Workers Comp & Safety News – August/September 2025

WCIRB 2025 Annual Conference: Key Takeaways for California Workers’ Comp Stakeholders

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) hosted its 2025 Annual Conference in July, bringing together industry leaders, actuaries, medical experts, and fraud investigators to explore the most pressing issues shaping California’s workers’ compensation system. Held virtually, the event offered a forward-looking view of cost trends, regulatory shifts, and emerging risks.Read on for details.

Mid-Year Check-In: IRMI’s 2025 Workers’ Comp Watchlist Highlights Key Shifts

As we pass the halfway mark of 2025, the workers’ compensation landscape is evolving rapidly—and not just in cost. The July update from the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) outlines 20 key issues shaping the industry this year, with several themes rising to the top: medical inflation, mental health, AI adoption, and the erosion of exclusive remedy protections.Read on for details.

Worker Classification in the Gig Economy: What Employers Need to Know in 2025

As the gig economy continues to expand—now encompassing over 50% of the U.S. workforce by some estimates—states and federal agencies are tightening the rules around how gig workers are classified. For business owners, brokers, and workers’ compensation professionals, these changes carry significant implications for liability, benefits eligibility, and insurance obligations. Read on for details.

What Is the ABC Test?

To classify a worker as an independent contractor, the employer must prove all three of the following:

A. The worker is free from control and direction in performing the work.

B. The work performed is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business. Read on for details.