Washington state proposes workers’ comp rate increase

Tumwater, WA – The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries on Sept. 16 proposed an average increase of 2.7 percent for 2014 workers’ compensation premiums.

This would be the first rate increase in three years and adds up to less than 2 cents per hours worked, according to an L&I press release.

L&I Director Joel Sacks said the proposed increase is benchmarked against wage inflation and supports the agency’s larger goals of ensuring “steady and predictable rates,” getting injured workers well and back on the job, and reducing costs. The increase also would help the agency boost its reserves, which Sacks said were used to keep rates low during the Great Recession.

Public hearings on the proposed rates are scheduled for Oct. 22-29. The final rate will be adopted in December and go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.