On March 5, the State Senate passed SB 5566, which would allow employers in Washington state to settle workers’ compensation claims with “compromise-and-release” lump-sum buyouts of injured workers. This would be a radical change for the state’s workers’ compensation system, which is a national model for its low costs and high benefits — a system [...]
Imagine a company that does business in every county in Washington state, pumping billions in payroll dollars into our economy. Better still, this company is counter-cyclical, ramping up hiring and payroll when the state economy is struggling. The rest of the business community and public officials all benefit thanks to increased consumer spending and tax [...]
Washington is considered a low-cost, high-benefit state One of the most persistent myths about Washington state’s business climate is that our workers’ compensation costs are higher than in most other states. The fact that many employers and public policymakers believe this to be true is another indication of the power and resonance of the negative [...]
National rankings contradict negative internal rhetoric If Al Franken was still on Saturday Night Live portraying life coach and self-confidence guru Stuart Smalley (instead of serving in the U.S. Senate), some of our state’s elected leaders could have a session in front of his mirror repeating, “We’re good enough, we’re smart enough and doggone it, [...]
