Report Finds Improvements in County’s Workers’ Comp System
- A Ventura County Civil Grand Jury report, “Setting the Record Straight on Presumptive Workers’ Compensation Claims,” found the county’s handling of presumptive claims (work-related conditions legally presumed to be job-caused for public safety employees like deputy sheriffs and firefighters) has significantly improved over the past three years, though negative perceptions among employees persist.
- Deputy sheriffs interviewed described past frustrations including poor communication, confusing delays, claim denials that were later reversed and long wait times, while Ventura County Risk Management pointed to California’s complex and sometimes contradictory Labor Code as a contributing factor.
- Since 2023, the county has made meaningful improvements, including more timely medical treatment, greater flexibility in accepting new treatment protocols and up to $10,000 in medical treatment available to claimants while their claims are pending.
- The Grand Jury noted lingering perception issues stemming from past experience, with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office having previously concluded that claims were denied without justification and that some deputies felt hiring an attorney was the only way to get fair treatment.
WorkSafeBC Rates to Stay Flat in 2027
- WorkSafeBC has announced the preliminary average base rate for 2027 will remain at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll, marking the 10th consecutive year at this level, though the rate is still subject to final board approval this fall.
- The organization is proposing to return nearly $1 billion ($960 million) in surplus funds to employers in 2027 through discounted rates and assessment credits, including $677 million from pricing base rates 18% below the projected average cost rate of $1.88.
- In 2027, 52% of employers will see either a rate decrease or no change, while 48% will see an increase. WorksafeBC’s board of directors will finalize the 2027 premium rates in October.
- To provide rate stability amid economic uncertainty, WorkSafeBC will again cap base rate increases at a maximum of 15% while allowing decreases of up to 30%, the same temporary approach used in 2026.