Employers in Washington State will see a 7.6 percent increase in their workers’ compensation insurance rates next year. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries finalized their proposed rate increase today, saying the bump was necessary because of health-care inflation and wage inflation. The agency estimates the average premium would increase by about 4 cents per hour worked. Tom Pierson, CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce said, "Any increase in costs is significant for Washington’s employer community, which is already struggling. We need to be addressing the priorities of government, remove the burden on the employers so they can get more workers in the marketplace, there needs to be other solutions reviewed before we just raise rates on our businesses and families in Washington State."
