Workers' compensation that protects your team and your business
In Washington, statutory coverage runs through L&I, but a complete program also covers the lawsuits the state fund doesn't, the Retro refunds many employers qualify for, and crews that work out of state. We build the whole program around your operation.
Independent broker · 50+ A-rated carriers · Retro placement and claims advocacy
Workers' compensation pays your employees' benefits when they're injured on the job and shields your business from the costs and lawsuits that follow. In Washington, statutory benefits are provided through the state fund, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). A complete program also needs stop-gap employers' liability, and many employers qualify for Retro programs that return premium for keeping workers safe. We build workers' comp programs for construction, trucking, manufacturing, healthcare and other employers across Seattle, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
See the workers' comp program your business needs
Tell us how you operate and we'll show the coverages to prioritize and the gaps to watch. Educational guidance only — your actual program depends on your class codes, payroll and loss history, and we'll confirm the right structure with you.
Your operation
Select everything that applies.
Coverage that typically applies
2 coverages — a starting point for a conversation, not a quote.
- Statutory workers' compensationMedical, wage replacement and disability benefits, via L&I in Washington.
- Stop-gap employers' liabilityCovers injury lawsuits the state fund does not; added to your package policy.
How payroll, class rate and your mod drive premium
In conventional states, workers' comp premium generally works like this: payroll ÷ 100 × class rate × experience modifier. Class rates vary widely by job type and state. In Washington, L&I bases rates on hours worked by risk class rather than payroll.
The experience modifier is the lever you control. On the same payroll and class rate, a clean 0.85 mod and a poor 1.25 mod differ by 40% of the base premium, every year — before any credits, dividends or Retro refunds. That's why safety programs, prompt claim reporting and return-to-work planning pay for themselves.
One injury is bigger than the ER bill
Medical is only the start. Wage replacement, disability, litigation and a higher experience mod add up for years. Three illustrative workplace injuries:
A warehouse back injury from lifting
A worker strains their lower back lifting a heavy carton. What looks like a few days off becomes months of physical therapy, restricted duty and a claim that follows your account for years.
- Medical treatment and PT$28,000
- Wage replacement (time-loss)$22,000
- Partial disability$12,000
- Claim admin and legal$6,000
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
What a complete workers' comp program includes
Statutory benefits are the foundation. These are the pieces that turn a bare L&I account into a full program.
Statutory workers' compensation
No-fault benefits every injured worker is entitled to: medical treatment, wage replacement (time-loss), permanent disability, vocational rehabilitation and death benefits for dependents. Paid through L&I in Washington and through a carrier policy in most other states. On its own, it pays the worker; it does not defend the business when you're sued.
Stop-gap employers' liability
In monopolistic states like Washington, the state fund pays benefits but provides no employers' liability. Stop-gap coverage, added to your commercial package, defends you against injury lawsuits such as third-party-over actions, loss of consortium and serious-injury suits alleging employer fault. It is one of the most common gaps we find on Washington accounts.
Retro refund programs
Retrospective rating lets qualifying Washington employers join a group or individual program that refunds part of their L&I premium when injuries and claim costs stay low. Many eligible employers never enroll; we match you to a program that fits.
Other-states coverage
Employees who travel or work on jobs outside Washington need coverage that responds under that state's laws. Other-states coverage and monopolistic-state endorsements keep a claim in Oregon, Idaho or beyond from leaving the claim, and penalties, on the business.
USL&H / maritime
Dock, vessel, shipyard and longshore work falls under federal law — the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (USL&H) and the Jones Act — not state workers' comp. State coverage will not respond to a USL&H claim, so any work near the water needs specific endorsements and carriers.
Return-to-work and claims advocacy
Light-duty return-to-work planning, prompt claim reporting, nurse case management, loss-control resources and an advocate who manages the claim with you. Claims left unmanaged drag on and raise your experience mod and future premiums.
L&I is the foundation, not the whole program
The state fund pays statutory benefits to injured workers. It does not defend your business against employer-liability lawsuits, cover crews working in other states or respond to maritime claims. Stop-gap, other-states and USL&H coverage close those gaps, and Retro can return premium when your safety record is strong.
Request a reviewWorkers' comp questions
Is workers' compensation required in Washington State?
How is my workers' compensation premium calculated?
What is an experience modifier and how can I lower it?
If L&I covers my workers, do I still need stop-gap employers' liability?
Can you help if I have prior claims or a high experience modifier?
Hands-on help with placement, premium and claims
Hard-to-place classes
Roofers, framers, truckers, manufacturers and home care — the classes many agencies avoid are ones we place every week.
Retro and premium relief
We place Retro refund programs and look for classification errors and mod issues that inflate your premium.
Claims advocacy
When an injury happens, we help manage the claim, push return-to-work and protect your experience rating.
Let's build your workers' comp program
Tell us about your business and we'll compare options across carriers and state programs — statutory coverage, stop-gap liability, Retro and multi-state — structured around how you operate. Prefer email? Reach our commercial team at commercial@firstunderwriters.com.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder; the program profiler is a starting point for discussion, not a quote or coverage determination. In Washington, statutory workers' compensation is provided through the Department of Labor & Industries; program availability (including Retro), eligibility, rates and terms vary by employer, class code, payroll and loss history and are subject to underwriting and state rules. Scenarios and premium figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any business.