Compliance February 2, 2003

Wal-Mart to Speed up Workers Compensation Processing

February 14, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - As part of an agreement with Washington State, where Wal-Mart Stores plans to build a regional warehouse, the retailer will speed up workers compensation payments there, Reuters reports, citing state labor officials.
Reported by

According to a report, Wal-Mart agreed to outsource its employee insurance for eight years and settle legal charges filed in November 2000 by the state, which alleged that the company was illegally denying payments to employees.

In addition, Wal-Mart agreed to process claims more quickly than other large Washington companies, and will be monitored by state auditors for two years.

The retailer has also agreed to promptly pay state-ordered awards to injured workers, even if it chooses to appeal such decisions.

Wal-Mart plans to build an 870,000-square-foot warehouse in central Washington and employ about 700 people, the report notes.

The company is one of about 400 firms deemed large enough to manage their own workers compensation insurance in Washington State, Reuters reports.

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