Speaker Services

A Discussion of MCIT’s Public Employees Liability Coverage
Recommended audience: All staff, including commissioners
45 minutes

Those who serve on the board of a public entity or are public employees often wonder if their service exposes them to a lawsuit with the potential of losing their homes, vehicles or children’s college funds. This session discusses how MCIT coverage applies, who will defend public officials/employees when they are named in a lawsuit and the roles of those charged with managing the litigation.

Essentials of Risk Management for Motor Vehicles
Recommended audience: Departments heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

Automobiles expose members to a variety of potential claims. This presentation introduces valuable methods to manage risks related to auto laws, MCIT coverage and how to maximize it, maintaining safe fleet operations and steps to take after a vehicle incident.

Protecting Your Property: Getting the Most from Property Coverage
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
60-90 minutes

MCIT property coverage is designed to address the variety of exposures to financial loss that members face every day. This session looks at strategies members can implement to ensure that their property, contents and property in the open are adequately protected in the event of a loss. The session provides a short review of MCIT property coverage.

Surety, Fiduciary and Fidelity Bonding: It Takes Three to Party
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

Bonding is a three-party contract that differs from insurance. There are many types of bonds. This session focuses on surety, fiduciary and fidelity bonds with an emphasis on the employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty bond provided by MCIT. The review looks at coverage and offers risk management recommendations.

Avoid Bad Headlines: Tips to Comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act
Recommended audience: All staff and elected officials
45-60 minutes

Most of the letters, reports and emails public employees collect, create, receive, maintain or disseminate related to the government entity’s operations are data subject to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA). This session provides an overview of what board members, executive staff, department heads/supervisors and staff need to understand about the law to facilitate compliance:

• Definition of “data” and its classifications
• Procedural requirements that the organization must have in place to comply with the law
• Role of the responsible authority and the data compliance officer
• Reasons some information is not accessible to board members and employees
• Strategies to address the release of data
• Penalties for violating the MGDPA
• How MCIT coverage responds to claims that allege a violation of the MGDPA

Personnel Data Under the MGDPA
Recommended audience: executive staff, department heads and supervisors
30-45 minutes

This topic can be added to the “Avoid Bad Headlines: Tips to Comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act” presentation or as a standalone session to provide a more in-depth understanding of the topic. This session gives attendees a basic understanding of the MGDPA as it relates to personnel data only.

The goal is to provide executive staff, department heads and supervisors with enough information to provide a greater understanding of the “shroud of privacy” that surrounds many personnel issues and how to avoid creating potential liability for themselves and the organization.

The ABC’s of JPEs: Establishing a Successful Joint Powers
Recommended audience: Board members, executive staff and department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

Collaborative arrangements are an efficient and effective service delivery model to address operational needs. MCIT has examined successful joint powers entities and found that the one aspect they have in common is that they are built on a strong foundation. This session explains the building blocks of a successful joint powers arrangement.

Operational Arrangements: Tips for Successful Cooperative Relationships Among Public Entities for Watershed Management
Recommended audience: Administrators, elected boards, those who are involved in creating and overseeing a joint powers arrangement
60 minutes

Collaborative arrangements are an efficient and effective service delivery model to address operational needs. MCIT has examined successful joint powers arrangements and found that the one aspect they have in common is a strong foundation. This session discusses the building blocks for a successful relationship between local units of government working together throughout comprehensive watershed management planning and implementation (contracts, joint powers agreements, MOAs, etc.).

MCIT loss control consultants offer additional topics that can be delivered to members. Learn more on the Consultation page

Active and Effective Safety Committees
Recommended audience: Board members, department heads/supervisors, safety coordinator/officer and safety committee members
50 minutes

Beyond complying with Minnesota statutes, an active and effective safety committee can reduce losses, strengthen a safety program and bolster a positive safety culture within an organization. Participants learn what it takes to create an active and effective safety committee and how to avoid the pitfalls that can stagnate the committee’s potential.

Practical Ergonomics: Thinking Outside the Cubicle
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors, safety coordinator/officer and safety committee members
45 minutes

This session provides an explanation of ergonomic risk factors and associated injuries. The discussion focuses on positions and postures, force and vibration, task repetition, and the environmental elements employees deal with at work and after hours. The presentation also includes practical solutions for reducing injury risk factors through improved equipment, work methods and general wellness.

Year Round Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors, safety coordinator/officer, safety committee members and facility managers
45 minutes

Slips, trips and falls are the second most frequent causes of personal injury for MCIT members (motor vehicle accidents are first). This session reviews several types and causes of slip, trip and fall accidents. It also provides a variety of techniques and tools to identify, evaluate and implement solutions to prevent accidents of this type.

A Discussion of the Open Meeting Law
Recommended audience: Board members and staff responsible for board meetings
45-60 minutes

Elected officials are legally required to conduct business in a public forum. A violation of the Open Meeting Law can affect the credibility of the organization and its leaders, as well as expose them to litigation, fines and penalties. Session highlights:

• What constitutes a meeting
• When the governing body can legally close a meeting
• How to properly notice, close and record meetings
• Penalties that can accompany violations of the Open Meeting Law
• How MCIT coverage responds to claims that allege a violation of the Open Meeting Law

Avoid Legal Pitfalls When Hiring
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

Hiring a new employee can be a time-consuming and demanding process. Public employers are required to navigate a series of laws, including federal and state nondiscrimination laws. This presentation points out some of the legal pitfalls that may be encountered by public employers during the hiring process. It also provides practical tips for making legally defensible hiring decisions.

Cultural Change and Accountability: Addressing Sexual Harassment
Recommended audience: All staff and elected officials
45-60 minutes

Sexual harassment is prevalent in the headlines. This session covers what sexual harassment is and what supervisors and staff can do to create a workplace culture of respect and accountability. As part of this session, the employer is expected to review its sexual harassment policy with attendees.

Employee Leaves: Sorting Out Who Has Leave and When
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

State and federal laws provide employees with statutory leaves. The goal of this session is to provide supervisors with enough information to understand the basic leaves so that they can identify when certain leaves may be appropriate and when to involve others, such as human resources. This session is not intended as a how-to in leaves or for the experienced human resources professional.

Keeping Independent Contractors Independent
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

Budget constraints and hiring freezes have public entities looking for alternative ways to provide services. Subsequently, more members are looking to outsource instead of hire. This session examines the differences between an employee and an independent contractor and how coverage applies to each. Participants learn techniques to ensure that independent contractors remain independent.

Navigating the Veterans Preference Act
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

In recognition of their sacrifices, military service veterans are afforded some employment preferences and protections under the Minnesota Veterans Preference Act. This session provides a basic understanding of a public employer’s obligations and responsibilities under the law. The training is not intended for experienced human resources professionals.

Performance Management: Making the Most of Your Human Resource
In-person presentation only
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
90-120 minutes

Issues involving personnel and employment always stimulate concern and can result in litigation. Critical to managing the human resource is the development and implementation of a performance management system. An effective performance management system provides for consistent and uniform treatment and development of employees, and can be an organization’s best defense when dealing with an aggrieved employee.

This session focuses on job descriptions, file maintenance, evaluations, dealing with unsatisfactory performance, discipline and other related issues.

Your Employee or Mine? Avoiding Unintended Consequences of Joint Employment Ventures
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

For years MCIT members have collaborated to share resources, including employees. In this session, attendees learn the questions to answer to minimize exposures to potential liability when sharing personnel with other entities.

Introduction to Working with MCIT
Recommended audience: Staff newly assigned to entity risk management and insurance responsibilities. This session does not need to meet the minimum audience requirement.
45 minutes

Those who are newly assigned risk management and insurance responsibilities for a member organization can gain valuable insight on working with MCIT. Topics covered include an explanation of what MCIT is, member roles and responsibilities, property schedules, accessing MCIT resources, how to file a claim with MCIT and more.

Keys to Managing Volunteers, Interns and Associated Risks
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

MCIT members often look to volunteers and interns to assist with various tasks. Learn how these individuals expose entities to risk and how MCIT coverage may respond to losses involving volunteers and interns. This presentation addresses common exposures arising from volunteers and interns; discusses key issues such as their registration, direction and training; examines potential exclusions and claim examples; and offers risk management recommendations

Red Flags in Contracts: Coverage, Exclusions and Risk Management
Recommended audience: Board members, executive staff, department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

MCIT members enter into a variety of contracts and legal agreements. This session addresses insurance limits, additional insured wording, certificates of insurance, hold harmless and indemnification language, and other potential risk management red flags in contracts and agreements.

Seasonal Employees and Interns: Not Your Typical Employees
In-person presentation only
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

Organizations routinely supplement their regular workforce with seasonal employees and interns. Each of these worker types brings unique risks to the organization. This session discusses the risks associated with the use of seasonal employees and interns and when MCIT coverage responds to a claim, as well as includes risk management strategies to mitigate losses.

Translating Insurance Language in Contracts
Recommended audience: Board members and department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

In the world of contracts, failing to understand insurance language can result in significant risks to MCIT members. This session examines risks members may face with respect to insurance provisions in contracts, provides a translation of basic insurance coverage and limits, and explains how to apply this to reading and understanding certificates of insurance. Other methods to help manage risks are also covered.

Add on Module: Deciphering Certificates of Insurance
45 minutes

This topic can be added to the “Translating Insurance Language in Contracts” presentation to provide a more in-depth understanding of the topic. Members require that independent contractors show proof of insurance coverage as part of the contracting process. That proof is provided in a puzzling document called a certificate of insurance. This session provides direction to members about how to decode the document so they can determine whether contractors are adequately covered.

What to Expect When … You’re Sued
In-person presentation only
Recommended audience: Board members, department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

When MCIT members and their employees are named in a lawsuit, they want to know if they will be protected. This session walks participants through the litigation process and explains MCIT coverage.

FMLA, ADA and Workers’ Compensation: When Employment Law and Workers’ Compensation Interface
Virtual or in-person presentation
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-90 minutes

Multiple employment laws govern time off from work, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Minnesota Human Rights Act. This session educates attendees on when these laws apply and when to engage others such as human resources professionals, attorneys or MCIT.

By debunking common myths about injured workers, this session also provides insights about which injuries require more long-range planning to facilitate the return to work process and information for building a more inclusive work environment.

Return of the (Injured) Employee: Benefits of Return to Work Programs
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45 minutes

This session discusses the importance of written and approved return to work programs; the benefits of such a program to both the employee and employer; and strategies for how members can establish effective return to work programs.

Timely and Accurate Reporting of Work-related Injuries
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
30 minutes

Timely and accurate reporting of work-related injuries is important for proper claim management. This presentation discusses employee education, reporting timelines, securing appropriate medical care, preventing penalties, accident investigation and using a safety committee.

Workplace Injuries: Myth vs. Reality
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

Participants explore three common workplace injuries and the myths that surround them. The session walks through the causes, treatments and prevention techniques for these injuries, and sheds light on the myths about returning an injured employee to work.

Workers’ Compensation: What You Need to Know
Recommended audience: Department heads/supervisors
45-60 minutes

Attendees learn steps employers should take to reduce their workers’ compensation claim costs. The presentation addresses the critical elements of prompt reporting, thorough investigation and return to work programs, and their importance in achieving positive outcomes for employees and employers.