Workmen’s Compensation insurance has got beyond control during the last many years, many companies cannot support those costs. Meanwhile workers want raises however the business person cannot pay anymore due to all of the costs associated with worker’s comp. Worse, in some states the laws have changed and today the insurance coverage companies are auditing the books of companies and asking for money from previous quarters, sometimes into previous years.
So, here we are in the middle of an economic depression as well as an insurance provider is demanding back-payments due to state regulations changes, and when you can’t pay as a business, they sue you and they cancel your workmen’s compensation insurance, which legally you must have, effectively putting you out of trouble of business and forcing your whole workforce, all of the employees inside your company out of business. A lot for helping small company and saving jobs during a recession.
It has happened in many states, but probably the most fascinating recent challenge has been around Montana, where wages happen to be low and jobs throughout the recession scarce. In Montana, there was a law passed in 2005 that said; “Every Employee must have worker’s compensation insurance.”
Most would say this is a good law, as it also covers “casual labor” and migrant labor in the event of a work-related accident. If employers did not have insurance for these people too, then your state medical services could possibly have to pick up the tab.
Unfortunately, the insurance companies and also the state seem to believe that self-employed business people who don’t work at a physical business location be forced to pay on themselves, as well as any independent contractors. This severely impacts family farmers who have recently been cut to shreds through the years rivaling corporate farms.
Inside a place like Montana, where agriculture may be the largest industry, this is serious business. Some of the back assessments and fines happen to be 10s of $1000s and several businesses just cannot pay much and still remain in business. Your Montana says it’s trying to educate everyone as to how the law works, but many businesses say; “the law doesn’t work and doesn’t make sense at all.” Think on this.