To our Wells Insurance clients and friends,

As COVID-19 continues to present all of us with unknown and ever-changing conditions, we remain committed to providing you with high-quality, uninterrupted service and advice regarding your insurance needs.

Over the next several weeks, some of the personnel from our various locations will be working remotely. During this period, we will take all necessary measures to ensure that we continue to be responsive to your needs in a timely manner. Management and staff working remotely will have uninterrupted secure access to our Agency management and telephone systems, as well as fax and e-mail. Recognizing the importance of “social distancing” during this period of uncertainty, we encourage you to utilize email, phone, fax, and video (when available) to conduct business with our staff. If an in-person meeting is required, we will do our very best to accommodate you accordingly on a case-by-case basis.

Should our offices need to physically close for a period of time, we are fully prepared. We have setup, tested and are currently utilizing our plan to ensure a seamless service and support experience via email and phone.

We greatly appreciate your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we all navigate this unfamiliar landscape together. Please know that we are committed to provide ongoing information on our website  and via our social media platforms – primarily facebook.com/wellsins

Thank you,

Wells Insurance

The following guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Force majeure clauses are contractual provision that may suspend a company’s performance obligations following events that are beyond their control. Read this article to learn more about the interaction of force majeure provisions and the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The paid employee leave requirements of the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act will take effect on April 1, 2020, according to Q&As issued by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide employees with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. This HR Compliance Bulletin includes guidance issued by the DOL regarding employee expanded family and medical leave rights under the law.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), covered employers must post a notice of the FFCRA requirements in a conspicuous place on its premises. This HR Compliance Bulletin includes frequently asked questions issued by the DOL on this notice requirement.

On March 18, 2020, CMS issued frequently asked questions on catastrophic plan coverage and the coronavirus (COVID-19). This Health Care Bulletin contains CMS’ FAQs.

Given the implications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, countless employees across a variety of industries are working remotely. While this allows businesses to remain operational, it can create a number of risks, particularly for those who fail to take the proper precautions. This article highlights ways businesses can protect themselves from these risks.

As a result of the unprecedented challenges COVID-19 brings, many businesses are turning to insurance, like business interruption insurance, for help. However, these policies are unlikely to provide coverage for losses stemming from COVID-19. To learn more, review this Coverage Insights.

As business closures increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are faced with questions about compensation and health benefit coverage for their employees. Government relief measures may provide compensation for businesses and individuals in certain situations. In other cases, existing rules on employee rights will apply. This Compliance Overview provides a summary of the issues that employers may encounter when terminating or suspending employment due to COVID-19.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE
• State and local health department gateway – CDC

• How to Prepare – CDC Guidance
• Coronavirus: Safety and Readiness Tips for You – American Red Cross
• Safe Grocery Shopping During the Coronavirus Outbreak – Wells Insurance
• Economic impact payments: What you need to know – IRS.gov

• Solutions for NC Businesses and Employers (NC Dept of Commerce)
• A CEO Plan for Coronavirus (Bain & Company)
• Almanac: COVID-19 Company Playbook
• How Chinese companies are responding (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• Supply chain pressures (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• Guidance on Coronavirus Disruptions to CMV Driver Drug and Alcohol Testing
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• U.S. Treasury Department – CARES Act

• How To Be The Leader Your People Need Right Now (Bain & Company)
• 5 Tips for Onboarding Employees Remotely During the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Running effective virtual meetings (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• Helping teams work remotely (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• Options for remote work (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)

• US health system under stress (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• Coronavirus and the global economy (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• Surviving a sustained crisis (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)
• What to do about bad news (Harvard Business Review Coronavirus resources)

Our claim advocates are ready to assist you in every step of the way. Please contact your Account Manager and we will help lead your claims strategy.

1.910.762.8551

Note: This communication is for informational purposes only. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Wells Insurance makes no guarantees of any kind and cannot be held liable for any outdated or incorrect information.