Page 29 - Grapevine NovDec 2020

In The Winery

grams can significantly reduce your claims expense. to “fortify” your workers’ compensation” expo-
Medical providers must understand your winery sures. Not only do you need to have controls in
operations and human resources philosophies, place to manage the safety and health risks inher-
should specialize in occupational medicine, and be ent to your winery you also need to have systems
willing to work closely with your insurer. in place to manage a claim should it occur. Having
an integrated management system such as this can
Return-to-Work greatly help your winery in addressing these risks.

It is well established that returning injured This document is intended for general informa-
employees to the workforce in a timely manner tion purposes only, and should not be construed
substantially decreases both direct and indirect as advice or opinions on any specific facts or cir-
costs. Programs that focus on managing temporary cumstances. The content of this document is made
disability, permanent disability and early return- available on an “as is” basis, without warranty
to-work will have the greatest impact on reducing of any kind. This publication is not intended to be
claims expense and increasing employee satisfac- legal, underwriting, or any other type of profession-
tion and productivity. al advice. Persons requiring advice should consult
an independent adviser. Markel does not guaran-
There are many approaches to establishing return- tee any particular outcome and makes no commit-
to-work programs, based on your winery’s culture ment to update any information herein, or remove
and individual needs. They range from simple any items that are no longer accurate or complete.
“modified duty” plans to fully integrated “total © 2020 Markel Service, Incorporated. All rights
absence management” programs seeking to use the reserved.
same practices and protocols to manage all time
off work – both occupational and non-occupational
injury and illness. In addition to reducing work-
ers’ compensation expense, these programs can
decrease your exposure under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and other similar federal and
state laws.

Know your Experience Rating
or Experience Modification

An experience rating or modification provides a
financial incentive to reduce workplace accidents.
The rating does not apply to all employers. Most
small employers are not eligible. Visit with your
insurance agent to determine if or when you may
qualify for an experience modification.

An experience modification compares your win-
ery’s loss or claims history to all other companies in
the same industry that are similar in size. A modifi-
cation of less than 1.00 reflects better than average
losses while over 1.00 reflects worse than average
losses. The modification increases or decreases the
cost of your winery’s workers’ compensation insur-
ance premium. It must be applied to your policy
regardless of the insurer.

Conclusion

There are many things to consider as you attempt

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