Proposed Bills Increase Orlando Small Business Liability: Part II
As discussed in Proposed Bills Increase Orlando Small Business Liability: Part I, Florida’s National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) representatives spoke against proposed legislation last week that would increase small business exposure to liability in various situations. In defense of Florida’s independent and small businesses, the NIFB outwardly opposed several bills that would increase government regulations in the private sector.
Florida’s representation sought to curb additional regulations that would impose government regulations on small business practices and policies.
- A bill concerning the Fair Pay regulations would allow state agencies, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) and the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR), to directly prosecute employers accused or found guilty of equal pay violations. Opposition to the bill indicates that this could generate conflict by allowing the FCHR to both interpret and enforce these provisions.
- The Social Media in the Workplace proposition would restrict a company’s ability to access their employee’s social media accounts, effetely disallowing employers to obtain access to any non-work related social media accounts held by an employee. The bill would make it illegal to penalize an employee or otherwise impair employment on the basis of noncompliance with any company requests for such access to personal social media accounts.
- New Workplace Bullying statutes seek to make workplace bullying and cyber-bullying a 1st degree Misdemeanor, thus implementing a criminal penalty system in the workplace.
- Finally, adjusting the Florida State Minimum Wage, in accordance with the Federal Minimum Wage proposals, is predicted to slow hiring and halt job growth in an already struggling economy. According to the CFO Federally raising minimum wage to $10.10 would cost approximately 500,000 jobs, however it would raise the annual income of 16.5 million people. It could also create great strain for small businesses by increasing costs of operation.
Attaining the best business coverage is essential to the success of any small business. At Newman Crane we understand the challenges faced by growing businesses and want to help protect your operation. Our Orlando Small Business Liability specialists are willing to create the right affordable, full-coverage strategy to protect you and your company. For more information or to start a new plan call our Orlando Florida Commercial Insurance office at (407) 859-3691.