Reader Letters

Mickey Mouse Operations

Laura Mazzuca Toops' blog “Tips on Agency Management from the Magic Kingdom” (propertycasualty360.com, April 26) is right on the mark. As an ex-Disney employee of the Magic Kingdom College Program (1982), I learned these same principles. During the week we attended management classes for 1 day, then worked 4 to 5 days in our assigned areas. At that time I was a Jungle Cruise Skipper—Walt's favorite attraction. Walt Disney took the customer service approach that “every day is opening day,” and that makes Disney World and Disneyland a strong business model for everyone in a service industry. Thanks again for the great article and bringing back some memories.  

Jonathan Drabek
Jacksonville, Fla.

Autistic Accommodations

I wanted to take a moment and thank Laura Mazzuca Toops for the excellent blog “Autism and the Workplace” (propertycasualty360.com, April 13). I have two sons who are afflicted with Fragile X Syndrome, similar in behavior to autism. The article meant a great deal to me personally.

John W. Jennings, CIC
Cumming, Ga.

I was rather surprised that the ADAAA includes autism as a condition that requires reasonable accommodations in the workplace. In any case, as an insurance professional and an autistic, I appreciate that Laura took the time to note that we can add value to an organization with our uncommonly high skill in finding pattern disruptions, our focus upon detail, and the fact that we can readily engage in work that others might find to be tedious and repetitious. Of course those are broad generalities, but we are strongly over represented in such skills when considered against the broader populace.

Dennis M. Hughes
Indianapolis

The Minds of Mad Men

I much enjoyed Laura Mazzuca Toops' editorial on “Mad Men” (“7 Business Lessons I Learned From 'Mad Men,' AA&B May 2012). My son-in-law, Rich Sommer, plays Harry Crane on the show and I told him that with this piece, he has finally hit the big time! It is a great show and this is a fun piece! Thanks!

Michael Donohoe
Mankato, Minn.

I do my best to be one of those in front of the television Sunday nights to watch the latest shenanigans on “Mad Men.” Pete Campbell is a dweeb. Roger Sterling is just smart and snarky—love the character. Don Draper is the best! Savvy, suave and handsome, but he's flawed enough to make him human. Sometimes I like him, sometimes I hate him! You are so right. Business is business. The points in Laura's latest editorial are spot-on, as usual.

Brenda Tranchina
Metairie, La.

Ethical Dilemmas

Thanks for another great Chris Amrhein article on ethics (“Cross the Bridge,” AA&B March 2012). I really enjoy his monthly Policy Issues column, but this one hit the spot as I just experienced a similar situation in our agency. As a longtime member of the ethics committee of the Society of CPCU, I appreciate your continuing efforts to promote ethics. 

William C. Ieuter, CPCU, CLU
Chicago

I enjoyed Chris Amrhein's ethics column in American Agent & Broker's March issue. Living in a coastal area provides challenges when it comes to placing insurance for homeowners. Our philosophy has always been to first ask does the proposed insurer have the resources to pay a claim after a major natural disaster. 

There have been some new admitted companies that have come into our market that have not bothered to become A.M. Best rated, and have less than $25 million in surplus. We have been getting lost policy releases back from some of our local competitors, replacing policies we have issued with companies “A” rated or better with one of these thinly capitalized companies.

Do agents have a responsibility to their client to explore these issues, or are we only providers of cheap premiums?

George Yates
East Hampton, N.Y.

Amrhein response: Absolutely, agents should explore these issues. Not in a negative, “bad mouth” of the competition, but simply as a need to consider all options and why there may be good reason some cost less than others. After that, if the client still wants to go with the lowest denominator, they will have their eyes open and hopefully be aware of the potential results if the worst happens—and when it comes to insurance, ultimately it's always about what will occur when the worst happens.