While most articles and television shows dealing with workers' compensation focus on worker's getting their benefits for injuries that occur on the job, there are also some common employer mistakes that are made when dealing with Oklahoma's workers' compensation that can end up costing you, the employer extra money that can hurt your profits and perhaps, your overall business success.
Here are some common mistakes employer's make when dealing with Oklahoma Workers' compensation laws and insurance.
No Safety Plan or Insufficient Safety Controls
The more workers' compensation claims your business has the higher the insurance premiums are going to be. Yet, surprisingly few employers take the time to review their safety plan and controls in order to see that they are sufficient to help keep employees safe and reduce the risk of accidents occurring in the first place. The safer the work environment is the less likely it will be that an employee will have an accident that results in a serious injury and lost time at work. Helping to instill controls that keep employees safe will result in you, the employer paying lower worker's comp premiums while improving employee morale and productivity.
No Return To Work Program
The more time an employee is off work due to an injury, the higher your premiums for workers' compensation will be. Having a return to work program that allows an employee to come back to work doing limited and safe tasks while he continues to heal will not only help him/her to heal faster, but also will result in his/her collecting those worker's compensation benefits for a shorter amount of time. The workers doctor will make the final decision when it is safe for them to return to work, but having a program that allows your employee to return back to work in a limited capacity makes it easier for the doctor to allow him to return while specifying those duties that need to be restricted.
Not Getting A Certificate Of Insurance From Subcontractors
Many business owners hire subcontracts to do doing certain work at their business. These subcontractors are expected to carry their own insurance. You need to get a copy of their certificate of insurance because if you don't and are audited you will be required to pay workers' compensation for the time that subcontractor worked for you.
Making sure that you avoid these common mistakes that results in higher premiums for your Oklahoma workers' compensation can help your business show more profit, increase productivity, and prevent you from paying larger premiums that may not have been necessary.
Here are some common mistakes employer's make when dealing with Oklahoma Workers' compensation laws and insurance.
No Safety Plan or Insufficient Safety Controls
The more workers' compensation claims your business has the higher the insurance premiums are going to be. Yet, surprisingly few employers take the time to review their safety plan and controls in order to see that they are sufficient to help keep employees safe and reduce the risk of accidents occurring in the first place. The safer the work environment is the less likely it will be that an employee will have an accident that results in a serious injury and lost time at work. Helping to instill controls that keep employees safe will result in you, the employer paying lower worker's comp premiums while improving employee morale and productivity.
No Return To Work Program
The more time an employee is off work due to an injury, the higher your premiums for workers' compensation will be. Having a return to work program that allows an employee to come back to work doing limited and safe tasks while he continues to heal will not only help him/her to heal faster, but also will result in his/her collecting those worker's compensation benefits for a shorter amount of time. The workers doctor will make the final decision when it is safe for them to return to work, but having a program that allows your employee to return back to work in a limited capacity makes it easier for the doctor to allow him to return while specifying those duties that need to be restricted.
Not Getting A Certificate Of Insurance From Subcontractors
Many business owners hire subcontracts to do doing certain work at their business. These subcontractors are expected to carry their own insurance. You need to get a copy of their certificate of insurance because if you don't and are audited you will be required to pay workers' compensation for the time that subcontractor worked for you.
Making sure that you avoid these common mistakes that results in higher premiums for your Oklahoma workers' compensation can help your business show more profit, increase productivity, and prevent you from paying larger premiums that may not have been necessary.
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