The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has received questions about which workers’ compensation policies must be physically audited and whether physical audit requirements may be waived based on the current COVID-19/coronavirus outbreak. Under a variety of circumstances, it may not be advisable or even possible for premium auditors to meet face-to-face with policyholders or their representatives to conduct an audit.
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The WCIRB publishes two e-newsletters that focus on common questions and issues related to workers' compensation insurance:
- WCIRB News and Notes features timely answers to workers' compensation questions and topics of interest for insurers, agents and brokers, and others involved in the California workers’ compensation insurance industry.
- Classification and Test Audit Insight highlights common classification and test audit issues of interest to auditors, underwriters and others within the workers’ compensation insurance industry.
You can browse through the list below to view an edition for each e-newsletter or filter the list by content type or topic. E-newsletters are also searchable through the WCIRB.com search feature at the top right corner of this page.
WCIRB E-newsletters are developed by the WCIRB for informational purposes only. The WCIRB shall not be liable for any damages of any kind, whether direct, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential, arising from the use, inability to use, or reliance upon information provided herein.
Invest in your workers’ compensation insurance skill set by attending free webinars through the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB). Webinars consist of a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
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California is experiencing a significant increase in tree trimming and tree removal operations, including operations performed around elevated power lines to reduce fire hazards. As a result, the WCIRB has received questions about classifying tree removal and tree trimming operations. The two classifications that most often apply are 0106, Tree Pruning, Repairing or Trimming, and 0042, Landscape Gardening.
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Ownership is an important component of experience rating. It determines what loss and payroll data goes into calculating a business’s experience modification. The California Workers’ Compensation Experience Rating Plan—1995 (ERP) specifically defines “ownership” for the purposes of experience rating. Note that these definitions may differ in comparison to definitions used in other instances.
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Historically, limitations on an individual’s annual payroll for workers’ compensation purposes have been applied in California for certain types of highly compensated employees. The California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) limits the reported annual payroll for executive officers, partners, individual employers and members of a limited liability company. In addition, the same annual payroll limitation has historically applied to select employees in classifications with many highly compensated employees and great variability in wages.
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“Logistics” is commonly defined as the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ specific requirements. Several classifications apply to employers engaged in logistics services. To correctly classify such employers, it is imperative to determine the services the employer performs on a fee basis.
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The WCIRB has just launched WCIRB CompEssentials® certification.
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The WCIRB performed a comprehensive review of the classifications applicable to employers that sell hardware, electrical and plumbing supplies.
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Short-term housing options have become increasingly popular as an alternative to staying in hotels or motels. Effective January 1, 2020, the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) specifically addresses how short-term housing operations are classified in addition to combining the separate phraseologies for Classifications 9050(1), Hotels, and 9050(2), Motels.
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The WCIRB will participate at this year’s Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California (IIABCal) InsurPATH Conference: Are You Ready for the Future of You? The conference takes place November 6–8, 2019, at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City.
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For this reason, most pharmacies are assigned to Classification 8017(1), Stores – retail. This can include compounding pharmacies that combine, mix or alter ingredients in response to a prescription to create a medication tailored to the medical needs of an individual patient. If the pharmacy performs delivery operations, these are also included in Classification 8017(1). However, depending on the overall business of the employer, pharmacies can be assigned to other classifications.
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Agents and brokers are often asked to assist their policyholder customers during disputes with the WCIRB or insurance companies. The WCIRB and insurers licensed to underwrite workers’ compensation insurance in California are required to have a policyholder dispute resolution process. Following are steps that agents and brokers should know so they can assist policyholders with their disputes.
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The WCIRB is often asked how to classify eateries and dining establishments. Many, but not all, businesses where you can buy a meal or a quick bite are classified as restaurants.
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The Ownership Information Submission feature in WCIRB Connect is a convenient way for insurers, agents and brokers to notify the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) of relevant ownership information for their policyholders.
Use the Ownership Information Submission tool to alert the WCIRB when:
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Every year, California experiences wildfires, and significant resources are dedicated to fighting and preventing these dangerous and destructive fires. Here is an overview of classifications that apply to many of these firefighting and fire prevention operations.
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DocuSign is now required in order to request authorization from policyholders to access experience rating worksheets, inspection reports and the Comprehensive Risk Summary® (CRS) reports on WCIRB Connect®.
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The WCIRB is often asked how to classify specific operations or job duties. However, the Standard Classification System, found in Part 3 of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995, directs us to classify the business of the employer.
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The weather is starting to warm up, and soon it will be a good time to go for a swim. Quite a few classifications apply to swimming facilities and swimming-related operations.
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Invest in your workers’ compensation skill set by attending free webinars through the WCIRB Learn about classification rules in the Class Talk series and the California Experience Rating System in the Mod Talk series. Webinars consist of a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
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In the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP), several rules include a requirement for time cards or time book entries. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) often receives questions regarding these documentation requirements.
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Having accurate payroll data is necessary because it is the basis for the policyholder’s insurance premium and their experience modification.
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Effective January 1, 2019, the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) was amended to include rules that direct when equity-based compensation may be excluded from reported payroll.
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This past year, we introduced a more secure Letter of Authorization process in WCIRB Connect. Insurers as well as licensed agents and brokers are now using DocuSign® digital signature technology to request authorization from policyholders, making it quicker to access experience rating worksheets (ratesheets), inspection reports and Comprehensive Risk Summary® (CRS) reports.
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In California, a number of construction and erection classifications are divided into two separate classifications based on the hourly wage of the employee assigned to the classification and each of these classifications has a different advisory pure premium rate.
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The new year brings changes to the WCIRB Experience Rating Form. This form, also known as a ratesheet, is the best way for you to see the data we have on file, so here’s what you should know about those changes
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The WCIRB performed a comprehensive study of three Food Packaging and Processing Industry Group classifications for breweries, wineries and distilleries. In addition to beverage manufacturing operations, many breweries, wineries and distilleries have additional operations including facility tours, tasting rooms or tap rooms, retail stores, restaurants, taverns and the preparation and serving of hot food.
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As the year draws to a close, we would like to provide you with helpful links and online resources on wcirb.com to help you get ready for 2019.
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The WCIRB performed a comprehensive study of the classifications included in the Salvage Material Dealers Industry Group. This study found that the salvage, disposal and recycling industries have converged and the Industry Group was renamed to the Recycling and Refuse Management Industry Group.
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The WCIRB’s Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary, Dave Bellusci, will be a featured speaker at IIABCal’s LeadUp LearnUp (LULU) Virtual Conference.
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The insurance commissioner has approved the new Classification 9403(3), Document Destruction – including mobile paper shredding, to apply to employers that conduct mobile paper shredding and document destruction.
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The rules pertaining to ownership and experience rating can seem complex to even the most experienced insurance professional. The WCIRB CompEssentials® course, Ownership and Experience Rating, provides a practical approach to navigating the intricate regulations to help you better understand the process and help your customers.
In addition to explaining how to determine ownership of an entity, Ownership and Experience Rating demystifies the process for evaluating a change in ownership and ascertaining whether the experience should apply to a new owner.
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Not all restaurants offer delivery or employ delivery drivers. Meal delivery companies have emerged to fill the need need and have become very popular. This edition covers two common business models for meal delivery companies.
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Licensed casualty agents and brokers can quickly obtain detailed policyholder data available on the Comprehensive Risk Summary® (CRS) report in WCIRB Connect®.
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In this edition, we focus on classifications that are applicable to special event planners who organize receptions, parties, banquets and similar special events.
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Insurers, agents and brokers can now use DocuSign® digital signature technology to request authorization from policyholders to access experience rating worksheets, inspection reports and Comprehensive Risk Summary (CRS)™ reports on WCIRB Connect®.
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Located in the Learning Center of WCIRB.com, the Classification page makes it easy for you to find everything related to classifying a business – including web articles on trending topics, educational information and online tools.
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This month, the WCIRB presents its Class Talks webinar series with two free webinars discussing proposed changes to existing classifications and the addition of new classifications in 2019.
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This edition covers classification information for the most common residential solar energy systems.
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Summer is here! Don’t forget to sign up for our free webinars and gain valuable knowledge about the new experience rating formula and proposed classifications for 2019.
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Learn more about the new, simplified experience rating formula and other changes effective January 1, 2019.
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Learn more about the classifications that are applicable to employers that perform a variety of minor “handyperson” repair services at residential or commercial locations.
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WCIRB CompEssentials®, the premier source for worker’s compensation online training, expands its course catalog with the addition of Ownership and Experience Rating. Enrollment for this course opens on April 18th.
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In this edition, we break down the key sections in Part 3, Standard Classification System, of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan–1995 (USRP) and focus on how the regulations work together to establish classification assignments.
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The WCIRB is broadening its partnerships with industry and trade associations as part of its commitment to expanding educational resources. In support of this pursuit, the WCIRB is furthering its valued educational partnership with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California (IIABCal) in 2018.
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There are several classifications that potentially apply to construction site cleaning operations, depending primarily on the employer’s overall business operations.
Employers that perform construction job site cleaning for other concerns on a fee basis are classified as 9008, Janitorial Services – by contractors.
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Significant Experience Rating Plan changes are coming in 2019. Learn more about the changes by attending our WCIRB Mod Talks webinar series. Each 30-minute webinar starts with a brief presentation followed by Q&A session. Space is limited, register now at the links below to reserve your spot:
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Recently, many questions have focused on California’s transition to legalize adult use of recreational marijuana as business operations pertaining to recreational marijuana are expected to increase in 2018.
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Come visit the WCIRB at the 2018 Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California (IIABCal) InsurPATH, The Future of You, conference in Fresno, California on January 31 - February 2, 2018. The WCIRB will be exhibiting at the tradeshow and conducting two continuing education (CE) credit courses as a part of the conference’s educational programming. See details below:
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The WCIRB performed a comprehensive review of the classifications applicable to employers that install or repair a variety of electronic and low voltage systems, and proposed several new classifications based on the study findings. One of the new classifications is 5130(2), Building Automation or Energy Management Control Systems Installation, Service or Repair.
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In 2018 and beyond, the WCIRB will be expanding workers’ compensation educational services through dynamic outreach initiatives.
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The WCIRB performed a comprehensive review of the classifications applicable to employers that install or repair a variety of electronic and low voltage systems, and proposed several new classifications based on the study findings. One of the new classifications, 5193, Computer or Telephone System or Equipment Installation, Service or Repair, was created based on converging technology.
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The WCIRB proposed new Classification 8870, Fitness Instruction or Studios – all employees – including receptionists, for employers engaged in operating fitness instruction programs or studios, which was adopted by the Insurance Commissioner and included in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) effective January 1, 2018.
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Recently, California has unfortunately experienced major wildfires that have damaged or destroyed thousands of private homes and other buildings and structures. The WCIRB has received questions regarding the classifications applicable to the clean-up operations that are underway following these disasters.
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The WCIRB is hosting free webinars that cover important workers’ compensation insurance topics and recently released WCIRB educational offerings and research studies. Each 30-minute webinar gives you the opportunity to get your questions answered by WCIRB experts. Register now!
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The WCIRB completed a study researching the appropriate classification for operations involving Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) commonly referred to as aerial drones.
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The WCIRB is excited to announce the newest WCIRB CompEssentials® course, Experience Rating Fundamentals.
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The WCIRB has updated the Classification Search tool on WCIRB.com to reflect new and revised classifications effective January 1, 2018.
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The WCIRB frequently receives questions regarding the classification of stores that sell gasoline or gasoline stations that include store operations. The classification procedures for this combination of operations are provided in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan —1995 (USRP) at Part 3, Section IV, Special Industry Classification Procedures, Rule 6h. This rule states:
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Following the Insurance Commissioner’s Decision on the WCIRB’s January 1, 2018 Regulatory Filing, the WCIRB is busy issuing 2018 experience modifications (X-Mods). Here are ways that agents, brokers and insurers can stay informed on the status of an experience modification through WCIRB Connect:
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This edition reviews the significant distinctions between four of these automotive classifications that have some overlapping operations: 8389, Automobile or Truck Repair Facilities, 8393, Automobile or Truck Body Repairing and Painting, 8397, Automobile or Truck Transmission Repairing and Rebuilding, and 8388, Rubber Tire Dealers.
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CompEssentials® is the WCIRB's online educational training program offering access to a series of on-demand, self-paced courses that are comprehensive, convenient and provide an overview of the fundamentals of workers’ compensation insurance. These courses are an essential foundation for both new and experienced insurance professionals to understand California regulations.
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The USRP at Part 3, Standard Classification System, Section IV, Special Industry Classification Procedures, Rule 6, Stores, provides instructions for determining whether a store is a wholesale or retail store, instructions for determining the applicable store classification based on the types of merchandise sold, and directives to separately classify certain store employees.
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Does your company have questions about the workers’ compensation system and would like to learn more about the WCIRB’s free educational resources, products and services to help you do your job? The WCIRB regularly conducts outreach to the California workers' compensation insurance community, conducting presentations covering a range of workers' compensation topics, including the Standard Classification System, experience rating, premium audit, and more. Our audiences regularly include insurers, policyholder organizations, agent/broker associations, and government agencies.
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This edition of News and Notes highlights updates, reminders, new resources and upcoming events from the WCIRB.
WCIRB.com has a New Look!
This week, the WCIRB launched the refreshed WCIRB.com website that includes a brand new look and feel, an enhanced site search and one-stop pages with content geared specifically towards the needs of those involved in workers’ compensation insurance such as:
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The WCIRB hosted three webinars to discuss the proposed changes and to address questions about the changes. If you missed these webinars, you may now access the video recordings and presentation materials for each webinar on the Webinars page in the Learning Center on WCIRB.com
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WCIRB Connect can provide TPEs access to rate sheets, inspection reports, experience modifications and other policyholder information, and policy and unit statistical report information. Learn about the different access levels for TPEs.
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The WCIRB recently submitted its January 1, 2018 Regulatory Filing, which included proposed changes to the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System.
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The WCIRB recently submitted its January 1, 2018 Regulatory Filing, which included proposed changes to the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System.
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As part of its administration of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System, the WCIRB performs studies to ensure that USRP provisions and classifications are aligned with the California economy and reflect industry changes and new processes in the workplace.
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To help agents, brokers, insurers and others understand the proposed changes included in the January 1, 2018 Regulatory Filing, the WCIRB has scheduled two upcoming WCIRB Mod Talk webinars.
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As part of its administration of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System, the WCIRB performs studies to ensure that USRP provisions and classifications are aligned with the California economy and evolving business operations. The WCIRB’s Classification Research team has completed a number of studies that result in proposals to eliminate, amend or establish classifications effective January 1, 2018.
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The WCIRB’s online learning portal, WCIRB CompEssentials® is available for insurers, agents, brokers and other insurance industry professionals to gain insight on California’s workers’ compensation system. To enroll in CEU-accredited courses and access free educational videos and resources, register for a WCIRB CompEssentials account today.
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This edition compares the classifications that apply to two popular types of after school programs.
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If you are dealing with a pending workers’ compensation claim, you can quickly look up coverage information through the California Workers' Compensation Coverage Inquiry website. Visit https://www.caworkcompcoverage.com to find the name of an insurer that wrote a California workers' compensation insurance policy for a specific employer on a specific date within the last 5 years.
Here’s some tips to keep in mind while performing your coverage information search:
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Campsites are places where customers pay a fee to use a space for camping. In exchange for a nightly campsite fee, the customer has access to a designated camping spot where they can pitch a tent or park a trailer or recreational vehicle on a short term basis. Some campsites may offer organized activities such as nature walks or nightly campfires, however, participation in activities is optional and campers are free to spend time as they choose.
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WCIRB Connect offers insurers, agents and brokers so many features and options to quickly access policyholder information that it might be hard to keep track of them all. This edition of News and Notes highlights some easy-to-use tools and educational resources found in WCIRB Connect that users might have missed.
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After a very wet winter, it’s finally spring and many people will want to spruce up their gardens. This edition compares two garden-related classifications that are sometimes assigned together.
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Significant changes were adopted effective January 1, 2017 to companion classifications in the Property Management/Operation Industry Group.
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New multi-seat purchase features and free educational materials are now available on the WCIRB's workers' compensation online training program.
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While many employers in California engage in the rental or sale of party supplies, these employers do not all handle the same types of merchandise or provide the same services to their customers. This e-newsletter addresses how some of the most common party supply store operations are classified.
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As part of its continuing efforts to help insurers efficiently manage their data, the WCIRB will be launching a new feature in WCIRB Connect in the spring of 2017.
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Effective January 1, 2017, Section V, Payroll – Remuneration, Rule 1, Payroll – Remuneration of the USRP was amended to define the term “market value” regarding lodging value that must be included as reported payroll.
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As part of its administration of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System, the WCIRB performs studies to ensure that USRP provisions and classifications are in line with the California economy and changes to various industries.
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The goal when classifying a policyholder’s business is to determine which classification(s) best describe its operations based on the rules found in Part 3 of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP). But how do you ensure that you are applying the right classification to a business especially when workplace processes keep changing as industries evolve? Here are some tips and online resources available to help.
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The WCIRB’s 2017 webinar schedule is now available! Check out the schedule below to see which topics would be of interest to you, and register for as many as you like. WCIRB webinars are free and open to anyone, so encourage your co-workers to sign up too.
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The first course from the WCIRB CompEssentials online workers' compensation training program is Classifications Basics and is already receiving positive reviews.
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The WCIRB is proud to announce that the first course in its CompEssentials® online workers’ compensation training program is now open for enrollment. Classification Basics offers comprehensive training on the Standard Classification System through nine self-paced modules, each approximately 15-20 minutes in length.
Students who successfully complete this course will learn:
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As a part of the WCIRB's multi-year, comprehensive review of the over 700 classifications, new alternate classification wordings were approved effective January 1, 2017, for operations performed by heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractors.
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Each year, the WCIRB reviews certain California industries and as part of its regulatory filing may propose adding or eliminating classifications to keep the Standard Classification System relevant by reflecting current industry practices. In 2016, the WCIRB performed a comprehensive study of the Property Management/Operation Industry Group that contains seven pairs of companion classifications applicable to various types of residential and commercial property operations.
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“Can these businesses be combined?” This is a common question asked by agents, brokers and insurers when calling the WCIRB. What they really want to know is whether or not two entities can be insured on the same policy, or if the payroll and loss experience for two entities should be combined for experience rating. The answer is, it depends.
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Each year the WCIRB reviews certain California industries and as part of its regulatory filing may propose adding or eliminating classifications to keep the Standard Classification System relevant by reflecting current industry practices. This year, one of the new classifications established is Classification 5610, Contractors – construction or erection – all construction subcontracted, which is shown below:
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The payroll and loss data reported to the WCIRB by classification is a vital part of the pure premium ratemaking process. To help ensure the integrity of this data, the WCIRB conducts inspections of employers' operations for classification purposes and conducts test audits to validate the accuracy of the unit statistical report data that insurers submit subsequent to completing their final audit.
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The accurate determination and reporting of payroll/remuneration under the correct classifications is essential to the development of accurate advisory pure premium rates and experience modifications.
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In this edition: USRP requirements when allocating an employee’s payroll into multiple classifications.
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WCIRB Customer Service provides assistance to agents and brokers, insurers and policyholders on a wide variety of workers' compensation topics and WCIRB-related questions. Did you know that answers to many of these questions can be easily found on WCIRB.com, WCIRB Connect® and other workers’ compensation resources on the internet? Save time on the phone and take advantage of these online services:
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The previous edition of the Classification and Test Audit Insight e-newsletter explained that if there is a classification that specifically describes the business, that classification must be assigned, and assignment by analogy to another classification is not permitted.
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One of the challenges faced by insurers, agents and brokers is determining the proper classification for a business operation when there is no classification in Part 3 of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan–1995 (USRP) that specifically describes the operation. In these situations, the USRP directs that a classification is assigned by analogy.
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Last year, the California Insurance Commissioner approved a change to the California Workers’ Compensation Experience Rating Plan–1995 (ERP) to use expected loss rates rather than advisory pure premium rates as the basis of experience rating eligibility.
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The WCIRB often receives questions concerning when a “professional” employee of a private school assignable to Classification 8868, Colleges or Schools – private – not automobile schools – professors, teachers, or academic professional employees, meets the requirements for assignment to Classification 8810(1), Clerical Office Employees. While Classification 8868 specifically includes academic professional employees, many academic professional employees have job duties that are primarily clerical in nature.
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After several years of research and outreach, the WCIRB is poised to begin publishing the first experience modifications based on the 2017 variable split plan. This is anticipated to occur shortly following the Insurance Commissioner’s decision on the January 1, 2017 Regulatory Filing.
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Classification 8859 applies to computer programming, software development, and web application development or website operation. Since its establishment in 1993, Classification 8859 has consistently developed the lowest advisory pure premium rate of any classification. We receive many requests for clarification regarding which employers can be assigned to these low rated classifications. There are certain limitations on what operations can be assigned to Classification 8859 when an employer also performs operations that are assignable to other classifications.
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Workers’ compensation insurance is complex and can be daunting for employers in California. Many employers commonly seek assistance to understand how their business is classified, how their experience modification is calculated, what should be expected at the final audit of their policy, what to do if they have a dispute with the insurer or the WCIRB, and other questions about the California workers’ compensation system.
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The Single Enterprise Rule, found in Part 3 of the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan–1995 (USRP), is a component of the Standard Classification System which directs that activities that are normally associated with a specific business are assigned to the one classification that most accurately describes the entire business even if the business is operated at more than one location.
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Respondents to the 2015 WCIRB Voice of the Customer survey communicated their need for a tool to help them understand the likely impact of the 2017 experience rating changes to their experience modifications. The WCIRB listened and developed two Experience Modification Estimators. These Estimators are Excel-based applications that make it easy for users to estimate and compare experience modifications. Users will have the ability to obtain an estimated experience modification using the approved 2016 Experience Rating Plan values or the proposed 2017 Experience Rating Plan values.
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As part of administering the Standard Classification System, the WCIRB routinely reviews the classification phraseologies contained in the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) to reflect changes in the California economy and changes to various industries. In this edition, we provide a summary of the Classification Research projects that have been prioritized for completion based on direction from the Classification and Rating Committee at the June 15, 2016 meeting.
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January 2017 experience modifications will be issued as early as September—less than 3 months away! In the Mod Talk webinar series, the WCIRB continues outreach efforts to educate the workers’ compensation community on changes to the experience rating formula effective January 1, 2017.
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The WCIRB receives questions regarding the workplace separation requirements that are often required to separately classify operations. It is important to recognize that physical separation is a defined term in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP), and is significantly different from the separation requirements applicable to clerical office employees.
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Employees involved in construction project management can be assigned to a variety of classifications. When construction project management employees are employed by a construction industry contractor, they are often engaged in supervising construction operations and are assigned to their employer’s governing classification as defined in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP)
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Workers’ compensation insurance can be complicated and the WCIRB is always here to help, offering free educational webinars focused on trending workers’ compensation insurance topics and WCIRB products and services available to help agents, brokers and insurers do their job.
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The WCIRB Contact Center frequently receives questions about how to classify domestic or private residence employees. The California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System do not apply to domestic or private residence employees. The USRP addresses this issue in Appendix II, Payroll/Remuneration Table:
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The WCIRB Contact Center regularly answers questions on how to use the many different features of WCIRB Connect. The WCIRB News and Notes is a great way to stay informed on system enhancements and to learn new tips on how to maximize your experience on WCIRB Connect. In this edition, we offer some basics to get you started.
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The California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) was amended effective January 1, 2014, to add Classification 9095, Event Market, Festival or Trade Show Operation. The WCIRB Contact Center has received questions about how and when this relatively new classification applies
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The 2017 enhancement to the experience rating formula is probably the biggest change to California’s experience rating system since 2010. To get everyone prepared for this change we have been presenting a series of webinars called WCIRB Mod Talks.
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In this edition, we will examine Classification 8390, Automobile, Truck or Van Conversion or Customizing, as this classification includes a blend of automotive operations that, when performed individually, are assignable to separate Automotive Industry Group classifications.
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Did you know that we’re less than 6 months away from issuing January 2017 experience modifications based on the new variable split formula? Are you ready to answer questions from policyholders? If you need education on the 2017 changes, you won’t want to miss our WCIRB Mod Talks webinar series.
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There are some common operations performed at both exercise facilities and medical practices that specialize in sports medicine. In this e-newsletter, we will review the characteristics that define and distinguish fitness-related operations assigned to Classifications 9053(2), Exercise or Health Institutes, and 8834, Physicians’ Practices and Outpatient Clinics.
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Increase your understanding of the California workers’ compensation system and the WCIRB by attending our educational webinars. Each 30-minute webinar focuses on a specific workers’ compensation topic, and gives you the opportunity to get your questions answered by WCIRB experts. Check out the schedule below for all of our 2016 educational webinars, which are free and open to anyone.
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The California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) has three rules found in Part 3, Section III, General Classification Procedures that are on-point when classifying supervisory employees. They are Rule 3d, Miscellaneous Employees, Rule 4a, Clerical Office Employees, and Rule 5, General Inclusions.
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“When will my policyholder’s x-mod be issued?”
If you have worked in the workers’ compensation industry for any length of time, you have probably asked that question many times as you wait for January experience modifications to be issued by the WCIRB. Did you notice that the January 2016 experience modifications were issued earlier this year?
Effective January 1, 2016, the Insurance Commissioner approved a change that bases experience rating eligibility on approved expected loss rates rather than advisory pure premium rates.
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Many employers, particularly in the construction and farming industries, compensate their employees on a piece-rate basis. With the passage of Assembly Bill No. 1513, effective January 1, 2016, Labor Code Section 226 was amended to require those employers that pay their workers on a piece-rate basis to:
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Beginning in March, the WCIRB will launch the new Claims Coverage Research feature for WCIRB Connect®. Claims Coverage Research provides insurer claims adjusters immediate access to detailed coverage information for policies back to 1996 to aid in proper claims handling. The Claims Coverage Research feature is available at no cost to WCIRB insurer members and will eliminate the need for insurer claims adjusters to submit hard copy coverage research requests.
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Many employers design products in California, have the products made to their design specifications by separate or out-of-state businesses, and receive the completed merchandise in California for distribution. These employers are assigned to the applicable store or dealer classification and are not assigned to a manufacturing classification. There are two exceptions to this procedure, however, for employers that design clothing or proprietary electronic products in California.
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Next month, the WCIRB will kick off a series of webinar discussions regarding the Experience Rating Plan changes coming in 2017. These webinars will cover what you need to know in order to answer questions from your clients and policyholders, and allow you to ask questions of the WCIRB regarding the potential impact of these changes. Make sure to register!
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During the current drought, many new water wells have been drilled in California and many existing wells have been re-drilled to access deeper groundwater. The WCIRB has received calls regarding classifications applicable to water well drilling and related operations.
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Many employers that operate as manufacturers, wholesale stores or dealers use the term warehouse to describe the portion of their facility used for material or inventory storage. The WCIRB regularly receives calls asking how to classify warehouse employees.
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Planning is already underway for 2016 and a number of exciting product enhancements are on the calendar for rollout in the first quarter. We will be refreshing and adding new content to WCIRB.com and making continued enhancements to WCIRB Connect® throughout the year. We will also conduct extensive outreach regarding the 2017 experience rating formula changes.
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The California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995, at Part 3, Standard Classification System, Section III, General Classification Procedures, Rule 5, General Inclusions, provides a list of operations that are included in all classifications. As General Inclusions, these listed operations are assigned to the classification that otherwise describes and applies to the business, unless they are conducted as a separate and distinct enterprise having no relation to other operations of business.
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With 2016 quickly approaching, the WCIRB is ramping up outreach and education efforts around the approved changes to the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 and the California Workers’ Compensation Experience Rating Plan—1995 effective January 1, 2016, and we are also looking ahead to start providing more information about the 2017 changes.
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Trending Now – New search options for WCIRB Research and Analysis, Pure Premium Rates added to Classification Search and a new Pure Premium Rate (WCRATE) product.
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The WCIRB often receives questions regarding the classifications applicable to charter schools. Since 1992, California law allows local school boards, and in some limited circumstances county boards of education and the state board of education, to authorize charter schools. There are currently over 1,000 charter schools in California.
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Marking a significant change in the timely availability of first quarter experience modifications, the WCIRB – upon the Insurance Commissioner’s approval of the WCIRB’s proposal to base experience rating eligibility on expected loss rates – began publishing 2016 experience modifications in September. As of mid-October, we have already published over 20,000 experience modifications with first quarter 2016 effective dates!
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The WCIRB devotes significant resources to perform classification inspections each year to ensure that classifications are assigned accurately and that data is properly reported to the WCIRB.
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In a Decision dated September 18, 2015, California’s Insurance Commissioner approved January 1, 2016 changes to the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP), California Workers’ Compensation Experience Rating Plan—1995 (ERP) and Miscellaneous Regulations for the Recording and Reporting of Data—1995.
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As part of its administration of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) and the Standard Classification System, the WCIRB performs studies to ensure that USRP provisions and classifications are in line with the California economy and changes to various industries. Here are studies that are currently in progress and could potentially lead to recommendations to amend applicable USRP provisions effective January 1, 2017.
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The WCIRB will be an exhibitor and educational provider at the 2015 Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California (IIABCal) InsurFEST conference in Huntington Beach on November 4-6, 2015. The WCIRB’s Tim Beery and Caleb Stanton will offer a one hour continuing education (CE) credit course on upcoming workers’ compensation changes for 2016, and will highlight some experience rating plan changes that will take effect in 2017.
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In this e-newsletter, we will review how fee-based operations provided to the public by private vocational schools may constitute as Multiple Enterprises based on the rules of the Standard Classification System.
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One of the WCIRB’s core functions is ensuring that the Standard Classification System remains relevant to California’s ever changing business landscape. That’s why we have a unit dedicated to analyzing classifications to make sure that they continue to reflect distinct and identifiable industries comprised of employers engaged in a relatively similar set of operations.
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In a previous Classification and Test Audit Insight e-newsletter, we reviewed the general definition and procedures for miscellaneous employees that are provided in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) at Part 3, Standard Classification System, Section III, General Classification Procedures, Rule 3, Multiple Enterprises.
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Employers that have operations assigned to two or more distinct classifications, other than the Standard Exception classifications, may have some employees that are defined as miscellaneous employees. The general definition of miscellaneous employees is provided in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) at Part 3, Standard Classification System, Section III, General Classification Procedures, Rule 3, Multiple Enterprises, Subrule d. This Rule states, in pertinent part:
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Classification inspections are among the many ways that the WCIRB ensures the quality of the data we use for experience rating and advisory pure premium rates. Here are the top five questions that insurance professionals ask regarding an upcoming inspection of an employer’s business.
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In our April 8, 2015 WCIRB News and Notes, we shared our plans to launch enhancements to WCIRB Connect based on feedback that we received from our users. Many enhancements have already been launched and WCIRB Connect continues to evolve. Coming on or around August 1, we will add an enhancement to the policyholder search function that will add clarifying definitions to the “X-Mod History” grid of the Policyholder Details page.
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Every bi-weekly edition of the Classification and Test Audit Insight highlights a common classification and test audit issue. As a subscriber, these helpful articles are delivered directly to your inbox, but did you know that you can access them on WCIRB.com too? More than 40 past editions of theClassification and Test Audit Insight are available in the WCIRB E-Newsletter archive and are searchable through the WCIRB.com search feature.
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Access to WCIRB Committee agenda, minutes and related documents is now easier than ever via the brand new Committee Documents page in the Publications and Filings section of WCIRB.com.
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This edition covers using Collective Bargaining Agreements to validate the hourly wage of construction employees.
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The WCIRB submitted a regulatory filing to the California Department of Insurance proposing a number of changes to the Insurance Commissioner’s regulations. Among the proposed changes is a recommendation to amend the experience rating formula to replace the fixed primary and excess split point with a variable split point based on an employer’s size.
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This edition discusses which employment and vocational programs qualify for assignment to Classification 8806, Sheltered Workshops or Work Activity Centers.
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This edition focuses on the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) directives for classifying business that provide spa, massage and personal appearance services.
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The WCIRB often receives questions asking how to classify IT and computer help desk operations. Classifying such operations depends on the overall business of the employer and the duties of each employee.
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The WCIRB has just added the approved July 1, 2015 pure premium rates as well as over 3,000 keywords to the online Classification Search tool. Classification Search is the fastest, and most useful online resource for helping users correctly classify operations and businesses.
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When classifying an employer that engages in disaster cleanup and restoration operations several classifications are potentially applicable, based on the scope of the employer’s operations. These employers specialize in the initial cleanup operations at sites where fire or flood damage has occurred.
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Logistics is commonly defined as the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ specific requirements. There are several classifications that can apply to employers engaged in logistics services. To correctly classify such employers, it is imperative to determine the services that the employer performs on a fee basis.
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Last week, the WCIRB issued a pair of bulletins (Bulletin No. 2015-08 and Bulletin No. 2015-09) focused on our efforts to improve the efficiency of our communications while reducing both member costs and our impact on the environment.
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While the WCIRB successfully publishes most experience modifications at least 60 days prior to their effective date, there are times when an experience modification (X-Mod) cannot be published due to missing or incomplete data. Here are some of the most common reasons that the WCIRB cannot publish an X-Mod.
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Classifications 9050(1), Hotels, and 9050(2), Motels, include provisions to separately classify certain employees as 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns. Both of these classifications specify all employees other than employees exclusively engaged in restaurant or tavern operations.
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Every insurer that is licensed to underwrite workers’ compensation insurance in California is required to have a dispute process to facilitate the resolution of policyholders’ issues. Similarly, the WCIRB has a dispute resolution process.
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In this edition: USRP directives for classifying food trucks and other mobile food vendors.
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The WCIRB Connect® online services (formerly “STAR Online”) can provide TPEs access to rate sheets, inspection reports, experience modifications and other policyholder information, and policy and unit statistical report information.
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The WCIRB is pleased to announce the rollout of the first of several planned enhancements to its online services. To kick this off, on February 28th STAR Online will become WCIRB Connect® – a new name that reflects our commitment to connecting our customers to the data and information they need.
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In this edition: Policies with high wage dual wage construction classifications and roofing contractors are subject to additional auditing requirements.
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In case you missed it during the rush of January 1 renewals, the WCIRB launched two new Education on Demand learning modules in late 2014.
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In this edition: Information on 2015 updates to payroll minimum and maximum limitations, physical audit threshold, and classification changes.
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The California Workers' Compensation Coverage Inquiry website (https://www.caworkcompcoverage.com) helps you identify the name of the insurer that wrote a California workers' compensation insurance policy for a specific employer on a specific date within the last 5 years.
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In this edition, factors to analyze when determining the classification applicable to tasting room operations.
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The WCIRB exhibited and WCIRB President and CEO Bill Mudge was one of the featured speakers at InsurFEST 2014, presented by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California (IIABCal).
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In this edition, when the value of meals or lodging provided to an employee must be added to the payroll developed during the policy term for unit statistical data reporting purposes.
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In this edition, learn more about the change to the Experience Rating Plan effective January 1, 2015.
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In this special edition, Dave Bellusci, WCIRB Chief Actuary discusses the findings from the data of the WCIRB's Report on the State of the California Workers' Compensation Insurance System.
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The WCIRB will be an exhibitor at the upcoming InsurFEST 2014 conference in San Francisco on November 6-8 and WCIRB experts in classification and experience rating will be on-hand to answer questions from attendees.
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In this edition: Entities with majority common ownership comprise a single employer for classification purposes.
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The California Department of Insurance held a public hearing on October 8, 2014 to consider the WCIRB's January 1, 2015 Pure Premium Rate Filing which was submitted to the CDI on August 19, 2014 and later amended on September 5, 2014. See related story, Amended Pure Premium Rate Filing Submitted to CDI.
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The WCIRB's free online service for licensed agents and brokers and insurers, available at http://connect .wcirb.com, provides access to experience modifications right from your desktop and in some cases can help you determine why an experience modification has not been issued. The service will even email you when a specific X-Mod is issued. All of these features save you time.
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In this edition: Special Industry Classification Procedures apply to California Electronic Product Manufacturing Classifications.
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In this edition: Merchandisers are employed in a variety of industries that sell products to retailers.
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In this edition, learn more about General Exclusions, operations that must be separately classified.
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In this edition: Changes to the filing schedule will lead to earlier issuance of experience modifications next year
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The California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan — 1995 (USRP) provides specific instructions on classifying wrecking or demolition operation.
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The WCIRB has published two new modules to its Education on Demand library, The Workers' Compensation Dispute Process and About the WCIRB. These modules are available now in the Learning Center of www.wcirb.com.
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In October 2013, the California Insurance Commissioner approved a change to the California Workers' Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Experience Rating Plan) that limits the impact of a single claim on an employer's experience modification if the employer was otherwise loss-free during the experience rating period. This change becomes effective on January 1, 2015.
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In this edition: When employers in the Printing, Publishing and Duplicating Industry Group acquire equipment that allows for new products and services, it can change the applicable classifications.
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The Learning Center section of the WCIRB website (www.wcirb.com) was designed as the central location for educational information. Here you will find the Online Guide to Workers' Compensation, links to Education on Demand video modules, a glossary, helpful links and answers to frequently asked questions.
Online Guide to Workers' Compensation
The Guide contains several modules covering the basics of workers' compensation insurance. These modules include:
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WCIRB Connect includes a number of features designed to make policy quoting and underwriting more convenient for insurers, agents and brokers. In this edition of News and Notes, learn about two of these features: X-Mod Direct® and the Comprehensive Risk Summary® report.
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The regulations contained in the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 help determine reportable remuneration. But what about independent contractors?
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Experience modifications that are calculated by the WCIRB rely on unit statistical data reported to the WCIRB by the insurer or insurers that wrote the workers' compensation policies during the experience period. When an insurer becomes insolvent, some or all of the insurer's data may not be used in the calculation of experience modifications.
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Proposing changes to the Insurance Commissioner's regulations and advisory pure premium rates.
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This edition focuses on reviewing the classifications applicable to various types of weight loss programs and services.
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Earlier this year, the WCIRB launched the Classification Search tool on WCIRB.com. This new functionality allows users the ability to enter keywords to find a list of all classification phraseologies that contain the keyword or that are commonly associated with the keyword. Classification Search is available in the Learning Center section of the WCIRB's website.
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Aggregate financial data reported by insurers is a critical component in the determination of advisory pure premium rates. Learn more about exactly what data is being collected and what it represents.
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Medical transaction data reporting is now required in California for NAIC groups that write at least 1% of the California workers' compensation market and the WCIRB has launched the new California Medical Transaction Data Quality Assurance Program.
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Reporting unit statistical loss corrections is a common source of questions for data reporters. Learn more about when a loss correction should be submitted.
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In this edition, we highlight changes to the classifications applicable to laundry and dry cleaning operations.
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March 1, 2014 marked the two year anniversary for the WCIRB's coverage information website (www.caworkcompcoverage.com). The purpose of the Coverage Website is to assist in identifying the name of an insurance company that wrote a California workers' compensation insurance policy for a specific policyholder on a specific day within the last 5 years
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When a school assigned to Classifications 8868, Colleges or Schools - private – academic professionals / 9101, Colleges or Schools - private, or
8875, Public Colleges or Schools, also provides before school or after school day care programs for the schools' students, only the school classifications will apply.
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When more than one classification applies to operations that are closely related, it is important to understand the boundaries of each classification. For example, the WCIRB has fielded questions regarding Classification 0042, Landscape Gardening, and 0106, Tree Pruning, Repairing or Trimming.
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The WCIRB often receives inquiries regarding whether an experience modification will be revised when a claim is closed. The Closed Claim rule (California Workers' Compensation Experience Rating Plan–1995 (ERP), Section VI, Rule 12, Closed Claims) provides that an experience modification may be subject to revision whenever claims that were used in calculating the experience modification are reported as closed pursuant to the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan–1995 (USRP).
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As part of its administration of the Standard Classification System, the WCIRB routinely reviews the classification code phraseologies contained in the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP) to reflect changes in the California economy and changes to various industries. In 2013, the WCIRB began a multi-year, comprehensive review of the over 700 classifications contained in the USRP to ensure that the scope of each classification is clearly defined and to include information as needed pertaining to related classifications.
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Labor Code Section 3701.9, which took effect January 1, 2013, prohibits professional employer organizations, leasing employers, temporary staffing agencies and any employer regardless of name or form that is determined to be in the business of providing employees to other employers (collectively, Labor Contractors), from obtaining a certificate of self-insurance. All previously issued self-insurance certificates for Labor Contractors are revoked as of January 1, 2015.
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The Insurance Commissioner's regulations pertaining to workers' compensation classification assignments are contained in the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan-1995, at Part 3, Standard Classification System. The WCIRB often receives questions about how the regulations work together to establish classification assignments.
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The California Workers' Compensation Experience Rating Plan - 1995 (ERP) at Section V, Rule 4, Application of Experience Modification to Policies Covering Employee Leasing Arrangements, provides requirements for workers' compensation policies written where an entity utilizes the services of a third party (Labor Contractor) to provide its workers for a fee or other compensation.
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Effective January 1, 2014, Classification 5606, Contractors – construction or erection, was amended for clarity to include management level employees such as safety managers, project managers and engineers, who are not in the direct chain of command over construction operations but whose duties include walking through a construction site during the construction phase, provided the insured retains two levels of supervision over the construction crew(s) or where all operations have been subcontracted to licensed subcontractors. These amendments, which are included in Classification 5606 shown below, do not represent any change to established classification procedure; rather, the amendments were for clarity only.
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This edition covers the impact of ownership on experience rating which led to a question about how ownership is determined.
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Knowing the experience period, and the payroll and losses developed by policies beginning during the experience period, can help forecast how an experience modification may be impacted when new data is used in the calculation and older data is no longer used.
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With the Insurance Commissioner's decision regarding the January 1, 2014 Regulatory Filing, and the soon to be issued decision regarding the January 1, 2014 Pure Premium Rate Filing, the WCIRB is putting the finishing touches on the 2014 editions of the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995 (USRP), the California Workers' Compensation Experience Rating Plan—1995 (ERP) and the Miscellaneous Regulations for the Recording and Reporting of Data—1995 (Miscellaneous Regulations).
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The WCIRB recently received a question regarding a business that is a combination dental office and medical clinic. Most of the employees are assigned to either Classification 8839, Dentists and Dental Surgeons - all employees - including Clerical Office Employees, or Classification 8834, Physicians - all employees - including Clerical Office Employees. The billing, administration and clerical office functions are performed by a common group of employees. Which classification should be assigned to the shared clerical staff?
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A policyholder's eligibility for experience rating is determined by a number of factors. To determine eligibility, payroll developed during the experience period is totaled by classification code. These totals are multiplied by the pure premium rate that applies as of the effective date of the experience modification, not the insurer's rate, for the particular classification. The sum of these premium calculations must equal or exceed the minimum premium threshold.
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