Straight answers to your workers' comp questions.
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What Pay Should Be Included or Excluded in Your Workers’ Comp Audit?

NOTE:  Some of these may not apply to your state. Check the NCCI or your state’s rating bureau’s rules.

INCLUDED

  • Gross wages
  • Salaries
  • Commissions
  • Bonuses
  • Vacation
  • Holiday pay
  • Sick pay
  • Piecework
  • Allowances
  • Straight portion of overtime
  • Meals and lodging if provided in lieu of wages
  • Market value of gifts
  • All substitutes for money earned during the policy period by employees and officers of the employer
  • Corporate officers, partners, and LLC members if not excluded by endorsement – subject to a minimum and maximum amount

EXCLUDED

  • Excluded officers (by endorsement)
  • Sole-proprietors
  • Premium portion of overtime
  • Meals and lodging if not provided in lieu of wages
  • Tips
  • Severance Pay
  • Employer contributions to group insurance or qualified retirement plans
  • Cafeteria plans qualified under Section 125 of Internal Revenue Code (CA only)
  • Value of automobiles provided to employees used in the conduct of business
  • Fringe benefits paid into an approved fund or 3rd party administrator
  • Expense reimbursements that are documented and incurred by the employee in the conduct of the employer’s business

Why You Should Schedule Your Audit First Thing In the Morning

I once read an audit “tip” that employers should schedule their audits on a Friday afternoon. This is so that the auditor would rather get out of there than spend too much time on the audit. Obviously these people have never actually done an … [Continue reading]

What Workers’ Compensation Code Applies to Your Supervisors?

What Workers’ Compensation Code Applies to Your Supervisors?

After code 8810, this issue causes the most disputes. Unfortunately, it usually never works out like most people want it to.   First of all, what is a supervisor? From a workers' comp definition, a supervisor is someone who directly … [Continue reading]

CA Workers’ Compensation Codes: Numerical

Hint: use Ctrl+F to search this page by keyword. Click here for the full list of CA workers' compensation codes in alphabetical order. 0005 Nurseries—propagation 0016 Orchards—citrus, deciduous 0034(1) Poultry … [Continue reading]

Auto Service Advisors and Estimators: Why Aren’t They Assigned to 8810?

Auto Service Advisors and Estimators: Why Aren’t They Assigned to 8810?

If you own an auto body or mechanical service shop, you were probably surprised -- and not happy -- to learn that your service advisors and estimators do not qualify for class code 8810. Why? To understand the reasoning, you first need to … [Continue reading]