Question on workers comp in Ohio

Gareth's Tree

Gareth's Tree

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I know the right thing to do is to have employees, not subcontractors. And one of the largest expenses associated with that is workers comp. Here in Ohio we are limited to only going through the state provided workers comp program. However, there are companies that provide group rating programs.
So, my question's to other tree services in Ohio, (since, my understanding is, workers comp is State specific): Who do you go through to get a group rating on workers comp? And what is the percentage of wadges that you have to pay towards workers comp?
 
My understanding is that Worker's Comp rates are based on total payroll + a job classification based on injury risk as well as years in business, past accident claims, etc. Here is a site that helps you find your job classification code: http://classcodes.net/ohio-workers-compensation-class-codes/ and the specific manual for Ohio, https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/DOWNLOADS/BLANKPDF/STATEFUNDMANUAL.PDF --I think the code for most private tree service companies will be 0106. As you can tell the manual is possibly better than a sleeping pill.

That said, I did find this site that seems to be good resource for you to start with: http://www.ohioforest.org/?page=Workers I'd go to them first and see what guidance they can supply.

My experience has been that you project your payroll to start and prepay the premium, then report your actual payroll for the time period and rebates are sent or applied to the next premium if your actual payroll is more than projected.
 
Anyone else in a group in Ohio for better rates? Also, can you classify people as a grounding or a climber, and have them have different rates for workers comp?
 
Our carrier is comp management...it is very expensive but does save money...they also handle fraudulant claims if the need ever arises for no additional cost...our workers are classified by job.
 
craneguy1 said:
Our carrier is comp management...it is very expensive but does save money...they also handle fraudulant claims if the need ever arises for no additional cost...our workers are classified by job.
Click to expand...
Are you in Ohio? My understanding is that different states do things differently. So when you say your workers are classified by the job, that means that there's a different rate for a climber or a groundy? Roughly what is the percentage of money paid in wages that you pay to workers comp?
 
We are in ohio....yes the rates are different depending on the employees classification...not sure what our numbers are off the top of my head, not my department...last i heard a few years back the state of ohio was at like $.43 on the dollar for w.c. for a tree service...on the same note i can also recall 2 sizeable refunds after their account got full over the years.
 
Typically worker's comp is calculated as a dollar sum per every $100 of payroll but you do have to have your different workers categorized (for example, if you have an office manager, that person will be a lower rate than someone who is actually doing the field service). And again, a lot will depend on how long in business you've been, have there been any accidents or safety violations, any lawsuits against employees or management. It's hard to say exactly what the rate will be because it is not a straightforward computation. I wish there was an easy answer, but on the other hand, you probably would prefer to have the incompetents whacked financially for being a lousy example for the rest of you who do things by the book.
 
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