Self-Insured Employers in California

Under California law, employers must have worker’s compensation insurance policies in place to cover their employees. The state also allows certain employers to self-insure.  This is called a Self-Insurance Program (“SIP”). Which Employers Can Self-Insure? California has specific guidelines in place that determine whether an employer can self-insure. First, employers who want to self-insure must…

Are Management and Employee Training Programs Important?

When was the last time your company offered management and/or employee training programs? It’s well known that these informative programs have both practical and legal significance for your business. When run correctly, these programs are vital, as they should be specific to addressing the needs of your business and its organizational mission. The Practical Importance…

RPNA Prevails in Classification Case Against the WCIRB

Workers’ compensation insurance costs are directly tied to the classifications assigned to a business. An employer may be forced to pay more in premiums if the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) or insurance carrier incorrectly assigns a more expensive classification. While the Insurance Commissioner relies on the WCIRB to develop classification rules, RPNA recently…

Trade Secrets in California

Companies sometimes dismiss trade secrets as a significant form of intellectual property because unlike patents, copyrights or trademarks, trade secrets are not publicly recognized or registered with the government. Indeed, every aspect of the trade secret depends on just that, secrecy. Once a trade secret becomes known, the value is lost (and a business generally…