Avoid San Francisco Roofing Issues With these Tips

Winter is on the way, and it will bring numerous elements that can place stress on Bay Area commercial roofing. The good news is that by following the steps below, you can care for your facility’s roof and keep it in good condition throughout the harshest of seasons.

Prioritize Inspections

Inspections are an important line of defense against roof damage. Travelers Insurance, for instance, recommends having your commercial roof inspected twice annually, with one inspection in the spring and another in the fall. It’s good to have a San Francisco roofing company perform inspections at those times for these reasons: In the spring, an inspection can identify lingering damage from the previous winter, and in the fall, it can identify needed preventative maintenance.

Responding to Harsh Weather

While regular, twice-yearly inspections are indeed key for keeping San Francisco commercial roofing in good shape, they’re not the only step needed for success. For example, a harsh storm may call for an additional inspection. Strong gusts of wind may tear roofing materials off, which in turn will only make the remaining materials more vulnerable to damage. Temperature swings can also damage a roof over time.

Be on the Lookout for Warning Signs

During winter, there are several warning signs that may signal your roof is in trouble. Those include the following.

Blocked roof drains can prevent water from escaping your roof. That’s a problem in any season, but during winter, undrained water can build up and freeze, accumulating a large amount of weight over time.
Icicles that hang from gutters are a sign of ice dams. They can contribute to the aforementioned problem of insufficient drainage. Additionally, ice dams can cause damage by themselves, in the form of harm to eaves, shingles, and other roof system components.
Snow buildup on a roof can become extremely heavy. Take steps to remove snow as soon as it is possible to do so safely.
On the inside of the building, watch out for leaks, and call a professional immediately if you notice any.

The Best Bay Area Roofing Company for The Job

To come up with a personalized winter care plan for your facility, don’t hesitate to work with a roofing company. Professionals can take your roof’s age, needs, and other factors into account, setting it up for a successful winter season. Ben’s Roofing, a San Francisco commercial roofing company, has consistently gained a reputation for being among the leading Bay Area industrial roofing companies. Get in touch by contacting us through our website here.

The post Cold Weather Roof Care Guide first appeared on Ben's Roofing.

Original Source: bensroofing.com

Giraffes seen during safari in the Okavango Delta

Safety, security and assurance are all words you want to hear when your travel planning begins. What Covid-19 has highlighted is how vital these three components are to any well-crafted itinerary. Not always the glamorous side to planning an African adventure, but especially given our current travel environment, it is important that you travel with a company who is giving full attention to these areas. 

safe as a leopard and cub

Safe & secure in Africa, Photo Credit: Katharina Riebesel

Rhino Africa was founded on the principle that every single client is expertly looked after before, during and after their travel. Holidays, especially those to Africa, are for experiencing as much as possible, connecting with loved ones and trying to take in as much as you can in. We make sure we take care of all the details so every client experiences a perfect African holiday.

Travel Security during Covid-19 

The travel landscape has shifted through the Covid-19 pandemic and, at Rhino Africa, we have made sure that we are providing even more security for our travellers: going the extra mile so each holiday can be booked with confidence. 

These are the 3 reasons why travelling with Rhino Africa provides you with piece of mind: 

Increased flexibility with adjusted Covid-19 Terms & Conditions;
Comprehensive Covid-19 Travel Protection & Insurance Services;
Free Covid-19 testing for clients departing from South Africa.

Increased Flexibility in our Terms & Conditions

With Covid-19 thoroughly raining on our travel plans for 2020, it has given us the opportunity to amend our Terms & Conditions. We now offer 100% free cancellation with new bookings made before 31 Decembers 2020, with a travel date of March 2021 onwards. You may also cancel your trip 60 days prior to departure and get 100% of your deposit back! This guarantee is applicable to an inability to travel due to possible complications associated with Covid-19, such as travel bans and quarantine requirements which prevent travel from taking place.

Breakfast with giraffes at Giraffe Manor

Breakfast with a difference, Photo Credit: Giraffe Manor

Comprehensive Travel Protection and Insurance Services

Rhino Africa has partnered with the best in the business, Global Rescue, to make sure that all holiday investments are safe and secure. Global Rescue offers medical and security advisory and evacuation services. They have an exclusive partnership with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations, in addition to partnerships with Elite Medical Group and Partners HealthCare, the Harvard Medical School affiliate.

With five operations centres in five countries, Global Rescue is staffed 24/7/365 by experienced nurses, critical care trained paramedics to assist members in any situation. With international travel being an uncertain landscape for the foreseeable future, ensuring you have travel protection is as important as booking the perfect safari lodge.

Lion Sands River Lodge is located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve

The earthy hues of the luxurious exteriors of River Lodge.Photo Credit: Lion Sands River Lodge

Why do more than one million members trust Global Rescue? 

Medical and security advisory services; 
Emergency assistance 24/7/365; 
Medical and security evacuation services; 
Detailed destination reports and real-time event alerts; 
My Global Rescue Mobile AppSM; 
Access to travel insurance.

Learn more about Global Rescue’s travel services. 

What about Travel Insurance?

With some African countries specifying travel insurance as a prerequisite for entry, we have taken the hard work out of sourcing your own travel insurance and made it part of the booking process through Global Rescue. Travel insurance includes:

Up to $100 000 medical expense & emergency assistance cover;
Up to 150% of the trip cost reimbursed for unforeseen Trip Interruptions;  
Up to $100 000 cancelation cover including claims arising from Covid-19;
Cancelation for any reason benefit – up to 75% of non-refundable trip costs (upgrade)

Free Covid-19 Testing if departing from South Africa

A unique service for our Rhino Africa clients, this provides peace of mind when completing your trip and starting the process of getting back home. Our Travel Experts will arrange it all, making sure it is complete and your test results are returned to you before your departure date. For guests travelling outside of South Africa, our Travel Experts will also ensure that all appropriate testing is conducted accordingly. 

Morning sunrise in Cape Town with Table Mountain

The first rays of sunlight tinge clouds with red colours above the world famous Table Mountain in the Cape.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Travel Protection & Travel Insurance

Is travel insurance worth it? 

This is a question we get asked a lot and our answer is always the same. Investing in comprehensive travel insurance makes absolute sense when travelling to Africa. With the ongoing travel uncertainties, having the confidence to book knowing you will be reimbursed should you not be able to travel, is worth the investment. Africa is generally considered a long-haul destination and as a rule of thumb, the longer it takes you to get to your destination, the more your trip needs travel insurance

What Covid-19 cover is included in Global Rescue Travel Insurance? 

Covid-19 is treated the same as any other illness, which might affect travel of any nature. This includes: 

Trip Cancellation 
Trip Interruption 
Accident & Sickness Medical Expense 

In short, you are covered for any Covid-19 related travel complication. 

Am I covered if I decide to travel against travel restrictions/advice?

Yes, assuming you are not committing a felony or crime by doing so. However, if the traveller incurs a loss as a direct result of an event which occurs prior to the travel insurance effective date, benefits would not be available. 

Does my policy cover me if I am diagnosed with Covid-19 whilst travelling overseas? 

Yes. Covid-19 is treated the same as any other sickness. 

Am I covered for cancellation if I am diagnosed with Covid-19 before I travel? 

Yes, but also fully depends on the plan option selected by the client. This can include trip cancellation, interruptions or accident and sickness medical expenses. 

Sunset in Africa

Sunsets in Africa – pure magic

For any further questions, our Travel Experts are always ready and eager to assist. Africa is open for travel and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Africa soon.

Original Source: blog.rhinoafrica.com

psychedelics regulation laws

On November 3, 2020, voters in Oregon approved Measure 109, paving the way for a regime of psilocybin for therapeutic uses in a few years.

Oregon and Psilocybin: Does the Approved Ballot Measure Language Stand a Chance
Oregon Psychedelics: Petition to Legalize Psilocybin for Therapy Moves Forward
Oregon Psychedelics: Psilocybin on the Ballot this November!
Oregon 2020 Election: Vote Yes! on Measure 109
Oregon Psilocybin: Does Measure 109 Go Far Enough? Does it Go Too Far?

Large cities across the country have also adopted decriminalization measures for psilocybin and other entheogenic (psychedelic) plants, including Ann Arbor, Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and most recently, Washington, D.C. (but we note that decriminalization is not legalization). It’s only matter of time before states follow Oregon’s approach and start regulating psilocybin.

Assuming the federal government does not change federal law first (and this is certainly a possibility given the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of drug trials for psilocybin), it’s very likely that many of the legal issues that will face the regulated psilocybin will be similar, if not identical, to issues facing the state-regulated cannabis industry.

In a previous post, we discussed similarities and differences between the movements to legalize psilocybin and cannabis. In this post, we’ll look at the top eight issues that will likely carry over from cannabis to psychedelic drugs more generally.

1. Federal Legality

Even if states follow Oregon’s move and legalize psilocybin therapy, that won’t change federal law. Currently, psilocybin is a Schedule I narcotic under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This means that it and other entheogenic plants or psychedelic substances are treated the same way as heroin. It remains to be seen whether the federal government would take the same path of non-enforcement of the CSA against psilocybin operators in states that regulate psilocybin uses or sales. In other words, it’s unclear whether there will ever be anything like a Cole Memo for psilocybin. But inevitably, there will be tension between state and federal law.

2. Contract Issues

Whether or not the federal government takes a position of non-enforcement, psilocybin contracts will face serious issues given the state of federal law. Federal (and possibly even state) courts may refuse to enforce contracts that involve a federally illegal substance, even if authorized by state law. This issue still comes up for cannabis operators and can be a huge concern. For some of our articles on federal legality, see:

Cannabis Litigation: Another Blow to the Illegality Defense (Kennedy v. Helix TCS, Inc.)
Federal Courts are Going Backward on Cannabis

3. Tax Problems

The bane of many cannabis operators’ existence is Internal Revenue Code § 280E, and things will be no different for psychedelics companies so long as psychedelics remain on Schedule I of the CSA. This section states:

No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law or the law of any State in which such trade or business is conducted.

In other words, companies that traffic in certain controlled substances have immense limitations on what they can deduct when paying federal taxes. State law doesn’t change this. For more of our analysis on § 280E, see:

Marijuana Businesses and IRC 280E – More Clarity?
Marijuana Taxes: The IRS On Section 280E
Why we love the Harborside § IRC 280E Appeal

4. Access to Banking

On par with 280E in terms of annoyance for cannabis companies is lack of access to banking. Despite the fact that in 2014, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a memo providing guidance for banks that wanted to bank cannabis monies, many banks didn’t jump on board. Even today, it can be difficult for cannabis companies in regulated states to gain access to banking. It can even be a challenge for hemp companies to access banks, even though hemp is now legal and even though FinCen and the National Credit Union Association have provided hemp banking guidance. These problems will no doubt persist for psychedelics businesses.

5. No Federal Trademarks

Trademarks will not be issued for goods or services that are not legal (you can read our analysis of trademark legality issues here). If states regulate psilocybin, they may allow licensees to obtain state-level trademarks, but those same companies will not be able to obtain trademark registrations from the United States Patent and Trademark Office unless and until federal law changes. This means that, like cannabis companies, psilocybin companies will only be able to have very limited trademark protection.

6. No Bankruptcy Protection

Bankruptcy protection is not available for cannabis companies due to federal illegality (see our analysis here). Those problems will persist for psychedelics companies as well.

7. RICO Suits

Historically, our cannabis lawyers have seen a ton of civil RICO litigation in federal courts across the United States. RICO (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) is a federal statute that provides for a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization (in addition to criminal penalties). These suits were often filed by neighbors of cannabis cultivators trying to allege a conspiracy in an effort to shut down the cultivator and their suppliers. They have become less and less common over the years but we fully anticipate seeing a plethora of RICO suits for psychedelics companies in regulated states.

For more on cannabis RICO litigation, check out the following:

Much Ado about RICO
Much Ado About RICO and Cannabis, Part 2
Much Ado About RICO and Cannabis, Part 3
Much Ado About RICO and Cannabis, Part 4
Much Ado About Rico and Cannabis, Part 5: Multi-State Update
The Neighborhood “Gangbusters”: Avoiding RICO Cannabis Lawsuits
Cannabis RICO Lawsuits are Failing: Oregon and Colorado Updates
Federal Court Dismisses RICO Claims: Remedies Would Violate Federal Law

8. Leasing Issues

Federal legality also affects leasing. As we explained previously for cannabis leases:

once the landlord’s bank uncovers that it is leasing its property to a cannabis tenant (because its paid in cash one too many times or because the bank checks up on the collateral), mortgage violations abound. Why? Because this (usually) boilerplate document dictates that no waste or illegal activity take place on the collateral real property, and a cannabis tenant directly violates federal law and therefore the mortgage agreement between the landlord and its bank. This situation should be quarterbacked from the outset of the cannabis tenant and landlord relationship since it’s highly unlikely that the landlord will be able to successfully push back on the bank and will face losing the property to the bank as a result.

In other words, leasing to psilocybin tenants will be a risk for landlords, even in the event of state regulations. This usually translates to much higher rent and much more aggressive lease terms (e.g., tons of guarantees from affiliates and owners of the tenant, hyper-aggressive termination rights, and maybe even security interests).These businesses will also have problems with bank financing for real property.

9. Insurance

Companies who traffic in Schedule I controlled substances will have issues getting insurance. Everything from using title insurance to facilitate real estate transactions to obtaining ordinary insurance policies will be more of a challenge for the psychedelic industry. Today, insurance is fairly available for cannabis businesses, but this was not always the case. Expect to see many issues in the early stages of legalization and regulation.

10. Immigration

Any non-U.S. citizen who participates in the future psychedelics industry, even if it is state legal, will risk being denied entry into the United States, banned from the United States, or denied citizenship. While the Biden Administration will take less of an aggressive role on immigration policy than President Trump, risks based on violating federal law probably won’t go away. Business owners will need to seriously consider the impact of immigration laws on their proposed business model. For some posts on cannabis immigration issues, see:

Cannabis and Immigration: Marijuana Activity a Conditional Bar to Obtaining U.S. Citizenship
Bumps Ahead: The U.S. Border After Canada Cannabis Legalization

Conclusion

Once states get around to regulating psilocybin and other entheogens, it’s clear that businesses will face many hurdles. Fortunately enough, the regulatory lessons learned in the cannabis industry seem like they will all apply, at least to the extent that the federal government takes the same position it has taken for the cannabis industry, which remains to be seen. Stay tuned to the Canna Law Blog for more updates.

The post Top 10 Lessons from Cannabis for the Future Regulated Psychedelic Industry appeared first on Harris Bricken.

Original Source: harrisbricken.com

Premier League champions Liverpool will receive £2 million in compensation, to cover the cost of sidelined stopper Joe Gomez’s wages for the season, it has been claimed.

Reds blow

This past Wednesday of course saw the worst fears of Jurgen Klopp and co. realised.

Just days after Trent Alexander-Arnold added to the defensive concerns of the injury-hit Merseysiders, word was forthcoming from the England camp that Gomez had also picked up a problem.

Initial reports suggested that the 23-year-old had gone to ground during a training session, with what was described as a ‘potentially serious’ knee injury.

In turn, Liverpool’s fans faced an anxious wait for an update on the wellbeing of their star stopper. The news, in the end, though, proved far from positive.

In a post across the club’s social media platforms, the Reds confirmed that Gomez was, on Thursday, forced under the knife to repair a damaged tendon in his left knee.

Thankfully, he escaped any issues with the surrounding ligaments, though the key takeaway from Liverpool’s announcement was that:

‘No timescale is being placed upon his return, though the issue is likely to rule him out for a significant part of the remainder of 2020-21.’

.@J_Gomez97 has today undergone successful surgery to repair a tendon in his left knee.

The issue was isolated to Gomez’s tendon, with no damage to any other associated knee ligaments and Joe will now begin a rehabilitation programme with our medical team 💪

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 12, 2020

FIFA step in

Gomez’s injury could not have come at a worse time for the English champions, with all of the aforementioned Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho currently sidelined, whilst Joel Matip continues to struggle for fitness.

As outlined above, though, if the latest word stemming from the English media over the last 24 hours is to be believed, then FIFA are set to do their part to at least somewhat ease the blow of Gomez’s long-term issue.

PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 28: Joe Gomez of Liverpool battles for possession with Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool at Parc des Princes on November 28, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

As per a report from the Daily Mail, world football’s governing body plan to compensate Liverpool in full for their sidelined stopper’s 2020/21 wage packet.

This is believed to amount to £80,000-per-week, or £2 million for the remainder of the campaign.

Further insight into the ‘club protection programme’ is detailed below:

England players are covered by the FIFA club protection programme, an insurance package that allows clubs to claim directly via the scheme.

The protection covers injuries to players in all A matches, friendlies and training sessions.

FIFA will calculate the compensation on a pro rata basis until Gomez is able to restart first-team training.

Liverpool to receive £2m payment in compensation by FIFA to cover Joe Gomez’s wages https://t.co/wqziQV9z9m

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) November 15, 2020

Liverpool expected to start official contract negotiations with van Dijk & Fabinho in next few months

International roundup & highlights: Ramos misses twice from the spot, Chelsea stars shine and Martial’s France woes continue

Original Source: 101greatgoals.com

As a sales rep, you have to reconcile the fact that you’re trying to make as much money as possible with the fact that you can only make a finite amount of sales in a given quarter. The sky isn’t the limit — but however far the best of your abilities can take you is.

But in some cases, the money your company allows you to make stops short of your full potential. Some businesses impose a cap on commission — a strict limit on what you’re allowed to earn. Generally, that’s not the way to go. 

Here, we’ll learn about the benefits of uncapped commission, some insight into why some companies might not be interested in it, and the pitfalls of including the term in job listings.

A cap on commission might mean a cap on effort. That’s why uncapped commission can be a powerful incentive for sales reps to exceed expectations. If a sales rep’s commission is capped at $50,000 for $500,000 worth of sales in a quarter, what incentive do they have to try to go beyond that?

Many salespeople won’t be receptive to a pat on the back, and a trophy that doesn’t come with some sort of tangible incentive might not be enough to set your highest performing reps on the right track. A financial reward is often the most powerful motivator for reps — leaving commission uncapped can provide just that.

In many cases, uncapped commission is a given. Several — if not most — companies don’t put a lid on how much an exceptional rep can earn for going above and beyond. Businesses should want the most out of their reps, and you won’t get that by imposing hardline restrictions on compensation.

Why would a company want to cap commission?

It wants to avoid overpaying its reps.

That’s probably the bluntest, most obvious answer to that question. Companies often want to look out for what they believe to be their most immediate financial interests. In many cases, they want to be able to present definitive budgets and save money. But that strategy often backfires.

A sales rep who closes a massive deal only to find out they’re going to receive a fraction of the commission it warrants is going to be disappointed. They will be less interested in giving the necessary effort to bring in as much business as they can.

That loss of initiative often means less revenue from and lowered morale within a sales org, so it’s fair to say that capping commission is often counterintuitive and unproductive.

Why You Should Avoid “Uncapped Commission” in Job Descriptions

Job seekers should be wary of any job description that touts uncapped commission as a major selling point. In a lot of cases, that could very well be a big-time red flag. Uncapped commission is often an implied benefit for most sales positions — it’s almost always a given.

Advertising uncapped commission is like bragging about providing salespeople with a company computer and an office with Wifi access. Sure, it’s important to have, and a sales role would be tougher without it, but it doesn’t look particularly impressive to prospective candidates.

For businesses in the hiring process, putting “uncapped commission” on your job listing can make you look cheap and spammy. It might lead candidates to believe they’ll be underpaid — that you’re unwilling to state what a sales rep at your company can actually expect to earn.

Instead, your job descriptions should be straightforward and honest. Detail factors like the types of insurance your company can provide, the amount of PTO candidates can expect to see, other financial incentives like tuition reimbursements and commuter benefits, and any other meaningful incentives that you feel your potential hires should know about.

As far as mentioning compensation, be frank with candidates. Give them a picture of the pay structure you intend to offer them, like “base plus commission.” And consider giving them a picture of their on-target earnings — the average amount of money they can expect to earn from their base salary coupled with a realistic figure of their potential commission.

Capping commission can mean putting a lid on sales reps’ effort. In most cases, salespeople will be less inclined to pursue that extra deal or push themselves that much further if they know they won’t be appropriately paid for it. If you’re a sales leader interested in getting the most out of your reps, it’s in your best interest to leave commission uncapped.

Uncapped commission generally means uncapped effort. If you want that kind of commitment out of your team, don’t restrict that element of their compensation.

Original Source: blog.hubspot.com