Businesses anticipate workers comp reform

Oklahoma ranks among the worst states in the nation when it comes to insuring injured workers. And perhaps no one is watching legislators more closely than small business owners. <br/><br/>News on 6

Tuesday, May 31st 2005, 10:45 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma ranks among the worst states in the nation when it comes to insuring injured workers. And perhaps no one is watching legislators more closely than small business owners.

News on 6 anchor Tami Marler says the more it costs businesses to insure workers, the less businesses can afford to pay workers or the more they have to charge you and me for their goods and services. It's simple economics.

Pat Patterson says he can only recall one workers compensation claim in his 14 years with Quantum Electric in Tulsa, but as with most Oklahoma businesses, their rates keep going up. He says, if companies paid less for insurance, they could afford to do other things with that money, like pay higher wages, offer more services or lower prices.

But Patterson says he hopes legislators are also considering the needs of the injured worker. "Cutting the cost to the company, making it fair to the employee so that when they do get injuries, they are receiving their benefits in a timely manner and they're not having to go to trial unless it's something that's really contested."

Oklahoma's workers' compensation rates range from 44-percent to 83-percent higher than workers' comp rates in bordering states. Only ten states in the nation pay more for workers' comp than in Oklahoma.