Human Resources Description

Kate

The Californian 2018 Q2 – 2019 Workers Compensation – The First $250 of Every Claim Is Excluded

2019 Workers Compensation – The First $250 of Every Claim Is Excluded

Shaun Kelly, Tolman and Wiker

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Employers in California will be receiving some relief on their Workers Compensation Experience Modifications in 2019. The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) will be eliminating the first $250 of each claim, before the calculation of an employers’ experience modification in 2019.

The rationale behind the change is as follows:

  •   Increase the reporting of all claims (Including First Aid) to obtain credible information on injury and accident experience.

  •   Eliminate disincentives to reporting claims which will enable insurance carriers to improve their ability to manage claims.

  •   Improve healthcare to employees, by giving employers an incentive to file first aid claims.

  •   The change will benefit the employer by lowering their experience modification, however the effect overall will be modest for employers. So, please do not expect significant reductions.

Here are some “Frequently Asked Questions” that were published on the WCIRB website regarding the change:

How does the $250 loss exclusion work? Under California’s Experience Rating Plan only the amount of each of your claims, up to your primary threshold, is used in the experience modification computation. With the $250 loss exclusion, that amount is reduced by $250. For example, if you have a $10,000 primary threshold and a single claim of $5,000. The amount used in the experience modification computation is $4,750. If you have a single claim of $15,000 the amount used in the experience modification computation is your primary threshold ($10,000) less $250, or $9,750.

Is the first $250 excluded from all claims? Yes, any claim incurred against policies incepting during the experience period for your 2019 experience modification, which include 2015, 2016 and 2017 policies, will be used in the experience modification computation at $250 less than its reporting value.

What if I file a claim that’s valued at $250 or less? A claim with a reporting value of $250 or less will continue to be shown on the experience modification worksheet, but will not be used in any way in the experience modification calculation.

How this will affect each employer individually will depend on how many claims are incurred during the experience period (3 years) used for the experience modification calculation.

The WCIRB will be monitoring the $250 value that is being used and will adjust in subsequent years for inflation.

If you would like more information on how this change will affect you or how the Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan works, please do not hesitate to call.

 

 

Shaun Kelly joined Tolman & Wiker Insurance Services in 2005.  He specializes in all lines of property and casualty insurance for industries including contract security firms, agriculture, construction, oil and gas. Shaun received a BS in Business Administration with a major in Finance from California State University in Fresno, California. He is an active member of several industry associations, including the Association CALSAGA, the Kern County Builders Exchange and the Independent Insurance Agents of Kern County. Shaun can be reached at 661-616-4700 or skelly@tolmanandwiker.com.

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Kate

THE CALIFORNIAN 2018 Q1 – CHANGES TO CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PREMIUM ASSESSMENTS…

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Changes to California Workers’ Compensation Premium Assessments…And what the heck are premium assessments anyway?

Nick Langer, Turner Surety & Insurance Brokerage Inc. 

On November 30, 2017 the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a notice to “All Insurers Authorized to Transact Workers’ Compensation in California” which detailed the 2018 workers’ compensation premium assessments. The new premium assessment rates ultimately increase the total cost of workers’ compensation for employers. If you are like most other employers, the premium assessments listed on your insurance policy most likely go over looked. Let’s take a step back to fully understand what “premium assessments” are and how they affect your workers compensation costs.

When you’re not out trying to solicit new clients, manage your employees and juggle expenses, take a moment to dust-off the actual worker’s compensation policy that your company maintains. Thumb through the pages until you reach the “Declarations Pages.” Within the Declarations you will stumble across the classification and/or rating schedule. At the bottom of this page you will see various line items labeled some version of “CA […..] Assessment.” Labor Code Sections 62.5 and 62.6 authorize the Department of Industrial Relations to assess employers for the costs of the administration of the workers’ compensation, health and safety and labor standards enforcement programs. According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, “These assessments provide a stable funding source to the support operations of the courts, to ensure safe and healthy working conditions on the job, to ensure the enforcement of labor standards and requirements for workers’ compensation coverage.”

Some of the Workers’ Compensation Premium Assessment (WCPA) began in 2008 due to a budgetary crisis in California. The WCPA was a funding shift designed by the California legislature to stabilize funding for the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) operations, which includes the Divisions of Workers’ Compensation, Occupational Safety and Health and Labor Standards Enforcement. The Assessments were intended to continue funding the efforts of Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). DOSH & DLSE rely upon stable budgets to provide California employers with benefits including:

  • Enforcement of programs to eliminate the underground economy
  • Labor law enforcement activities to ensure a more competitive business environment by pursing employers who break employment laws
  • Pursuing uninsured employers who fail to carry workers’ compensation coverage for their workforce
  • Ensuring workplace safety
  • Providing compliance assistance to employers who are striving to increase safety on their jobsites
  • Decreasing injuries, illnesses and fatalities at jobsites across the state

Insurance carriers must advance these assessments to the Department of Industrial Relations and are required to collect the assessments from policyholders during the policy term. Assessable Premium is the premium the insured is charged after all rating adjustments (experience rating, schedule rating, premium discounts, expense constants, etc.) except for adjustments resulting from the application of deductible plans, retrospective rating or the return of policyholder dividends.

Included below are comparison charts of the assessment factors to be applied to the estimated annual assessable premium for 2018 and the previous assessment factors for 2017.

2018 Workers’ Compensation Premium Assessment Rates – Insured Employers
FUND 2018 Rate Factor 2017 Rate Factor Variance (%)
California Workers’ Compensation Administrative Revolving Fund (WCARF) .008146 .003128 160%
California Occupational Safety & Health Fund (OSHF) .002655 .002305 15.18%
California Workers’ Compensation Fraud Assessment (FRAUD) .00255 .001675 52.24%
California Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund(UEBTF) .000573

 

 .000721 -20.52%
California Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) .003599 .001335 170%
California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) .0200 .0200 —
California Labor Enforcement & Compliance Fund (LECF) .00215 .001918 12.10%
TOTAL of all Assessments .039673 (3.97%) .031082 (3.11%)              27.64%
Rate Factors are charged on “Assessable Premium”
2018 Workers’ Compensation Premium Assessment Rates – Self-Insured Employers
FUND 2018 Rate Factor 2017 Rate Factor Variance (%)
California Workers’ Compensation Administrative Revolving Fund (WCARF) 0.032620

 

 .025226 29.31%
California Occupational Safety & Health Fund (OSHF) 0.011066

 

 .012111 -8.63%
California Workers’ Compensation Fraud Assessment (FRAUD) 0.008790

 

 .009262 -5.10%
California Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund(UEBTF) 0.007006

 

 .004707 48.84%
California Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) 0.011754

 

 .006927 69.68%
California Labor Enforcement & Compliance Fund (LECF) 0.008882

 

 .010479 -15.24%
TOTAL of all Assessments .080118

(8.02%)

 .068712

(6.87%)             

 16.60%
Rate Factors are charged on “Assessable Premium”

Let’s take a look at what these funds actually support.

WCARF – Workers’ Compensation Administration Revolving Fund adds funding to the administration of the workers compensation system which includes the return to work program, and employers’ workers’ compensation coverage compliance enforcement. Additional funding comes from fines, fees, and penalties. California Labor Code Section 62.5

OSHF – Occupational Safety and Health Fund provides funding to state safety and health agencies, to implement and enforcement of current occupational health and safety laws, and promoting safe and healthful working conditions.  California Labor Code Section 62.5

WCFA – Workers’ Compensation Fraud Assessment funds investigating and prosecuting worker’s compensation fraud. California Labor Code Section 62.6

UEBTF – Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund pays benefits to employees injured while working for illegally uninsured employers. California Labor Code Section 62.5

SIBTF – Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund pays for workers who have suffered serious injury and who are suffering from permanent disabilities or physical impairments that were present before the injury. California Labor Code Section 62.5

LECF – Labor Enforcement and Compliance Fund. ABX4-12 (2009) founded the LECF which enforces Employer Compliance with labor standards and secures worker compensation insurance by funding the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). California Labor Code Section 62.5

CIGA – California Insurance Guarantee Association. Created in 1969, CIGA settles unpaid claims of insolvent insurers that are licensed to do business in California. CIGA consists of three separate funds that guarantee different lines of insurance: workers’ compensation; personal lines (auto, homeowners, personal liability); and other (commercial property, liability, products liability, supplemental and pollution). CIGA is not an insurance company. CIGA was created to provide only a limited form of protection in the event of insurer insolvency. California Insurance Code Section1063.5

Circling back to the 2018 workers compensation premium assessment rates, it is easy to see that California Employers will be spending more money this year on workers’ compensation expenses. In summary, insured employers will be paying assessments at a rate of nearly 4% on top of “assessable premium” which is a 28% overall increase for assessments over 2017. Self-Insured employers are experiencing a 17% increase.

If you have additional questions regarding the assessments on your workers compensation policy we encourage you to discuss these items with your insurance broker/agent or to contact the California Department of Industrial Relations whom oversees the collection of these assessments. DWC@dir.ca.gov Phone: 1-844-522-6734

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Kate

THE CALIFORNIAN 2018 Q1 – HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT JOB LISTING FOR A SECURITY GUARD

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HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT JOB LISTING FOR A SECURITY GUARD

Collie King, Kwantek

Years ago, when the recession was at its peak, it was easy to write a job posting and get dozens of applicants.

Our applicant data shows the average job posting for a Security Guard received 30.3 applicants per job in 2012. In 2017, the average job posting for the same Security Guard position receives just 15.9 applicants.

Simply put, there are more jobs available than job seekers in today’s economy. It’s vital that you stand out from your competition (hint: this is NOT just other Security Guard jobs) and write job postings that appeal to the individual.

Kwantek’s Applicant Tracking Software has generated over one million applications for Security Guards, and our onboarding tools give us the data to help us understand how long those applicants stay in the job.

We have found the commonalities in job postings that not only get lots of applicants, but produce long-lasting employees. Here is what we’ve found:

Part One – The Preview: What Gets Them to Read the Next Line?

According to the Pew Research Center, 77% of all adults own a smartphone, up from just 35% in 2011.

And according to Indeed, over 80% of building, grounds cleaning and maintenance job searches originated from a mobile device. It’s safe to say security guards aren’t far behind.

The first step is to get people to click your job listing as they are scrolling through the job board.

If they’re on a phone (and more often than not they are), you have about one sentence to get them to take that action.

So what gets them to read that next line? The first step is understanding how to craft your title and description.

Tip #1) Include specific locations in the title, but NOT just ‘City, State’

Most job boards actually have an algorithm to lower job postings that just say ‘City, State’ in the title. It’s important to be extremely specific about the location.

For example, if your client is in the downtown area of Louisville, KY, make your title say “Downtown Louisville, KY” and not just “Louisville, KY.” Or if your client is in the Highlands Neighborhood, include that in the title such as “Highlands/Louisville, KY”

Tip #2) If you have competitive rates, add it to the title

Competitive rates displayed in the job title are more likely to attract applicants. This may seem obvious, but including the pay (if it’s a good rate) provides a huge boost to your job posting’s click rate.

Tip #3) Post new jobs consistently for better results

The final thing the user sees is the day the posting was created. If you have an evergreen job posting, it’s vital to continuously refresh it. Otherwise, the user perceives the job as being either filled or undesirable, and the click rate will decrease.

Here is a handy graphic to share the differences with you:

Part Two: What’s in it for them?

Retention starts with the job posting.

Let that sink in. It’s vital to get the job posting right, especially with Security Guards. Think about the best qualities of a good Security Guard: they crave structure and a plan and they thrive on facts.

To understand what’s in it for the person applying for the job, ask yourself why somebody would like this job. Also ask yourself why somebody would not like this job.

You must include all the details of the job within the posting itself. Will it require the Guard to work in the middle of the night? Will the Guard be surrounded by lots of people? Will the Guard be sitting or standing? Make sure every possible detail involving essential functions of the job are communicated clearly.

Beyond the essential job functions, why is somebody going to really enjoy the job?

If the Guard is doing their job correctly, they could go weeks or months without ever seeing their boss. Is that the case with your available positions? If so, mention it! Autonomy is something most humans crave.

Will they have access to food and drink? Will they get any kind of equipment? Will they receive ongoing training? Think about all the good things the Guard will receive upon accepting the offer, and be sure to include them in your posting.

Lastly, one of the biggest reasons for not applying to a job is perceived job requirements the applicant may not have. If you require a guard card, feel free to mention that, but also mention that you could help someone easily apply for their guard card. Help them envision an easy path to success.

Remember, you have two goals with your job posting:

Make sure plenty of qualified candidates apply and make sure those candidates have a high likelihood of retention.

In summary, the best thing to do before posting your job is to simply know exactly what you are looking for before you post it. That way, you can create job descriptions that are:

  • Highly specific
  • Focused on them (not you)
  • Descriptive of ‘how’ they will do a job
  • Void of the unknown

To learn more about best practices in hiring security guards, click here to download Kwantek’s free eBook, “The 3-Step Hiring Guide for Growing Security Companies.”

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Kate

THE CALIFORNIAN 2018 Q1 – FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING AND ONBOARDING VETERANS

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FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING AND ONBOARDING VETERANS

Anne L. Laguzza, M.A., The Works Consulting

It is important to remember veterans are coming from a culture, community, and environment
that is unique compared to the corporate world. From communication to expectations, here is
what you need to know when hiring veterans for your organization.

#1 Awareness of the cultural shift taking place for these individuals will enhance the entire
hiring experience. From the moment you review their application and resume through to
the hiring decision itself.
DO: Be aware of the major culture shift from military to civilian work.
DON’T: Assume they’ll just adapt and figure it out without training and structure.
Yes, there’s a different language, culture, and set of expectations in military life. However, with
proper training and communication you can utilize their ability to adapt and their openness to
direction to minimize those differences. This upfront investment in training will ease the
onboarding process, by encouraging them to connect their work to the company mission. This
will set them and the organization up for long-term success.

#2 Use your new awareness regarding veterans who are new hires for your organization.
DO: Be empathetic by taking time to learn about the military culture.
DON’T: Gloss over this opportunity for connection and understanding.
While discipline, work ethic, and camaraderie are required in the military culture. understanding
where these qualities come from will benefit your organization. By taking the time to place
yourself in their boots, learning how their military experience shaped them into who they are
today, will create a deeper connection.
Remember, their experience is not typical, yet many aspects of corporate culture bare strong
resemblance to that of the military. The employer should learn about military culture, by reading
articles, and asking veterans and/or others with military experience. Knowing how military
experience and culture are similar to or different from your organization’s culture will help the
applicant if selected.

#3 One of the most crucial things you need to do prior to interviewing a veteran.
DO: Find out how their military job description relates to the job they are applying for in your
organization.
DON’T: Miss the chance to bridge the gap between what they did and what they can do in this
new role.
Military jobs have numerous correlations to civilian positions. What may seem like unrelated
skills may in fact be easily transferable, ask about their specific duties and have them
communicate how they are transferable to the position. Finding common ground will improve
rapport, and make the interview and selection process more efficient, and you’ll also learn more
about their service experience.

#4 How do you put it all together?
DO: Express how you plan to take time to learn about them and their skills to assist with
training.
DON’T: Assume they’ll just figure it out, or behave in a certain way, without consistent
communication and training.
Now that you know the DO’s of hiring veterans you see these same four characteristics can be
applied to any individual going through the hiring and onboarding process. The value of applying
these tips with veterans specifically, is not just that your effort will be recognized and
appreciated, although it certainly will. The value is in the connection they’ll experience from the
very beginning helping them focus on their job, and creating cohesion between their work and
the company mission. They will begin to see long-term success for themselves within your
organization.

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