WorkSafeBC is partly financed by the employers of BC through assessments known as premiums, which help pay for benefits and programs. It is illegal for an employer to deduct, directly or indirectly, any amount from workers' wages to cover the costs of premiums.
WorkSafeBC collects insurance premiums from employers to cover the cost of workplace insurance. As an employer, you are required to pay premiums, just as you would for any other insurance.
Premiums are based on the assessable earnings of an employer’s workers. Various industries are classed on the basis of industry characteristics and the general risk of injury; from this classification, a base rate is assigned. An employer’s base rate is then adjusted according to a factor known as an experience rating.
You experience rating will reflect your workplace safety record and claims history. If your relative claims costs are lower than the average safety performance of your rate group, then your experience rating will result in a discount on your premiums. If your claims costs are higher than average, you'll pay a surcharge. Employers with good safety records can earn discounts on their base rate of up to 50 per cent over time. A poor safety record can result in surcharges of up to 100 per cent on an employer’s base rate over time.
You can pay your WorkSafeBC premiums online by registering for Online Reporting and Remitting on the WorkSafeBC website. You can then manage your account online, and you may even be able to customize your payment plan. View Premiums for more information concerning the calculation and payment of premiums.
Information provided by HARRIS & COMPANY. For more information about HARRIS & COMPANY, please visit harrisco.com.
