Workers Comp & Employee Risk

Workers comp is driven by class codes, payroll, and claim frequency. This hub covers audits, volatility, and why small claims matter.

Most owners get here after an audit surprise or a renewal spike.

Common questions people have

These are the questions people usually ask before they decide.

Class Codes and Tip Wages: The Audit Surprise 1 min read
Restaurants often see back premiums after audits even when headcount stays flat.
Kitchen Injury Frequency: The Workers Comp Driver 1 min read
Restaurant workers comp costs rise after a string of small burns or cuts.
Class Codes and Audits: The Back Premium Trap 1 min read
Low class code rates look like an easy premium win. Then the audit hits and the savings disappear.
Deductibles and Retro Plans: Know the Volatility 1 min read
Lower premium options look attractive when cash is tight. Deductibles and retro plans are the common lever, but they add volatility.
Loss Frequency vs Severity for Small Contractors 1 min read
Small contractors feel punished for a string of minor claims. That feels unfair until you see how rating tiers move.
Payroll and Class Codes: The Base Rate Drivers 1 min read
Small contractors see large premium swings even when headcount feels stable. Payroll reporting and class codes are usually the hidden driver.
Loss Cycles: Why Construction Tightens First 1 min read
Construction firms feel rate pressure early in market downturns. That is not personal. It is portfolio-level appetite.

If you want the mechanics and tradeoffs in full, start here.

Kitchen Injuries: Why Frequency Beats Severity in Pricing 5 min read
One serious injury hurts, but a steady drip of cuts and burns moves premiums faster. Restaurant workers comp is a frequency game.
Loss Cycles: Why Construction Tightens First 5 min read
When the market tightens, construction feels it first. The claims are more volatile and the pricing reacts faster.
Payroll Volatility: How It Moves Workers Comp More Than You Expect 5 min read
Workers comp is priced on payroll. When payroll swings, the premium follows. The surprises happen when the estimate and the audit do not match.
Workers Comp Audits: How Class Codes Back-Bill You 5 min read
Workers comp audits are a reconciliation of class codes and payroll. If the codes are off, the back bill can be large.

Construction combines jobsite liability, workers comp volatility, and mobile equipment exposure.

Loss Cycles: Why Construction Tightens First 5 min read
When the market tightens, construction feels it first. The claims are more volatile and the pricing reacts faster.
Class Codes and Audits: The Back Premium Trap 1 min read
Low class code rates look like an easy premium win. Then the audit hits and the savings disappear.
Deductibles and Retro Plans: Know the Volatility 1 min read
Lower premium options look attractive when cash is tight. Deductibles and retro plans are the common lever, but they add volatility.
Loss Frequency vs Severity for Small Contractors 1 min read
Small contractors feel punished for a string of minor claims. That feels unfair until you see how rating tiers move.
Payroll and Class Codes: The Base Rate Drivers 1 min read
Small contractors see large premium swings even when headcount feels stable. Payroll reporting and class codes are usually the hidden driver.
Loss Cycles: Why Construction Tightens First 1 min read
Construction firms feel rate pressure early in market downturns. That is not personal. It is portfolio-level appetite.

Restaurants are frequency-heavy, and small claims move pricing faster than you expect.

Class Codes and Tip Wages: The Audit Surprise 1 min read
Restaurants often see back premiums after audits even when headcount stays flat.
Kitchen Injury Frequency: The Workers Comp Driver 1 min read
Restaurant workers comp costs rise after a string of small burns or cuts.

If you want a second set of eyes, this is usually where I start.