News for Workers' Compensation
Webinar to Discuss Workers' Comp Packages and Premiums from Other States
AGC continues to gather members’ input on a potential workers’ comp ballot initiative to create a “three way” system (state plan private options self-insurance). Meetings have been held in Seattle and Bellingham with Yakima and Tacoma coming up. Meanwhile to provide members with more informatio...
Posted on: 03/30/2010
Self Insured Members: Meeting to Discuss Potential Workers' Comp Initiative
As part of the process to gather member input AGC members who are self-insured are invited to meet and discuss the potential workers comp ballot initiative as there very likely will be impacts on self-insured firms. The date and time have not been set but if you are interested in participating i...
Posted on: 03/30/2010
Workers' Comp Reform Appears Dead; Legislature Offers More Study
Workers’ compensation reform legislation backed by AGC and a broad business coalition appears to be dead for this legislative session bottled up by Rep. Steve Conway in his House Commerce and Labor Committee. (For previous article on the reform bill click here.)
As discouraging as this is the “c...
Posted on: 02/09/2010
Pressure Mounts for Workers' Comp Reform; Conway Still Says No
Public pressure for movement on the workers’ compensation reform bill supported by AGC continues to grow but an important legislative cut-off date looms. The House Commerce and Labor Committee has refused to even hold a hearing; on the Senate side Lori Carlson Daigle Senior Vice President and Ris...
Posted on: 02/02/2010
L&I Confirms 7.6 Percent Workers' Comp Increase; Reform Battle Looms
The Department of Labor & Industries announced Nov. 30 that the proposed 7.6 percent average increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums will indeed take effect January 1 2010.
The increased rate remains unchanged from the amount originally proposed by the Department in October desp...
Posted on: 12/08/2009
Workers' Comp Release Takes Effect for Retainage on Public Work
L&I can now collect unpaid workers’ comp premiums from the retainage funds kept by a public agency on most prevailing wage projects.
Upon completion of a contract over $35000 the new law requires the public agency that contracted the project to notify both L&I and the state Department of...
Posted on: 12/08/2009
Workers' Comp Rate Increase \Takes the Wind Out of Our Sails\
Several AGC members (see list below) took the time to testify at hearings around the state regarding the proposed increase in workers’ comp rates. These members protested this increase during such difficult economic times and called for major reforms of the system.
“There is no good time for an...
Posted on: 11/09/2009
Workers' Comp Tax Increase and Reform: Your Help Needed
AGC strongly encourages members to attend and provide testimony at upcoming hearings regarding the proposed workers’ comp tax increase. The proposed 7.6% increase is an average for all employers. Rates vary by classification and firms’ EMR so your rate could be considerably different (and highe...
Posted on: 10/13/2009
Want to Lower Your EMR Rate? Attend These Events to Learn How
AGC Group Retro is hosting meetings around the state regarding Experience Modification Rates (EMR). Topics covered include the factors that impact your rates the calculation strategies for lowering your rate and protesting your EMR.
AGC Group Retro staff will also provide you with your projecte...
Posted on: 09/28/2009
Retro News: Big Refunds Even with Improving EMRs
AGC Retro members recently celebrated all over the state and with good reason: they received the largest combined refund to date of $37 million and hit a milestone $104 million in cumulative refunds.
Lauren Gubbe Director of the Retro Program said a record number of memb...
Posted on: 06/22/2009
Bill Limiting Physician Contact Could Increase Duration of Timeloss
The House passed legislation (SHB 1402) that says if a workers compensation claim is appealed employers and the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) will not be able to discuss an injured workers condition with the physician if the issues are related in any way to the appeal unless specif...
Posted on: 03/16/2009
New Rules May Save Money on Employees Working Out of State
Thanks to a state law change successfully sought by AGC Washington contractors in some cases wont need to pay L&I workers compensation for employees when theyre working out-of-state.
In the past Washington employers with employees working out of state sometimes faced paying workers comp prem...
Posted on: 03/13/2009
\Brown Bag\ Event: Preventing Workers' Comp Fraud
Date: Jan. 8Time: 11 a.m.Place: AGC Conference Center in Seattle (1200 Westlake Ave.)
Januarys Brown Bag will focus on the basics of the workers compensation system and workers compensation fraud. At our first Brown Bag event in October the issue of workers compensation fraud was raised as a pa...
Posted on: 01/06/2009
Workers' Comp Fraud is the Topic of Brown Bag Event
Do you have questions regarding management of workers comp claims or fraud? If so you are invited to AGCs second Brown Bag event. At the first Brown Bag workers comp fraud was raised as a particularly challenging issue. For the Jan. 8 event (11 a.m. AGC Conference Center Seattle) experienced L...
Posted on: 12/16/2008
Workers' Comp Premiums Increasing by 3 Percent
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) said premiums for workers compensation insurance will go up on average three percent in 2009.
Individual employers could see their rates go up or down depending on their recent claims history and any changes in the frequency and cost of claims in ...
Posted on: 12/16/2008
As Work Slows Down, Workers' Comp Claims Tend to Increase
By Randy Guzman AGCs Assistant Safety Director
Though the economy may be slowing down it is NOT a good idea to take short-cuts on safety. As worker-hours decrease youll actually want to increase your safety training and awareness.
Historically as work starts to slow down the number of workers ...
Posted on: 11/11/2008
Workers' Comp Fraud: How and When to Get an Investigation
(Editors note: At the recent Brown Bag event with L&I sponsored by the AGC Legislative Office the issue of workers comp fraud was raised as a particularly challenging one. As a follow-up Lauren Gubbe Director of the AGC Retro Workers Compensation Program offers advice to members. Fraud wil...
Posted on: 10/28/2008
Out-of-State Workers' Comp Rules Now in Effect
L&I officially adopted rules implementing AGC-supported legislation signed by the Governor that addresses the double workers comp premium payments that Washington State contractors often make when sending employees to work on out-of-state construction projects. These rules reflect the propos...
Posted on: 10/14/2008
AGC-Backed Law Levels Workers' Comp Playing Field
The Governor signed AGC-supported legislation passed by the Legislature that would address the double workers comp premium payments that Washington State contractors often make when sending employees to work on out-of-state construction projects. The Department of Labor and Industries has develo...