Workers Comp Class Codes

You have to have a better understanding of the work performed by the Controller, but in general a Controller as the traditional accountant sitting behind a desk 8 hrs a day would fit into 8810. The impact is dependent upon what class code the controller was in before. There is no way to answer this question without knowing that and the rates assigned by the insurer to both the old and new class codes.

This is correct unless he is an officer of the company. The tricky part often comes when the office worker spends a lot of time in a factory or production facility as the WC board argues for the higher category. This is a common issue and in more than 40 years as a CFO or Controller I have always put Controllers in the 8810 category and this has never been an issue. Was there some specific issue that was raised regarding this classification?

You are lucky. This is the lowest rated code. I am not surprised as typically the controller would be office based doing nothing more dangerous that risking paper cuts!

Thank you for everyone's responds. I'm sorry I didn't explain the situation very well. In Payroll, we classify her as officer because she is a controller (aka Financial Control Officer). Now in the WC Codes, isn't she should be classified as such as well?

Also, few months ago when I inquire to the CFO about her role as officer (we have to report it in our tax returns) he said that she is not because an officer should be hired by the board of directors. But we don't have BOD. I didn't ask him to clarify though. Here is our organization structure: We have an owner (CEO/President), CFO and Controller (aka Financial Control Officer) then everyone else. No BOD. But I could be wrong. That's why I am here for more information. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

If you are organized as a corporation, you have a board of directors. Typically, President, Secretary and Treasurer. The board has a formal meeting, with documented minutes, in which they can make other employees officers of the corporation. Once an employee is formally made an officer of the corporation, that employee is subject to minimum and maximum payroll reporting for worker's comp. This is usually quite a bit less than their wages, thereby providing a premium savings to the company.