HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
BY MARK BROUGH , SENIOR UNDERWRITER , AND PATRICIA COUTU , INJURY PREVENTION & WORKSITE WELLNESS SUPERVISOR , A . I . M . MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
“ YOUR PATIENCE is appreciated . We are very short staffed today .”
That ’ s the new signage for restaurants everywhere . For the hospitality industry , staffing is the latest obstacle in the long , tumultuous course the pandemic is paving . Yet this industry is resilient . Preceded by mandated closures , distance requirements , and pivots to curbside and outdoor dining , the lack of workers now hampers the efforts of the hospitality industry to fully reopen . According to the National Restaurant Association , three in four restaurant owners cite recruitment and retention as the toughest challenge facing them going into the fall and winter months .
In workers ’ compensation , the ebb and flow of employees impacts more than coverage and premiums . Training , injury prevention , claim management , and return-to-work strategies all need to stay in place even when a business is dealing with circumstances outside its control .
This is when niche market expertise really matters . KEEPING PACE
Hospitality is one of several niche markets at A . I . M . Mutual , and within that market , different businesses have different needs .
Consider that golf courses were able to reopen sooner than most hospitality-based industries . At A . I . M . Mutual , eligible classes include golf and country clubs as well as restaurants , brew pubs , and wineries with food service . Rounding out this sector are hotels , motels , resorts , and inns .
For most restaurants , it has been a roller coaster ride . Many longtime establishments closed their doors permanently . To help others persevere , A . I . M . Mutual was ready with competitive pricing and payment plans , especially beneficial for smaller businesses . The move wasn ’ t lost on brokers .
“ The hospitality industry was especially hard hit , and we had
no ability to predict how the carrier market would respond when revenues and payroll declined overnight ,” recalls J . J . Filiault , President and Managing Director of Berkshire Fairfield Insurance Agency . “ As much as the market had been strong , cash flow was still tight , which only made it more challenging . Fortunately , A . I . M . Mutual has been patient with many of our impacted businesses , working with us and with them . They take the longer view , which is invaluable .”
A . I . M . Mutual has experience , having been a player in the hospitality market almost from day one , writing and servicing nearly 1,000 hospitality industry policyholders throughout New England . The company launched a unique hospitality group in Vermont earlier this year with Hickok & Boardman , a partner broker located in Burlington , Vermont . The companies market the program jointly , providing additional policyholder services not typically seen on small business accounts . Competitive premiums , injury prevention services , and generous payment plan options are extended to members of the Vermont Hospitality Group . HOSPITALITY RISKS
Within the hospitality sector , owners and operators had little time to focus on safety committees and walk-through inspections . The Injury Prevention & Worksite Wellness team recognized early on that the industry would need help .
The team knew that shifting priorities could create pitfalls elsewhere . Risks include workers coming back after a long hiatus , new workers getting on-the-fly training , and people taking on additional jobs and responsibilities . Combined , these risks can form the perfect storm for workplace accidents if not properly managed .
The industry employed 12.4 million employees going into the summer months , according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics . That ’ s a drop of 12 % from 2019 — nearly 1.6 million fewer workers .
6