telecommuting

Negative Transfer of Training

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I recently upgraded my computer to a Gateway with an Intel Quad core CPU running the Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit OS.  Here is what I’ve learned:

  • Parallel ports aren’t supported anymore.  I can’t use Old Faithful, my ancient laser printer.
  • A number of my older software programs won’t run on a 64-bit OS.
  • The meaning of the phrase “negative transfer of training”

My primary machine got nailed with a nasty virus a few months ago and I’d been working with my hot spare backup.  Just as I was getting used to working with Windows XP I am now having to learn how to use Vista.  I began having a negative transfer of training experience.

It’s been a few days and I’m better now.  I like my new computer.  One major plus is the computer came with a set of recovery disks.  I used these to configure my old machine which now becomes my hot spare.  Same setup as my primary machine.  When I need to use it, I’ll load up my programs and data and I’m good to go.

Note I said “when” not “if”.

Another Reason For Outsourced Underwriting – MOJO

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When you mention the word “outsourcing” most people get very emotional.  The emotion is fear. Usually, it is a fear of losing one’s job.  Well, during this nasty recession a lot of jobs have been lost.  I have been asking the question,

“Who’s left to do the work?”

I’ve noticed I am not the only person asking this question.  Nearly two thirds of respondents in a recent survey asked the very same question (see survey results reproduced below or click through to read the entire article).

If you’re in NB/UW management your cost cutting phase is over.  Stick a fork in it, it’s done.  Now you have to figure out how to get the work done with a decimated, demoralized staff.  Screaming won’t help (unless that makes you feel better).  Mandatory 60 hour work weeks?  I don’t think so.  Yup, looks like a man-made management problem that requires creative management solutions.  Unabashed self-promotion follows:

The underwriting talent is out here and we have the technology to connect companies with with experienced, professional underwriters to get the work done.

Call us. I have a mortgage, two kids in college, and a small fleet of cars to support.

One more thing…we got the MOJO.

Workforce Blogs – The Business of Management

A new survey just released by the Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc. and conducted by Harris Interactive suggests that a lot of employees may not be feeling particularly optimistic and workplace productivity has been a casualty of the Big, Bad Recession.

Here are some of the survey highlights:

• Some 38 percent of respondents employed full or part time said there had been layoffs in the past year at their primary place of employment.

• Of those respondents who said that productivity had been negatively affected by layoffs:

—66 percent said that morale has suffered and that workers are less motivated;

—64 percent said that there is just too much work and not enough people left to do it;

—37 percent said the wrong people or departments were laid off, leaving inefficient systems and workflows; and

—36 percent said they are concerned that as the economy picks up, they won’t have the right resources to meet demand.

MOO Needs Help – Telecommuting May Be An Option

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Job Description – Underwriter / Sr. Underwriter / Underwriting Consultant – Life (016307)

Telecommuting may be available based on candidate need.

This is the 1st life UW job posting I’ve seen in weeks. BTW, it is not a new opening but a re-posting.  When I inquired about the position last year, telecommuting was not an option.  Now telecommuting may be an option.

The glacier is moving.

The Future for Remote/Telecommute Underwriting Workers

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@Work

Clicking on the @Work link above will take you to the blog of Challenger, Gray & Christmas a huge outplacement firm.  There is a lot of nasty news in this survey but my eyes are drawn to several findings that actually bode well for the future of remote/telecommute underwriting work.

  • More than half (52.4 percent) of human resource executives surveyed in May said their companies had instituted salary cuts or freezes in an effort to cut costs.  That was up from 27.2 percent in the same survey last January.

You may ask, how is this good news?  Well, it depends upon your perspective.   One of my projects consists of moving underwriting work to people rather than moving the people to where the work has traditionally been done.  Work can be done anywhere if you have a computer and a decent high speed Internet connection.  The only major roadblock  we have  is a severe case of dinosaur brains. Granted, some forms of work have to be done at a specific location. The good news is underwriting work does not.

Let’s dig deeper into the Challenger survey and find more good news.  Companies are cutting costs in the following areas:

  • 67%  cut travel expenses
  • 43% permanent layoffs
  • 62% instituted a hiring freeze
  • 29% cut hours
  • 5% cut office space use through increased telecommuting.

The problem is this – what happens when the business environment improves and volumes increase?

Companies have painted themselves into very tight corners.  Many will migrate to more of a variable cost structure to preserve the savings achieved from the measures taken during the recession.

I tell ya, I’m having a lot of fun doing what I’m doing.



New Link for Remote Underwriting Jobs

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I’ve added a link on the sidebar under Jobs for this recruiter website.  The posting does not indicate if these positions are remote or not remote.

Great Insurance Recruiters – Insurance Jobs from Insurance Recruiters. Claims Jobs, Underwriting Jobs, Sales Jobs, Loss Control Jobs and more Jobs from Recruiters.

10 UNDERWRITERS NEEDED ASAP FULL TIME FOR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY IN WESTCHESTER, NY

Recession?  What recession?

Remote Underwriting With Turkeys – Avoid SSS (Sadder and Sicker Syndrome)

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Career Women at Midlife: Sadder and Sicker – BusinessWeek

Reading this article should be a stark reminder to managers in all industries of the growing need to provide flexible work arrangements.  Remote work, telecommuting, flex hours, work from home, job sharing, reduced work schedules, whatever.  Sad and sick employees cannot be a good thing.

Hence another strong motivator to get your underwriters out of the office.

If you’re reading this post and looking for a remote underwriting position do revisit this blog periodically.  I offer up some good tips on job search websites.  Additionally, UWS LLC may have a need for contract underwriters in the near future.

Remote, of course.

Remote Insurance Work

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This was recently posted in the Global Insurance Professionals group discussion page on LinkedIn:

Looking for a Team Manager who will be responsible for managing a number of general insurance processes in claims, pensions, etc in Mumbai.

Team handling experience and exposure to a general insurance is a must.

Remember, “remote” is a relative term.

Remote Working – ResumeBear Blog Post

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I found this fascinating quote today from a post highlighting a survey done by Microsoft:

A growing interest in remote working has been spurred in part by rising energy costs, environmental concerns and the recent economic crisis. Remote working is widely understood to provide companies with access to a larger talent pool, improve productivity, and lower overhead for items such as workstation space, common office space, insurance, utilities, maintenance and parking. However, today’s survey results suggest business leaders need to do more to encourage adoption to realize these benefits.ResumeBear Blog, Mar 2009

You should read the whole article.

OKC is on the list of best midsize cities for remote workers.