| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Linda
USA
127 Posts |
 Posted - 03/05/2003 : 21:37:05
|
Catdaddy,
It depends on a lot of things out of the adjuster's control such as:
1. WEATHER!!
2. Damage assessment and cause of loss (hurricane, flood, straight down hail, tornado, etc.)
3. Topography of area (urban or tons of F & R with 14 building each, commercial, etc.)
4. Zoning of claims
5. File requirements
and a laundry list of others.
The Insureds are most certainly entitled to quality customer service. |
 |
|
|
CatDaddy
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2003 : 21:52:21
|
Linda, what is toepographie? (smile)
I totally agree with you. All of that will dictate how many claims an adjuster can work affectively.
Customer service is the number one concern when staffing a storm. Thats what it all rolls back to. |
|
|
|
KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 00:14:32
|
| Sorry, what I meant was 100 claims total. Not right off the bat. You know how the first 3 Mondays after a storm claims roll in. To me, for a storm to be considered a good storm I would like to have 100 claims. I can make a decent profit on 50 claims, but who wants to drive across the country for 10 days worth of work. 30 claims is the break even point. Anything less than that and you're losing money. Keep in mind, these are just guidlines. It depends on the type of loss and how spread out the claims are and also how expensive it is to reside in the city you are working in. |
|
|
|
CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2003 : 08:24:37
|
The issue of overtime for "adjusters" seems to have been settled this week in the House of Representatives.
A "Claims Adjuster" is now deemed and recognized as an occupation that performs "work of substantial importance", and with that accolade goes the loss of overtime eligibility; for those that were concerned about it.
More details at;
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/newswire/national/2003/07/14/30620.htm |
|
|
|
yumadj
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2003 : 12:28:35
|
| Picking up on this ancient thread has inspired me to vent at the national IA I worked for a few years ago as a casualty adjuster in Texas. Hour after hour of driving time on after-hour call out assignments. Fourteen hours a day for 2 months trial watching environmental class action suit. That was pretty unimportant..reporting to off shore carriers on a 67 million dollar lawsuit!! Weekend work catching up. No overtime, of course, just my salary. Oh well, the times may be a changin'. |
Jeff Finley |
|
|
|
CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2003 : 13:26:41
|
Jeff, I to can rant the same tale from years long gone past, replacing the entity - as a carrier, instead of the 'national IA' - you speak of.
My situation was the norm, the expected - it was a "career thing" a generation ago, but I have reservations concerning the scenario you present; with respect to the 'national IAs' allocation and charge for time you incurred.
I find it hard to accept that a 'national IA' would not be billing for your time (even though you may not have or could not have), for each of the activities you mention - regardless of the time of day or day of week. |
|
|
|
W
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2003 : 17:04:05
|
CCarr
do you think this will apply to all the State Farm adjusters the were just changes to time card, or did State Farm jump the gun and now have to pay over time to hourly adjuster overtime, were they would not have to done so with salary based ones. |
|
|
|
CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2003 : 17:37:46
|
Jim, I really don't know the answer to your question. However, I would suggest that someone paid on an hourly basis is due overtime after 40 or 44 hours; dependent on state labor laws and the contract behind the person paid hourly.
Hopefully in time, we will hear from others who may be directly affected (adversely or otherwise) by the noted legislation.
Jim, as I reflect on this reply, I must add by edit a recollection, that I did work some years ago at a nat cat center on an hourly rate; and what you got paid for hour #1 was the same compensation for hour #50 or 60 etc. i.e no overtime. |
Edited by - CCarr on 07/15/2003 20:14:08 |
|
|
|
trader
USA
236 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2003 : 16:46:06
|
| I worked for a vendor in one of the big Texas carriers on an hourly rate in the auto PD unit, and was limited to 40 hrs. The staff adjusters on annual salary, had thier heads dowm when I arrived and departed. They were getting 8-12 new claims per day. No OT. |
|
|
|
okclarryd
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2003 : 08:18:41
|
I worked Texas mold for one of the "big" companies as a supervisor and was paid by the hour. The contract specified 70 hours per week @ $XX per hour. NO OVERTIME. Did I care?? No. The hourly rate was such that overtime didn't matter. As far as I was concerned, hour 1 was being paid as overtime.
We need to count our blessings when we are deployed instead of whining about overtime pay or whether the job is even worth going to. If you don't think the job is worth it, just don't go. And don't make a big deal about telling the world about it because someone else took the job. Just one ol' phart's opinion. |
LARRY D HARDIN |
|
|
|
trader
USA
236 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2003 : 12:07:59
|
| Larry I was not whining about my overtime, I was not allowed more than 40 hrs. I was pointing out how many hours the annual adjusters had to put in to keep thier job. Several mothers ask to be put back on hourly, SO they would not have to work long hours and Saturday morning, I have never whinned about overtime, I was greatful for the job. |
|
|
|
dano009
46 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2003 : 11:46:27
|
| The issue of overtime pay is a complicated one. I've been a staff and an independent adjuster for twenty years. When I was a "staff" I was an employee, while as an "independent" I was essentially an independent contractor. When I first started in the business with Farmers twenty years ago, we never worked over 40 hours per week. My last staff job was in 1998. In that position which was inside, just to stay on top of my case load took 50-60 per week. I was exempt. It has been said that adjusters are professionals which in part I agree with. But claim management and other company executives see it differently. We are the bastards of the insurance industry, a necessary cost in order to fullfil the promise to indemnify in the policy. Upper management solutions to contain cost and increase the profit margin starts with where the cost are: the claims department. I was no more than a number to upper management. The more claims I had to handle on an annual salary, the less the claims cost per claim would be. Upper management had no problems that I didn't have a life other than working for the company. I worked with underwriters on my floor. They never worked over 37.5 per hours a week. I have no problems with staff adjusters suing for overtime pay. In their capacitity, they're just production workers, nothing more, nothing less. It is great to hear that companies are paying time and a half for overtime pay. If they don't wish to pay for the extra time, upper management can certainly hire additional bodies to help with the claim load. |
|
|
|
Ghostbuster
476 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2003 : 15:14:21
|
Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! So true...so true!
It is always a heartfelt pleasure to hear the words of wisdom from yet another illustrous alumni in good standing of the Former Farmers Adjuster Assoc. It appears your hangover is a good five years old, worry not, it will only fade away when Marty Feinsteins gonads are but dangling earrings from Melinda Ballards lobes.
Beers to you, good buddy! Beers to you! |
|
|
|
yumadj
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2003 : 11:53:38
|
CC:
Certainly did bill for every minute of before and after hours work. I guess they felt if I exceeded my production quota I was deserving of my salary. Not that benefits do not add into the equation, a little financial incentive always works best. Oh, the bonus thresholds were unattainable. |
Jeff Finley |
|
|
|
fivedaily
USA
258 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2003 : 09:52:49
|
"In their capacitity, they're just production workers, nothing more, nothing less." Dano99
I absolutely disagree with you. I have never met an adjuster who closes claim in anything that resembles an assembly line manner. Each claim you handle requires thought about the coverages and how the damages are applicable to the policy in questions. It may be true that some light wind claims are easier than a total fire loss, but it still requires knowledge and investigation. Claims handling is not a "product" that can be pumped out without careful thought on each point.
As an adjuster for 4 years, I have handled many claims inside the office. Some of these are easier than the outside claims, some are not. I would suggest if you think you can handle claims as an assembly lineman, with no unique thoughts, than you are not servicing your customers properly.
Jennifer |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Overtime for adjusters?
Forum Locked
