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Nobody plans to have an accident or get sick at work. But it can happen, and when it does, workers’ compensation insurance can pay for medical care, physical therapy, disability benefits and lost wages, among other things.
Workers’ compensation laws are regulated at the state level, with each state being responsible for its own laws. Let’s take a look at compensation for workers in Washington State.
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Who Needs Workers Compensation In Washington State?
Washington state requires workers’ compensation insurance if you are a one or more employee business. This also includes part-time employees.
What should I do if I get sick or injured at work?
If you are injured or ill due to work, there are two key things you must do. You should seek medical help immediately and inform your employer of the injury or illness.
If left untreated, minor injuries can turn into serious injuries. So make sure you get the first aid you need at your workplace. All Washington employers are required to provide a first aid kit.
Workers’ compensation insurance pays for medical care that is directly related to an accident at work or an occupational disease. If you are unable to work due to an injury or illness, you may be entitled to part of your loss of earnings.
If you need additional medical treatment, go to an emergency room or health care provider and let them know that you were injured or sick at work.
For a second visit to the doctor, you must see a doctor on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) network.
L&I is the only employee compensation provider in Washington State. It provides medical and wage replacement benefits to workers with work-related injuries and illnesses.
L&I also regulates 400 self-insured employers in Washington State.
Insure yourself for employees Comp
Self-insured employers grant injured and sick employees direct accident benefits.
To be self-insured in Washington, an employer must meet all of the following criteria:
- Running a business for three years
- Complete a written accident prevention program for at least six months before submitting the application
- View assets of $ 25 million or more
- View earnings in the current year and two of the last three years
- Demonstrate a liquidity ratio of at least 1.3: 1 and a debt to net worth ratio of no more than 4: 1
Can I get private workers’ compensation insurance in Washington State?
You must purchase your employee compensation insurance from L&I or be certified as a self-insured employer in Washington. There is no private workers’ compensation insurance.
Washington Workers Compensation Insurance Costs
There are several factors that affect employee compensation costs: company size, the type of work employees do, claims history, company payroll, and state laws.
The estimated employer cost of employee compensation in Washington State is $ 1.57 for every $ 100 covered in payroll, according to Insureon.
Submit an employee compensation claim
If you work for a self-insured employer, you must submit the application directly to them. Otherwise, you must make a claim for employee compensation at L&I.
Before making a claim, you will need the following information:
- Where the injury or illness occurred
- Witness contact information
- Employer information
- Wage level
- Names and dates of birth of relatives
- Doctor’s first and last name
- The hospital or clinic where you received medical treatment
Enter all of this information in a claim report and send the claim report to L&I or a self-insured employer as soon as possible.
Back to work
An employer can offer light work to an employee who returns after an accident at work or an employee’s illness. Light work can mean:
- Shorter working hours
- Do some tasks part-time and gradually move up to full-time employment
- Perform various tasks with lighter physical demands before finally returning to previous work tasks
- Creation of a new job within the medical constraints until the employee is able to cope with more strenuous work tasks
Report Employee Compensation Fraud
Report fraud related to employee compensation to the L&I. Temporary employment fraud can include:
- Employer bonus fraud. If you suspect an employer is not paying enough employee compensation, you can report employer award fraud.
- Workplace Rights. If you think your basic labor rights have been violated, you can complain about your labor rights.
- Claims Suppression. If an employer is preventing you from making an industrial accident claim because of an illness or an accident at work, you can file a claims suppression complaint.
- Discrimination. If an employer discriminates against or takes revenge against you for filing an employee compensation claim, you can file a discrimination complaint.
- Injured Worker Fraud. If an individual is receiving employee compensation benefits but appears to be able to work or has not been injured, it may be fraudulent and should be reported to L&I.
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