Wyo. Workers’ Comp Rates to Stay the Same, for Now

Wyoming officials have, for now, declined to change the amount businesses pay for workers’ compensation insurance.

“The issue was not dropped,” said Wendy Tyson, administrator of the Employment Tax Division. “We still feel there’s a need for change.”

Companies pay into the state workers’ compensation system, which provides benefits to cover lost wages and medical expenses of employees injured on the job.

Earlier this month, the division held a public hearing to gauge reaction to proposed changes in rates paid by companies, rates which are based in large part on the number of accidents and injuries incurred by those businesses.

Representatives of some of the state’s largest employers embraced the proposal because it would end their subsidizing of smaller businesses.

But Lynn Birleffi of the Wyoming Restaurant and Lodging Association said small businesses were concerned their insurance rates would unfairly increase even if they maintained good safety records and that they would shoulder a disproportionate burden of the increase.

Tyson said no changes will be made this year, but the division will gather representatives from businesses of all sizes to take a closer look at the issue.

That group could start meeting in the fall or early next year.

“We have a good place to start from, and the committee will help that quite a bit,” she said.

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Topics Workers' Compensation