Quote of the day
"What we have found is if we deal with something when it's in chaos, then the pendulum overswings." Michael Houliston, Deputy Commissioner of Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry
The Mountain State Attracting More Market Share
105 insurers have started writing policies in West Virginia since competition became the standard in July, according to the WV Insurance Commissioner’s office. Over 2,000 employers have switched from the state’s sole workers’ comp provider Brickstreet Mutual Insurance Company (AP).
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Gevity CEO Gets Okay to Work in U.S.
Michael Lavington, the chief executive officer of Gevity, has received his authorization to work in the U.S. Lavington is a citizen of the UK. Gevity is a large human resources outsourcing firm, which counts workers’ compensation as one of its key services. Currently, Gevity is in talks with Greater Atlantic Service Company to discuss a possible merger (Heraldtribune.com).
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Washington Employers Likely to See Rate Increase
Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries has proposed a 3% boost in workers’ comp rates. On average premiums will increase by 2 cents for each hour worked next year. The agency cites increasing health costs as the reason for the proposed rate increase (AP).
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Aloha State Will Get Rate Decrease
The National Council on Compensation Insurance is filing an 11.6% percent decrease in workers’ compensation loss costs. The filing would affect premiums starting in January 2009. The filing reflects the decrease in claims since 2006 (By Christine Hirasa, Hawaii Reporter).
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Former ND Exec Challenges Firing
A former workers’ comp executive says he was illegally fired for helping in an investigation of alleged criminal activity at the North Dakota’s Workforce Safety and Insurance agency. James Long is suing for $50,000, back pay and benefits. The agency says he was fired as part of reorganization.
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Minnesota Workers’ Comp Changes Are Coming
Tweaks might be coming to Minnesota’s workers’ comp system, the deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor tells a local chamber of commerce. The system was last overhauled in 1995. Michael Houliston told business people that the “tweaks” would insure that the system is fair to both injured workers and employers, but did not get into specifics. (Ed Lee, St. Peter Herald)
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Investigators Say Ex-BWC Employee Cheated Buckeye State
Ohio’s Inspector General is saying that a former Bureau of Workers’ Compensation employee improperly used computers and other equipment on work for freelance clients. Kevin Rearick, the Bureau’s visual communications manager frequently used his state computer and asked other employees to let him use color printers for private jobs, the Inspector General says (James Nash, the Columbus Dispatch).
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