Who has Worker's Comp?

[Don Phelps 85]

Because I'm 2 steps ahead of the game! :lgbounces

Actually, there was more than one exemption filed at the time and that's the one they chose to list. My co. otherwise still falls under 'construction' like everyone else's. I'm still jumping through all the same hoops that the rest of you are.

[Mike Williamson 198]

Because I'm 2 steps ahead of the game! :lgbounces

Actually, there was more than one exemption filed at the time and that's the one they chose to list. My co. otherwise still falls under 'construction' like everyone else's. I'm still jumping through all the same hoops that the rest of you are.

I figured as much...Just messing with you. You've been too quiet around here lately.

[Mike Williamson 198]

David, I realize that its expensive in your state. thats silly numbers, 35% of payroll. WOW!!!!!!!

I think i would still have it. I do see why its hard decsion.

that roof stuff pays well, I hear guys clearing 15 20 k per job?

Or more, for the big jobs...problem is, most guys aren't doing the big jobs, and are doing residential roofs at $200.00 on up.

[Jim Carroll 14]

So what you're saying is that in order to be legitimate, you must buy insurance that won't benefit you or the customer one bit?

Not only that, you are saying that since you must buy this insurance that you aren't required to have, don't need, and can't benefit from, simply to be legitimate, then you'll mislead the customer into thinking that as the business owner, you will be barred from suing them for an injury that occured on their property, simply because you purchased insurance that you can't benefit from?

Very strange.

No its not misleading. I work mostly for general contractors. my insurance company sends the and insurance certificate that list all of my covERAGES with expiration dates and limits. Its all in black and white with nothing misleading. I think most general contractors want you to have it because that means they don't have to pay their insurance co. for that payroll amount. eventually i will have myself included. right now to have myself included is in the $4k ball park. when most people see my general liability limits they know that I am ligitimate. I never have had anyone other than contractors ask for insurance certificates.

[Mike Williamson 198]

No its not misleading. I work mostly for general contractors. my insurance company sends the and insurance certificate that list all of my covERAGES with expiration dates and limits. Its all in black and white with nothing misleading. I think most general contractors want you to have it because that means they don't have to pay their insurance co. for that payroll amount. eventually i will have myself included. right now to have myself included is in the $4k ball park. when most people see my general liability limits they know that I am ligitimate. I never have had anyone other than contractors ask for insurance certificates.

I wasn't referring to you. If you notice in my post, I quoted someone, and that someone wasn't you! :) Sorry for the misunderstanding.

What I see as misleading is telling a homeowner that if they don't hire you (not referring to Jim Carroll), then they risk getting a contractor who will sue them for everything they own. This, despite the fact that the "tool" you're using to con them is totally useless to you, as the business owner (assuming you have no employees). I just have a problem with someone who says "Every legitimate contractor has WC insurance" and then goes on to describe how they use this totally useless (to them as the owner and only worker) insurance to convince a customer to hire them, since they are protecting the customer by having insurance they couldn't use even if they WERE hurt on the job.

Please note: Any usage of the words "you", "your", "your'n", "you'se", or "y'all" is in no way referring to Jim Carroll.;)

[squirtgun 122]

I wasn't referring to you. If you notice in my post, I quoted someone, and that someone wasn't you! :) Sorry for the misunderstanding.

What I see as misleading is telling a homeowner that if they don't hire you (not referring to Jim Carroll), then they risk getting a contractor who will sue them for everything they own. This, despite the fact that the "tool" you're using to con them is totally useless to you, as the business owner (assuming you have no employees). I just have a problem with someone who says "Every legitimate contractor has WC insurance" and then goes on to describe how they use this totally useless (to them as the owner and only worker) insurance to convince a customer to hire them, since they are protecting the customer by having insurance they couldn't use even if they WERE hurt on the job.

Please note: Any usage of the words "you", "your", "your'n", "you'se", or "y'all" is in no way referring to Jim Carroll.;)

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[CCPC 26]

Hey Mike, I know you've said before that you use a helper, how are you handling that, as far as workemans comp?

You to Don.

[HotShot 34]

Do most of you have a payroll service take care of your wc? or do you just pay into it yourselves?

[Mike Williamson 198]

Hey Mike, I know you've said before that you use a helper, how are you handling that, as far as workemans comp?

You to Don.

Contract labor. I pay her by the day, no taxes, no WC insurance, no payroll taxes. She's a good friend of the family. I wouldn't try that type of setup with someone I didn't know well, or someone who was working the roofs. She washes houses, flatwork, and rinses for me on roof jobs.

Her last day was last Friday, so I'm not sure what I'm doing yet as far as a replacement. I know of one company that will handle payroll for a small (1 or more employees) company. If I wind up hiring someone, that's likely the route I'll go.

[HotShot 34]

just go to the local "illegal" hang out and hire a couple of them for the day. That seems to be the craze nowadays.

[Mike Williamson 198]

just go to the local "illegal" hang out and hire a couple of them for the day. That seems to be the craze nowadays.

I've thought of that...I don't know if they're illegal, but there are some trailers down the road from me that are full of mexicans. Most of them work for a local roofing company.

[HotShot 34]

It's hard to find any kind of contractor around here that DOESN'T use them.

[Don Phelps 85]

Hey Mike, I know you've said before that you use a helper, how are you handling that, as far as workemans comp?

You to Don.

The best way that I've found is to run the employee through a temporary labor company. It doesn't work in all situations, but for someone that isn't going to use the employee all the time, it works. On larger commercial jobs where the PM or GC requires everyone to be covered, you can run everyone (including yourself) through the temp agency and pay yourself minimum wage.

[Ron Musgraves 240]

Originally Posted by Mike Williamson

So what you're saying is that in order to be legitimate, you must buy insurance that won't benefit you or the customer one bit?

Its to protect the owners of the propertys, its that simple. Mike I would not say you or anyone else is not legit.

I would say its there choice, but in my opinion you or anyone else that chooses not to carry is disadvataged.

Don has the right idea, I have insurance and i use this method while i was a one man band years back. Lots of companys use this small and large.

[Mike Williamson 198]

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Its to protect the owners of the propertys, its that simple. Mike I would not say you or anyone else is not legit.

I would say its there choice, but in my opinion you or anyone else that chooses not to carry is disadvataged.

Don has the right idea, I have insurance and i use this method while i was a one man band years back. Lots of companys use this small and large.

If I need it, I'll get it. My customers don't care. And as pointed out, having it doesn't do a dang thing for me, or the customer. I have an exempt status, which also protects the property owner.

I fail to see where I"m disadvantaged. If I deal with jobs and/or contracts where I need it, I'll deal with it at that time.

[Jim Carroll 14]

I wasn't referring to you. If you notice in my post, I quoted someone, and that someone wasn't you! :) Sorry for the misunderstanding.

What I see as misleading is telling a homeowner that if they don't hire you (not referring to Jim Carroll), then they risk getting a contractor who will sue them for everything they own. This, despite the fact that the "tool" you're using to con them is totally useless to you, as the business owner (assuming you have no employees). I just have a problem with someone who says "Every legitimate contractor has WC insurance" and then goes on to describe how they use this totally useless (to them as the owner and only worker) insurance to convince a customer to hire them, since they are protecting the customer by having insurance they couldn't use even if they WERE hurt on the job.

Please note: Any usage of the words "you", "your", "your'n", "you'se", or "y'all" is in no way referring to Jim Carroll.;)

I know you were not referring to me. I have also thought about doing what don does and run myself through a temp agency for the contractors that want myself included to avoid the large expense until I am a larger contractor.

[cdposey26 14]

What I don't understand why is it not a benefit to you. If you get yourself covered and you are injured on the job, I would think that would be a benefit to you. Also you say people don't care, but I think if you explain to them what it means to be protected by a workmans comp policy that you will find most do care. I explain to every residential customer that they need to ask anyone that works on their property to produce GL and WC certificates and why it is important for them. I would also not call anyone is not legit, its your lively hood and if you are happy where you are at thats important and good for you. I just think the doors it opens for you are well worth the money.

[Mike Williamson 198]

What I don't understand why is it not a benefit to you. If you get yourself covered and you are injured on the job, I would think that would be a benefit to you. Also you say people don't care, but I think if you explain to them what it means to be protected by a workmans comp policy that you will find most do care. I explain to every residential customer that they need to ask anyone that works on their property to produce GL and WC certificates and why it is important for them. I would also not call anyone is not legit, its your lively hood and if you are happy where you are at thats important and good for you. I just think the doors it opens for you are well worth the money.

In some states (yours included, I believe) the owner of the company cannot receive benefits from the WC policy...I assume to prevent WC fraud. Stupid rules, the bottom line is, they're there. So, when you tell a customer that they're more protected by using you, because you have WC insurance, you're misleading them (though apparently unintentionally.)

[cdposey26 14]

Actually, I am covered by my WC policy. It does cost extra for the owner to be covered. You can exempt yourself as the owner if you choose to, but being that my regular health insurance does not cover work related injuries I chose not to exempt myself from coverage.

[Mike Williamson 198]

Actually, I am covered by my WC policy. It does cost extra for the owner to be covered. You can exempt yourself as the owner if you choose to, but being that my regular health insurance does not cover work related injuries I chose not to exempt myself from coverage.

Ahh, maybe I'm thinking of a different state. I know someone posted earlier that owners could not be covered, and I thought I remembered them being from GA. My apologies!

[Celeste 341]

We, as owners, can get covered here in NC as well but the premium jumps up about $3500 a year on top of what we're currently paying!

Celeste

[HotShot 34]

I have a question.....Can one change their policy for a specific job? In other words, say your normally not covered under your WC, but there is a big job that requires that everyone be covered, "is it possible, to be temporarily covered in an instance like that?"

[cdposey26 14]

I am not sure if you can temporarily change your policy or not. I would check with your provider.

[cdposey26 14]

Celeste, it is about the same rate jump here in Alabama. We have chosen to include it though.

[PWkid 79]

I pay $ 4000 a year for 2 employees and I am 1 of 2. I guess they fear the owner using comp as a insurance policy. What they don't consider is if I use w/c,my rates go through the roof. I use w/c to sell jobs everyday and I am proud of it. I pay for it I should be able to use it.