Wash. Business Deserves Lower Workers-Comp Rates, Seattle Management Consultant

April 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Seattle management consultant Terry Corbell says reform is needed to reduce Washington state’s workers-compensation rates, but a such proposal is buried in a legislative committee.

“ESB 5566 would alleviate rates and allow workers to receive voluntary lump-sum payments instead of pensions,” says the business-performance consultant.

Mr. Corbell says the bill is generally supported by businesses and the Association of Washington Business, and opposed by labor.

“The bill has been stalled in committee – the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee, which is chaired by Mike Sells, D-Everett,” observes Mr. Corbell on his business portal, The Biz Coach – Proven Solutions for Maximum Profits.

“That’s despite support from AWB and former Washington and Oregon L&I Director Gary Weeks,” he says.

“Mr. Weeks has been quoted as saying voluntary settlements work in 44 other states and they save money – $1.2 billion by Washington L&I estimates,” adds Mr. Corbell

“We have two weeks to go and while the prospects for passage maybe dim, it is never over until it’s over, as Yogi Berra would say,” says AWB President Don Brunell. “Keep contacting the Governor and House members.  If they say no, don’t give up because the answer is always no until it is yes.”

Mr. Brunell asserts the bill’s passage will alleviate the pain on business.

“Because without reforms such as incorporated in ESB 5566, we are likely to look at double-digit workers compensation rage increases in 2012,” says the AWB president.  
“Some are saying 20 percent or higher,” he adds. “So while I know that killing voluntary settlements makes absolutely no sense, this all about politics.”

Mr. Corbell’s column links to an AWB Web page that shows business people how to take action (http://www.bizcoachinfo.com/archives/6140).

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Seattle Biz Coach Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. In management cosulting since 1992, he publishes performance-enhancing strategies at The Biz Coach: http://www.bizcoachinfo.com, Proven Solutions for Maximum Profits.