business backgrounder | economy
compwise services support employers , employees
Workplace safety and workers ’ compensation are key issues for every employer , and that ’ s why AWB offers CompWise , a comprehensive workers ’ compensation retrospective rating ( Retro ) program .
CompWise covers a full range of comprehensive services , including regulatory compliance , consulting , safety training , field audits , active claims management , even representation before the Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals .
If an employee is injured , CompWise will help evaluate the situation to get the claim closed and get the employee back to work safely and appropriately .
“ I truly appreciate all the expert advice and support we receive from the CompWise team . They stay on top of our claims and care about our business . Not only do we get superior service and support , we appreciate the workers ’ comp premium refunds we ’ ve received over the years .”
— Peggy Jones , human resource generalist , Werner Paddles
“ Our goal is to help solve employer problems and be their advocate ,” said Debra Brown , president of Forterra , AWB ’ s member services subsidiary . “ We ’ re pretty much a one-stop-shop for workers ’ comp and help employers by providing services such as safety , return-to-work , effective claims management and more . Plus , employers can earn refunds on their premiums and lower the upfront payments they make to L & I .”
Time has shown that CompWise ’ s safety audits and proactive claims management make a difference in lowering costs by helping avoid injuries and getting injured employees back to work . That means lower workers ’ comp premiums , a lower experience factor ( which affects the rate employers pay into the industrial insurance system ) and the opportunity for employers to qualify for premium refunds over time . In 2021 alone , for example , the CompWise program generated $ 18 million in premium refunds for participating employers . Washington ’ s Retro programs date back to the early 1980s and are a way for Washington ’ s monopoly state-run workers ’ compensation system to introduce a bit of private-sector innovation and energy , leading to better outcomes for employees and lower costs for employers .
40 association of washington business