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Showing posts for: Workers’ Comp

Nov 13 2024
Wage and HourWorkers’ Comp

Q&A: No easy road to convert employee into independent contractor

Question: A long-term skilled employee is retiring but we anticipate still needing her expertise, so she has agreed to work for us on an as-needed hourly basis as an independent contractor. What should we be thinking about as she makes this transition to independent contractor status? Answer: Stop the presses, it’s going to be very…

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Nov 01 2024
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Workers’ comp claim Valid? Mastering how to know.

We often hear from members that one of the most frustrating aspects of Washington workers’ compensation is claim validation (i.e. verifying that the employee’s injury or illness occurred during the course of their employment). Oftentimes, it feels like an employer is on the hook for an employee’s injury, even if the injury happened off duty…

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Oct 03 2024
Workers’ Comp

Kept-on-Salary Misconceptions Exposed: What You Need to Know

Are you making costly mistakes with Kept-on-Salary (KOS)? Many Washington employers are surprised to learn that common assumptions about KOS can lead to unexpected costs and missed opportunities. In this article, we’ll reveal lesser-known truths about KOS for managing workers’ comp claims, and clarify its strategic use. Myth: KOS is best used for 30-90 days…

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Sep 18 2024
Safety and HealthWebinarWorkers’ Comp

Webinar Recording: Safety Leadership – Building Safety Culture

One of the most fundamental and impactful workers’ compensation cost mitigation strategies is to establish and maintain a safety culture that prioritizes all workers going home each day in the same condition as they arrived. A culture that values people as an organization’s most valuable asset. In this recorded webinar, you’ll learn what it takes…

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Jul 31 2024
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Why forecasting your L&I premium is a must

Financial forecasting is crucial for any employer, especially when it comes to managing major expenses. Since workers’ comp costs are among the top expenses for manufacturers, it’s no doubt accurate L&I premium forecasts can provide significant benefits. What are these benefits and why do we strongly suggest that “let’s forecast your premium” should be one…

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May 23 2024
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

How many claims are too many for your claims manager? 📂📂📂

Managing claims effectively, whether internally or through a TPA, requires a manageable workload for claims managers. Is your claims manager dealing with too many cases? Understanding how overwhelming caseloads can affect claims handling is essential, impacting outcomes and costs. Let’s review some of the top problems with claims overload: Claims fail to receive enough attention…

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Apr 25 2024
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Four workers’ comp red flags we’d never, ever ignore

We’re workers’ comp experts and here are four things we’d never, ever ignore if we were an employer in Washington. Brandon Dion, CFO at Vigilant  |  Dan Beaty, VP Workers’ Comp at Vigilant Rising EMF/premiums. This probably indicates a systemic problem that requires attention. It could be due to a variety of factors such as…

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Mar 21 2024
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Washington Governor signs two bills impacting workers’ comp

Governor Jay Inslee recently signed two bills impacting Washington workers’ compensation time-loss payments and stay-at-work reimbursements: HB 1927: Allows injured workers who are unable to work for 7 days or more (instead of the current standard of 14 days or more) to receive time loss payments for the first 3 days of work missed due…

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Mar 18 2024
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Workers’ Comp Costs: What you CAN control

As you know, L&I increased rates for Washington employers in January by 4.9% on average. If you’ve attended one of our recent webinars, you know rate changes fall into the category of things outside of your control when it comes to workers’ compensation costs. You might also recall the ridiculously busy but truthful graphic from…

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Mar 08 2024
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Ask the Claims Manager: Supervisor’s Report of Accident, necessary?

QUESTION: Our Vigilant Washington workers’ comp claims manager asked us to provide a Supervisor’s Report of Accident after one of our employees was injured at work. I know our claims manager received all the information about the injury from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), so why do they also need that information…

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Feb 09 2024
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

How happy are you with your workers’ comp partner?

How often do you find the terms “happy” and “workers’ compensation” in the same sentence? It’s a rare occurrence, given the challenges and complexities associated with workers’ comp in Washington. While many perceive it as a necessary burden, there are companies out there with a different perspective—those who genuinely find satisfaction in their Retro or…

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Jan 05 2024
Harassment & DiscriminationSafety and HealthWage and Hour

Mitigate workers’ comp risks: Production slowdowns with an injured employee

When an injured worker is laid off or has their hours reduced because of a production slowdown, you may experience unexpected workers’ compensation issues that could have been avoided with advanced planning. Here are some practical considerations to keep in mind if you must take the unfortunate step of reducing hours or headcount: Eligibility for…

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