvesting from their phones. Once that data is in third-party hands, you lose the ability to protect it. This means it's important to limit app permissions when possible and to only download applications from trusted vendors.

• Be judicious with public WiFi use. Public networks are just that – public – you can't be certain it's safe. To help minimize the risk, don't conduct sensitive transactions over public WiFi. This means no passwords or financial transactions.

• Password protect your device. Creating a numeric passcode or fingerprint scan is an essential part of protecting your device. It's worth the extra two-second wait. Wipe your device of all data when necessary. This is imperative if you ever decide to sell your device, or in the case of theft or loss.

 
By following these guidelines — and using up-to-date security applications - you can help ensure your sensitive information remains safe.
 

Take a break from your smartphone
 
When it comes to smartphone safety, data is only half of the equation. While business and life demands may make unplugging from our smartphones a virtual impossibility, it's also important to incorporate some downtime into your schedule. Constant screen time isn't the best outcome for anyone, so try to take a break whenever possible. Even a short walk or some brief stretching can help clear your mind and allow you to refocus.
 

The takeaway
 
Smartphones have become deeply integrated into the fabric of our lives. Because of this, it's important to use them safely.