The owners of a California flooring installation company allegedly underreported their payroll amounts to workers’ compensation insurers to the tune of $30 million, costing the insurance company almost $4 million in premiums. The men are each facing three felony charges. These are the potential consequences for those who deliberately falsify their payroll records and reports…Read more
Workers’ Comp Audit: What to Look For
No company owner wants to undergo a workers’ compensation audit, but they are a fact of life if you run a business and have employees. Unfortunately, many audits don’t go smoothly and sometimes your insurer may make mistakes. Missouri-based Workers’ Compensation Consultants, which helps employers through the workers’ comp audit process, recently listed the 10…Read more
Does Your Contractor Have Insurance?
When you hire a contractor, electrician or other home repair specialist, you may shop around on price and go with the least expensive one. But if a contractor comes in with a bid that is much lower than the competition, it could mean they are cutting corners – and one of the top ways for…Read more
Do I Need Workers Comp Insurance?
Workers comp insurance provides coverage for medical benefits and wage replacement when an employee is injured or killed on the job. When an injured employee accepts workers’ compensation payments, he or she legally gives up the right to sue the employer later for damages or negligence. This is commonly known as the compensation bargain, and…Read more
Workers Compensation Experience Rating
How does safety pay dividends to the business owner? Time and resources spent on developing a culture of safety repays the business in the long run. Safety cultures rely on reducing the number of workers compensation claims, in return, the odds of a disastrous claim are reduced. Business owners with workers’ compensation experience modifications above…Read more
Are your Workers Employees or Independent Contractors?
Before classifying a worker as an independent contractor, it is important for a business owner to do his or her homework carefully. Employment laws today are very strict, so discuss any concerns with an agent. The United States Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service have combined their efforts to help various states share…Read more
3 Steps to Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs
Workers’ Compensation can be a large cost center for a business. The extent depends on the type of business and the state where the business is located. The cost to insure a single employee making $30,000 per year can range from less than $100 (for a clerical worker) to around $1,400 (for a restaurant worker)…Read more
Misclassifying Workers as Independent Contractors is Bad for Your Business
Employer misclassification of workers as independent contractors is a large and growing problem. Employers trying to keep their costs down may inadvertently or deliberately misclassify workers who should be classified as employees. They escape employment taxes, unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance costs, and paying overtime rates required by law for employees. They also cheat workers…Read more