Government officials face immense pressure to do well while serving their terms and passing ordinances for their constituents. Too often, though, personal interests and ulterior motives get in the way of fulfilling this responsibility. Unsurprisingly, this can lead to an array of liabilities, which illustrates the need for public officials liability & employment practices liability insurance.

The Steps for Government Officials to Take

Considering how public officials can increase the public’s trust, consider these six tips.

Get the Right Public Officials Liability & Employment Practices Liability Coverage

Carrying the right insurance coverage is essential for public officials who want to minimize their liability burden. People in the public eye are always vulnerable to litigation and other risks, but the right public officials liability & employment practices liability coverage can shield your clients from these risks.

Develop Transparent Policies

Your clients also need to focus on developing transparent policies that stand up to scrutiny from the public. In addition to minimizing critiques that your clients may field, transparent policies can dramatically improve the performance of local governments. Officials can work toward more transparency by openly sharing information with the public and facilitating interdepartmental collaboration.

Maintain a Sense of Accountability

Accountability goes hand in hand with transparency. While transparency emphasizes public officials’ responsibility to be open with constituents, accountability emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for instances of oversight. It fosters the public’s trust and demonstrates that an official is willing to acknowledge a mistake.

Build Knowledge and Expertise

Citizens will not likely trust a public official who lacks knowledge about the community they serve. Unfortunately, this is a common situation — and it’s a recipe for risk. Politicians and public officials must familiarize themselves with their constituents’ needs, challenges, and interests. Developing this knowledge is the only way to serve the public and create policies that benefit people effectively.

Leverage Technology To Serve Constituents

Technology is yet another critical factor in your clients’ performance quality. Many technological tools can give public officials access to data, fundraising, and other resources, making it easier than ever to help their communities. Politicians who don’t use these tools are not fulfilling their potential, thus not serving the public as effectively as possible.

Invest in Public Officials’ Liability & Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Public officials who commit to the responsibilities of their position can make positive changes and strengthen their communities. To do so, they must take liabilities into account and strategize ways to improve their performance. Investing in public officials liability & employment practices liability can help officials mitigate risks and serve the public confidently.

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, Inc., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.