Workers' comp isn't working

Sacramento Bee ^ | December 7, 2003 | Julie Meier Wright

[farmfriend]

The October election told us a great deal about what voting Californians wanted. They wanted change. They responded to a candidate who offered hope and optimism. They resonated with a commitment to fix the state's broken finances and the worst business climate in the nation.

[farmfriend]

Unless you have a business, you have no clue how expensive workman's comp insurance is.

[farmfriend]

Short list.

[DB]

Please add me to your ping list.

Thank you.

[Drango]

our workers' compensation costs have gone up more than 108 percent in three years -- and we have never had a claim.

Oh just suck it up. Hire some illegals and pay 'em under the table like a lot of firms do...

[farmfriend]

Our workmans comp more than tripled from last year to this and we have no employees. My husband is a general contractor who gets contracts through the county so we are required to carry it.

[Texas Eagle]

My husband is a general contractor who gets contracts through the county so we are required to carry it.

I don't know how tradesmen can even afford to do business in California. I have friends who pay over 60% worker's comp rates.

That is simply mind-boggling.

[Drango]

Our workmans comp more than tripled from last year to this and we have no employees. My husband is a general contractor who gets contracts through the county so we are required to carry it.

??? I don't think I understand...Every firm is required to carry it *IF* you have employees. And if you don't have WC and ther is an injury, the owner is personally liable for all claims.

*IF* you don't have any employees there is nothing to insure. However, it appears, the county is making sure your subs have it

[farmfriend]

No, our subs can not use it either. This is just to have the insurance policy. WE have no employees and would be paying money on top of this per employee according to their wages if we did.

[Drango]

Let me repeat, WC is for employees. If you have no employees, you are not paying WC. Are you thinking of liablity insurance?

[bc2]

.

[lakey]

I'm trying to remember back 30+ years re: WC. I believe we had to maintain a cash reserve for a certain amount of employees - but was it in a state fund, or did an insurance company keep it in trust? $3,500 reserve for 40 employees sounds right. But if anyone was injured and filed a claim, our reserve went up.

I do recall being ticked off at how easily a broken toe claim was settled and the amount of the settlement - lump sum of $3,000. But some poor yodel with a serious injury, who could never return to the same job, would go through test after test, in and out of one hospital after another at the state's demand, and wait years for a decision.

On top of escalating medical costs, be assured attorneys are a major reason the system is "broke."

[lakey]

yodel or did I mean yokel? Whatever.

[farmfriend]

Let me repeat, WC is for employees. If you have no employees, you are not paying WC. Are you thinking of liablity insurance?

Don't be an ass. I know the difference. We carry liablity insurance as well. This is workman's comp. Ontop of the yearly fee we pay we would have to pay more per employee if we had any. How much we pay per employee is based on how much we pay the employee. If you don't want to believe the county would do something as stupid as forcing us to carry expensive insurance we can't use then don't.

[DryFly]

Of course, when you said he was an ass, I'm sure you said it not meaning any offense and with a smile on your face.

[farmfriend]

Of course, when you said he was an ass, I'm sure you said it not meaning any offense and with a smile on your face.

Of course. Besides I just asked him not to be one, I didn't call him one.

[DryFly]

Which county is it?

[MARTIAL MONK]

WC is for employees. If you have no employees, you are not paying WC.

You are forced to carry the WC for yourself. You are the employee.

[farmfriend]

You are forced to carry the WC for yourself. You are the employee.

No, as owner we can not use insurance. It is strictly for employees.

[c-b 1]

It looks to me like it is time to bail out of Kalifornia, when the state mandates that you buy something you can't use, I would call that stealing.

We hire independant contractors, their work assignments are sent to them over the internet, they return the finished product via the internet, they rarely if ever come to our office. The State of Arizona requires us to carry workmans comp on them, unless they also work for someone else, which those who work for us now all do, we get a form from the state to fill out the employees wages, and the amount we owe, quarterly, we write no employees on it, and send it back.

[farmfriend]

we get a form from the state to fill out the employees wages, and the amount we owe, quarterly, we write no employees on it, and send it back.

Yes, we get those to. Always sent back with no employees. My husband is going to quite getting contracts through county. Then we can drop the WC insurance. Will save us a load of money.