Risk Advisor Konnect: October 2025

Welcome to the October 2025 edition of Risk Advisor Konnect, your trusted source for safety, compliance, and HR insights. This month, we’re focusing on two timely issues: deer season road safety and how employers can effectively manage attendance challenges in a post-pandemic workplace.

---

🚗 Deer Season: Stay Alert on the Roads

Between July 2021 and June 2022, U.S. drivers filed 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims — a number that continues to rise. With deer populations expanding and habitats shifting, the risk of animal-related crashes increases each fall.

When is Deer Season?
Deer season typically runs from late October through early January, with the peak period in late October and November. During this time, drivers should be especially cautious.

Tips to Minimize the Risk

• Always wear your seatbelt. It’s your best protection in a crash.

• Slow down near wooded areas and waterways. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk.

• Brake early when you spot a deer — even if it’s off the road. They often travel in groups.

• Never swerve to avoid hitting a deer. Swerving can cause more serious collisions with vehicles or fixed objects.

• Keep a safe following distance— if the car ahead hits a deer, you could be next.

• Don’t approach an injured deer. Call local authorities instead.

---

🕒 Managing Attendance Issues in Today’s Workplace

From chronic tardiness to last-minute call-offs, attendance problems are a common struggle for employers. The pandemic’s shift to flexible and remote work created new expectations that many organizations are still adjusting to.

Why Attendance Matters

Frequent absences reduce productivity, strain coworkers, and lower morale. As flexible work policies fade, employers must balance structure with empathy.

How Employers Can Take Action

1. Establish a clear policy.
Define what constitutes an absence or tardiness, the notification process, and how disciplinary action is handled.

2. Enforce it consistently.
Uneven enforcement can expose your business to discrimination or wrongful termination claims.

3. Train your supervisors.
Ensure managers understand the policy, enforce it fairly, and recognize when legal accommodations may apply.

4. Communicate early and often.
Address attendance issues before they escalate to termination-level problems.

Legal Considerations

Be mindful of laws like:

• FMLA – for family or medical leave.

• ADA – for disability-related absences.

• PWFA – for pregnancy-related accommodations.

Other state or local laws may protect absences related to jury duty, voting, or civic responsibilities. Avoid blanket “no-fault” attendance systems that don’t consider legally protected reasons for missing work.

---

🧠 About Risk Advisor Konnect

Risk Advisor Konnect is your go-to resource for expert guidance in:

• Safety / OSHA Compliance

• Human Resources

• Claims

• DOT / FMCSA Compliance

Our clients often ask questions like:

• “Do I need to keep OSHA 300 logs?”

• “An employee was injured in a vehicle—should this be a work comp or auto claim?”

• “How do we verify driver qualifications under FMCSA rules?”

• “What’s my next step after an employee reports harassment?”

Whatever your challenge, we’re here to help.
Partners helping partners — that’s the Risk Advisor Konnect way.

 

All Lester Insurance Commercial Customers have access to Risk Advisor Konnect

Call 888.976.7565 or email myriskadvisor@keystoneinsgrp.com