$$ RETRO REFUNDS $$

WRA�s retrospective rating program continues to be very successful and members will be receiving their final adjustment refund for the 2003/2004 retro year in June. The success of our program continues as most claims have closed and losses are minimal. The cooperation from members on safety, along with our in-house aggressive early return to work services and timely investigations have been the key to the program's refunds. We are looking forward to sending large checks to members again in June.

WRA SAVES MEMBER FROM UNNECESSARY PREMIUMS AND FINES

WRA received a call from a member on 1-10-07 advising us that L&I had just informed this member he was in error by not reporting hours worked by an employee they considered was an Independent Contractor, even though he had left their employ on 5-31-98. This ex-employee had went out on his own bidding various jobs and using the member's company, along with other companies as a supplier in his bids.

The L&I account manager determined the member needed to amend their quarterly reports for the last three years, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The member was instructed to include the alleged Independent Contractor�s hours worked and to submit a check for the balance due for the past three reporting years. This would have cost the member a total of $1,692.30 for the alleged past due L&I premiums, plus any fines and late fees associated with this delay in payment.

The WRA Director of Industrial Insurance Services, Pat Nielsen, fully investigated this matter. He prepared and submitted a protest to L&I on 3-8-07 arguing the Department was in error as the employee in question was not a "Contractor" per their own definition under RCW 18.27.010. He contended the member should not be held to the six part test to determine if the employee was an Independent Contractor by legal definition.

On 3-13-07 Pat was contacted by the L&I and was informed by the account manager that they agreed with our position and will not be further pursuing this matter. This is a great win for our WRA member.

We encourage our members to contact the WRA if they have any questions about their risk class codes. If an investigation is warranted our Director, Pat Nielsen, will be more than happy to assist.

WORKPLACE POSTERS

Interested in downloading up to date workplace posters, click on this link to L&I's workplace posters. http://www.lni.wa.gov/IPUB/101-054-000.asp

HAVE A SAFETY INQUIRY

This will take you to valuable safety information from Labor and Industries. http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/default.asp

If you still have questions, please contact our office.

Tammie Hetrick, Vice President of Industrial Insurance Services

To represent the legislative, regulatory and political interests of the retailing industry in the State of Washington at the local, state and national level; to promote the orderly development and economic advancement of Washington retailing and the state as a whole; to stimulate and enhance competitive enterprise with community responsibility; to provide programs of service and action in promoting the common interests of members; and to secure cooperation with and among other organizations in the furtherance of these objectives.

REMEMBER YOUR WRA RETRO MEMBERSHIP DOES MORE THAN JUST HELP YOU WITH CLAIMS AND SAFETY

WRA not only assists you with all workers' compensation claims issues along with safety, we are also here to help you with many other concerns or questions regarding Labor and Industries (L&I).

We can help you with:

Concerned L&I is charging you for the wrong risk class
L&I Safety Inspectors are on your site and you don't know what to do
You have changed ownership or company status and not sure what paperwork to complete
You just received fines from L&I for safety/premiums/etc.
Want to know how you can reduce your losses
Company merger/buyout/sale, we can assist with notification to L&I
Any issue pertaining to Labor and Industries, WE CAN HELP YOU

We will keep your company information confidential while we investigate risk classes and other data until we have determined we can assist you in saving time and/or money. Please contact Tammie Hetrick at 360-943-9198 ext. 13 tammie@retailassociation.org or Pat Nielsen at ext. 14 pat@retailassociation.org with any questions you may have.