Big Workers' Comp Legislative Hearing Coming Monday
The employer community, including WSIA, is making a major push at the state Legislature for system improvements in workers' comp this year. To that end, the Senate Commerce, Labor & Sports Committee is holding its first hearing on workers' compensation reform issues this Monday, January 23rd at 1:30pm in Olympia. The hearing will center around the community's reform bill (bill language here; explanation and rationale here). We are encouraging WSIA members who are in or around Olympia, or want to be, to show your support by attending the hearing in the Cherberg Office Building, Senate Hearing Room 4. Contact Kris Tefft for details and stay tuned for a report on the hearing next week.
Attention Eastsiders: Winter East up next Thursday - last chance to register
We're almost at capacity for next week's Winter East conference, our east-of-the-mountains edition of this month's successful Winter West conference, but you've got one more chance to get your registration in. The conference focuses on all the intricate claims management, safety, and return to work issues that arise in the life of claims. We'll be at the beautiful Historic Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane all day Thursday. Click here for more info or to get your registration in. Special thanks to Conference Sponsor Archbright and Platinum Sponsor Miles Investigations for helping make this one possible.
Are you following the new (old) paid family leave issue?
Remember in 2007 when the Legislature passed a paid family leave program but didn't fund it or specify its requirements? Now, ten years later, labor activists are making a concerted push to fund and implement paid family leave with a new premium tax on employers and new leave rights for workers. Surprisingly, business-friendly legislators stung by last fall's passage of a minimum wage/paid sick leave initiative, are coming to the table with their own proposals. This will be one to watch all session long for our members with integrated leave programs. Read a comparison of the proposals here, and a news story exploring the bipartisan interest in the issue here.
Department awards February Complex Claims training 14 CEU credits
If you or your teammates need to drill down into complex claims issues with a panel of experts, and earn 8.5 claims management, 4.5 legal, and one general CEU credit from the Department (or 15 WWCP, HRCI, or SHRM credits), now is the time to register for our February 15-16 training. With this year's Complex Claims we are following the lead of the Bar Association and many other continuing ed providers by offering a live broadcast option -- attend the training from your own office or device, or here in person at the WSIA training center in Olympia. Get all the details and registration info here.
Two new webinars added to events calendar this week
Earlier this week we sent around a notice of two new online training events we've set up for February. On February 8th, we have a veteran panel of presenters from law, investigations, and claims management exploring "Effective Investigative Practices for Workers' Compensation" from 9 to 11. Check it out here. Then, on February 23rd, WSIA Legal Committee chair John Klor delivers his popular (and free!) annual webinar, the "Legal Year in Review," looking at all the major cases from the BIIA to the Supreme Court that came out last year. Check that one out here.
Attention State Fund members - important Retro meeting Jan. 30th
The Department of Labor & Industries, at the request of the members of the Retro Advisory Committee, have pulled together a meeting to go over some significant proposed changes to the insurance tables and related factors used to operate the retrospective ratings program, following a report from Oliver Wyman consulting. The meeting is Monday, January 30th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Farm Bureau offices in Lacey. More information here.
Puget Sound Energy's Jenny Haykin to broadcast on RTW Feb. 1
Finally, don't miss out on vocational and HR expert Jenny Haykin's presentation on February 1 entitled "Returning to Work - Motivation is the Key to Success" at 9:00 a.m. on February 1. Jenny is the Integrated Leave and Disability Manager at Puget Sound Energy in Bellevue, and her presentation gets at the heart of what employers and others can do to inspire workers to return to the workplace following an injury. Accredited for 1 claims management and 1 general CEU from L&I, as well as 2 WWCP and HRCI/SHRM credits, the presentation is available to attend in person at our office in Olympia or by webinar from your own office. Get the info and registration here.
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