SPOTLIGHT ON:

Office Insurance

Did you know...

A significant proportion of SME risks are in the Professional & Services sector with over 45,000 located in Ireland supporting the need for a compelling Office Insurance product.


The following article offers key insights into what SME Office customers are concerned about and what solutions are available from leading Commercial insurer, RSA Insurance.


Protecting Damage to their Property:

In addition to the standard perils of fire and water damage most Professionals are concerned about loss of or damage to their computers – both hardware and data stored on both office based and portable devices including laptops, PDA’s and specialist electronic equipment. In addition, any downtime in replacing or repairing hardware or data is a lost financial opportunity - even when all the equipment in an office is new and in full working order, if there are problems in the supply of utilities such as electricity to make them work, the consequences could be great.


Protecting their Legal Liability:

Meeting with customers in the course of business has its share of both triumphs and problems. Whether the public is coming to their premises, or they are going out and about in the course of their work, it can involve all kinds of professional and logistical challenges. They need protection against accidents and injuries sustained by members of the public both from the home or office premises and whilst they are working away in their professional capacity. In addition, if they are an employer they need protection from damages and legal fees should a member of staff be injured through the fault of their business. A lot of small businesses are becoming limited companies – so overnight they can change from a sole trader or partner to an employer so it’s important to have this exposure protected.


Employee Disputes:

Many professionals become embroiled in employee disputes inadvertently having no experience in HR procedures. They need assistance navigating through the various legal instruments and statutory bodies such as the Employment Appeals Tribunal, Equality Tribunal and Labour Court. In addition, long-term anxiety and stress can take its toll on professionals so any assistance in the provision of advice and counselling services is very welcome.


What does RSA offer?

We know how much impact the economic climate has had on the Professional & Services sector. These businesses have their costs under constant scrutiny to help manage cash flow, and insurance spend is not immune to this review. On the other hand, as explained above, businesses are more worried than ever which means they won’t cut out essential cover they really need.


RSA’s Sandra Harvey-Graham, commented: “We have recognised the key issues for SME businesses and we are providing products that meet their needs at an affordable price. Your SME clients want to know they are insured with a company that is stable and if the worst does happen, we are there to help out. Not only do we have the strength of our business, brand and balance sheet, you can also be sure that after 300 years in the business we’ve built up quite a bit of knowledge and experience along the way”.


The RSA Office product covers a wide range of risks including property damage, liability, business interruption, money and computer breakdown as standard with many optional extras. The flagship Office product covers the needs of small offices, surgeries and veterinary clinics.


Dedicated Broker site for SME

For more information on our new Office product, log onto www.RSASME.ie - our fantastic refreshed e-trading system from RSA Benchmark. This site offers brokers an end-to-end online solution, where you can quote, bind, amend and download documentation. This new service offering, combined with a great product suite, demonstrates our understanding and commitment to the SME market.


SME Takes Centre Stage.

www.rsasme.ie