As much of the U.S. adjusts to social distancing and shelter in place guidelines, our first responders and healthcare workers continue to fight on the frontlines of COVID-19. Every day these heroes are showing up to serve their communities- while knowingly putting themselves at risk of exposure.
Extraordinary Times
Our frontline heroes are used to risk—it comes with the job—but these are extraordinary times. In many areas, their facilities are short on personal protective equipment (PPE); and a number of them have made the choice to self-isolate while working in order to protect their families.
And yet, every day they continue to help those in need, no matter how many people arrive to the ER, dial the advice line or call in distress. In hard-hit cities like New York and Detroit, police officers are working double shifts in their communities to cover colleagues who’ve gotten sick or have had to self-quarantine. First responders and volunteer departments are working hard to improve systems and protocols to stay ahead of the anticipated increase in calls. Nurses and other healthcare workers are coming out of retirement to help meet the increasing patient needs in hospitals.
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
On top of it all, some are even finding ways to connect with their community, bringing comfort, joy, and positivity to an anxious public:
Firefighters in Massachusetts, Missouri, Indiana and elsewhere are recording themselves reading stories and posting them online for parents to share with their kids.
Alabama firefighters are making sure kids’ birthdays aren’t forgotten. They’re driving their firetruck to lucky children’s homes and turning on the sirens and lights to celebrate.
As a way to spread positivity, an ICU nurse started a Facebook group dedicated to sharing found or handmade rainbows.
Police officers across the country are reaching out to their youngest community members online by hosting art projects, reading them stories and even giving singing lessons.
We rely on our frontline heroes every day—to keep us safe, to protect us, to care for us when we’re sick. There’s no better way to thank them for their service and sacrifice than to do our part in helping keep them safe and healthy.
By following local guidelines around social distancing (or shelter in place, depending on your location) you can help “flatten the curve”—which means reducing the spread of infections and, by extension, the pressure on healthcare workers and first responders.
Take time to send a (socially distant) thank you to the nurses, peace officers, firefighters, and other emergency personnel.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Customer Service Assistant, Crystal Mabra
Crystal has been with us for 16 years now and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Crystal!
What made you want to work in Customer Service at California Casualty?
I started off as a Customer Care Specialist, because I love working with and helping our customers. The part-time position I am in now was created for me after my son was born.
I did not want to quit working at California Casualty, because it’s such an amazing career, but I also wanted to spend more time with my son. So, I communicated my needs to the company and my part-time position as a Customer Service Assistant was happily created.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of my job is the diversity of tasks a day brings and gaining knowledge in different areas of the company.
I also enjoy helping people and working closely with the managers in each department.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
My favorite activities are hiking, fishing, traveling, and spending time with my husband and children.
We love to travel to Estes Park, CO for weekend getaways and we take annual trips to Alaska to go salmon fishing.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I am a native of the beautiful state of Colorado and I absolutely love it here.
I have two wonderful children, with my husband of almost 15 years, Alex- 10 and Alayna- 7.
I enjoy being creative outside of work which includes making jewelry and graphic design.
If you want to learn more about Crystal or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
As more and more schools close their doors and suspend classes for the year, many parents are faced with the difficult duty of continuing their child’s education from home.
For working adults that are busy continuing to adjust to their new work-from-home lifestyle, it can be a lot to try and juggle. So, many parents have turned to social media to ask homeschooling parents for advice on how to go about teaching their kids.
Their number one piece of advice? Structure.
Emotions are already running high, due to COVID-19 and the anxiety it brings. So, it is important to keep your child’s day as routine and “school-like” as possible. That means it is up to parents to create a studious environment for their kids. Give them a corner in your home that they can designate as their desk, somewhere that they can keep their supplies and do their homework. This will help them distinguish between home-time and school-time.
You should also create a daily homeschooling schedule. Kids are used to having their days completely planned out for them, and much like adults, can get easily frustrated when their daily routine is thrown off. Sit down as a family and discuss what they were learning in school before the shutdown and what time they had different subjects. Together you can build a schedule that works for everyone.
You can download a free Daily Homeschool Schedule developed and used by a Teacher & current Homeschooling Parent below OR use it as a template to create your own!
PRO TIP: When creating a school schedule, make sure to put harder subjects at the beginning of the day before kids get tired and their minds start to wonder.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Looking for resources to help entertain your kids while they are at home this spring?
You don’t have to create complex projects and lesson plans, there are thousands of Virtual Field Trips your kids can take right from your living room.
Discover the magical world of Disney with Virtual Disney World Rides. Thanks to filming park-goers, kids stuck at home can sit back and enjoy their Virtual Field Trip at the park. All for free!
So, strap yourself in tight, and enjoy the wonders of Disney World below.
To find other high-quality Virtual Disney World Rides try searching, “POV rides” on Youtube or visit the iThemePark Youtube page. They are notorious for filming virtual point of view rides from parks across the country like Disney and Universal.
If you would like to make a whole lesson plan, or feel like it needs to be a bit more, “educational” check out these free Walt Disney Teaching Resources that you can use to go along with your kid’s Disney World Virtual Field Trip.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Just because your kids are home, doesn’t mean they have to sit inside bored (or run rampage on your house). We’ve compiled a list of the best indoor activities designed to help your children burn off that extra energy!
Want a little more variety? We’ve got you covered. We have all of these indoor activities and more on our “Indoor Activities for Kids” board on Pinterest, check it out by clicking here. And don’t forget to give us a follow at California Casualty to stay up to date on every new tip, trick, and gift we discover! Scan our Pincode with your Pinterest camera to follow:
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our SeniorLearning Instructor, Patty Pizer.
Patty has been with us for a whopping 23 years now and is based in our Arizona office.
Let’s get to know Patty!
Where are you from?
Winter Park Florida
What made you want to be a Learning Instructor California Casualty?
I love teaching; it’s my passion and I’ve been in the Insurance Industry for the majority of my working career. So, having the opportunity to work in all facets, personal lines, commercial lines, sales, service, underwriting, and claims, I get the best of both worlds.
Over the years, I have come to know and respect the values CalCas represents. I love my job and my current capacity to help others be successful in their insurance careers!
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of being a learning instructor is getting to work with all departments and interact with individuals within many different areas of the company. Being an instructor, my primary focus is helping prepare new hires for their new careers with CalCas, but another fun part of my job is having the opportunity to work on projects and company implementations that involve both existing and new staff.
I love it when the light bulbs go on and you can see the excitement of learning in others!
Seeing employees that I have trained grow and become successful, and knowing that I had a hand in helping make that happen, is the greatest reward.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
Traveling and learning new things! Hiking, swimming, reading, shopping and Gabby Gourmet are also on the list.
My dream job would be to become a famous restaurant reviewer and then relax by going to see all of the great movie premieres!
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I was born in Iowa, grew up in Florida and moved with my husband (from North Carolina) to 5 different states and 8 different homes! All in 30 plus years of marriage.
We have 2 grown daughters with 5 grandkids in 5 different states, so we’re a family that likes to move around a lot!
If you want to learn more about Patty or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
