Climate change inaction, a growing social divide and an uneven post-COVID economic recovery have been highlighted as the top three global risks for 2022, according to a major new risk review. The 17th edition of the Global Risks Report, sanctioned by the World Economic Forum, provides a comprehensive overview of the key risks the [...]
Like so many things, business travel is now back on the cards since most countries have re-opened their borders after the easing of COVID restrictions. But if you’re heading away for work, it’s important to make sure your insurance covers you if fall ill before or after you take off. Let’s say you run [...]
The latest in simple, cost-effective fire prevention and control equipment for your small business. Smart alarms and detectors Traditional smoke alarms will certainly give you a jolt if they go off in your vicinity, but what about when you've shut up shop for the night? Smart smoke alarms can send real-time alerts to you [...]
While it’s never welcome news to hear that a risk needs a serious investment of time and money to improve its insurability, it’s even less welcome news to receive a month before an insurance renewal is due, says Steadfast Risk Services senior risk consultant, Josh Giansiracusa. But, unfortunately, this is all too often the [...]
Working from home - how flexible is your organisation? Technological advances and an increased focus on work-life balance and flexible working arrangements have resulted in more than half of Australia’s population working from home in some capacity or another. As the owner of your own business, you may already have employees who work from [...]
Last year, there were devastating bushfires, in 2020, the turmoil produced by the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021, La Nina. While La Nina has not translated into wet conditions over the spring season, businesses should still be vigilant over the coming months. A Niña is a phenomenon associated with cooler sea surface temperature anomalies [...]
Heightened cyber risks have emerged as a serious issue, given most businesses now have many staff working from home. So it’s important to put in place policies and procedures to ensure data is secure no matter where staff are located. Helping staff to recognise and avoid risky behaviours is also part of a great [...]
With COVID-19 on everybody’s minds, small business owners are no doubt staying awake wondering what impact the pandemic will have on them. While it remains very tough for small businesses, there have been glimmers of hope for the future. Surviving COVID-19 is undoubtedly top of mind of small business owners at present, but was [...]
You recall a batch of biscuits because they’re carrying the wrong label. How will your insurance respond? According to Michael White, Steadfast Group’s Broker Technical Manager, that may depend on exactly how the label misleads. “If there are nuts in a product when the label says it’s nut free, this is potentially dangerous to consumers,” he [...]
Fiona Kesby and her brother Matt began outsourcing office tasks for their software business to offshore workers almost a decade ago. Now they run a business that helps SMEs enjoy the benefits of offshoring without the frustrations of managing a virtual team. In 2008, Matt and Fiona started offshoring computer-based office tasks via Upwork. [...]