67 percent would be tax free, says Messier,
while other states will pay 100 percent but
have maximum weekly pay limits. "Every state
has its own maximums, minimums and per-
centages," Messier reiterates.
"ere are 50 states; there are 50 laws," he
says. "You need to find someone who can give
you real advice about workers' comp in your
state. You can find that person at a NARI or
HBA meeting. ere are insurance agents who
work almost exclusively with contractors. ose
are the people who will understand the business
and industry."
who understands your state's particular law.
"You need to comply with the laws of the
state you're working in, not the laws of the
state your office is in."
A BUSINESS owner is responsible for any-
body on the jobsite who gets hurt; the own-
er needs to pay 100 percent of any incurred
medical bills, plus lost wages. at coverage
includes subcontractors, as well as direct em-
ployees. Every state has its own definition of
"lost wages." Some states will cover wages up
to 67 percent of the gross wage because that
Workers' Compensation
Find an insurance firm specializing in workers'
compensation and construction to guide you through
the process of properly insuring your company
By Laurie Banyay
onstruction workers regularly
rank in the top 20 most danger-
ous jobs in America. Although
not a scenario many remodeling
business owners want to consider, obtaining a
proper workers' compensation policy can quite
literally save a business owner from financial
ruin in case of worker injury while on the job.
Every state has its own workers' compensa-
tion law. Tom Messier, vice president of con-
struction industry services at Mason & Mason
Insurance Agency, Whitman, Mass., stresses
the importance of working with someone
C
QR
PROFITS: NARI Recertification