Quote of the day
"The pressures put on by government mandates, taxes, fees and regulations are just becoming overbearing."
David Sahagun, San Francisco gas station owner; a recent survey by Small Business California finds widespread pessimism about the cost of doing business in the Golden State
Surveys Find Small Businesses Under Pressure
Scott Hauge, president of Small Business California, says the pessimism about owning a small business in the state reflected in the group’s recent survey stems partially from a feeling that state government ignores the voices of small business and the high costs of doing business in the state. Workers’ compensation is one of the top 10 concerns.
Go to the full story by David Smith, Examiner (San Francisco)
Go to the full story by Mike Allen, San Diego Business Journal
Colorado’s Farmworker Immigration Bill May Violate Federal Law
Legislation intended to make it easier for Colorado farmers to import migrant laborers from other countries legally would violate federal law, immigration attorneys tell state lawmakers. Colorado farm employers, some of whom have complained that a crackdown on illegal immigration has led to a severe shortage of farmworkers in the state, would foot the bill for travel, housing and meals, and the costs of obtaining visas and workers’ compensation. By Tim Hoover, Denver Post
Go to the Full Story…
Report Predicts Workers’ Comp Insurers Will See Falling Rates
Workers’ compensation insurers are likely to face falling rates this year, according to an article published last week by New York-based Standard & Poor’s Corp. The article says rates have been falling, significantly reducing margins, but the declining prices have not led to weak insurer performance so far because of state reforms that have contained loss costs and improved earnings. By Mark A. Hoffman, Business Insurance
Go to the Full Story…
Individualized Safety Plans Promote Compliance
Zurich Services Corp.’s risk engineering division is collaborating with OSHA Fast Fix, a company that provides written safety plans geared toward standards implementation, to offer industry-specific safety plans tailored to individual businesses. The partnership is intended to help customers improve workplace safety, address the causes of accidents and reduce workers’ compensation claims. By Laura Walter, Occupational Hazards
Go to the Full Story…
Applicants for Top WSI Post Include Former Montana Exec
Six people have applied to be the interim chief executive officer of North Dakota’s workers compensation agency, Workforce Safety and Insurance, including a former Fargo mayor, former North Dakota House Republican majority leader, and former vice president of Montana’s workers’ comp system.
Go to the full story by AP via KXMB-TV (Bismarck)
Go to the full story by AP via Grand Forks Herald
Show Me State County Trying to Rein Workers’ Comp Costs
In an effort to keep workers’ comp costs under control, commissioners of Scott County, Mo., discuss the information packet they are preparing to send to the Missouri Association of Counties, the county’s workers’ compensation insurance provider. Standard-Democrat via Southeast Missourian
Go to the Full Story…
Provincial Boards to See More Changes, Vows Sask. Party Premier
More personnel changes loom for provincial agencies, boards and commissions, in part to ensure they are more in tune with the Saskatchewan Party government, according to its deputy premier. The government recently fired the members of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board and the chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board. By James Wood, Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Go to the Full Story…