Month: October 2025

Why agents trust SFM for workers’ compensation

Posted on by Kris Janisch

When it comes to workers’ compensation insurance, agents count on SFM for several reasons: unparalleled service, consistent results, support for injured workers and ease of doing business.

“Agents know that when they place a client with SFM, they’re choosing a carrier that prioritizes safety, empathy and long-term outcomes,” said Steve Sandilla, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer. “That’s why we continue to see growth in our core states as our reputation spreads among agents and policyholders.”

SFM has maintained its industry-leading client retention rate over the years. An annual policyholder retention rate of over 95% means that policyholders consistently choose to stay with SFM.

Results from a recent Agency Partner Survey showed that nearly all respondents were satisfied with SFM (93% “extremely” or “moderately” satisfied). And 91% said SFM is “easy” or “very easy” to do business with.

Agents most often cited SFM’s customer service and user-friendliness for their ratings, and the relationship underwriting staff was also regularly mentioned as a reason for overall satisfaction. SFM’s website, processes and technology were noted as strengths by those who completed the survey, as well.

“By working with an insurer specifically dedicated to work comp, agents have access to the tools they need to streamline their processes and better serve their clients,” said Mike Happe, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “For agents, SFM is more than a carrier – we’re a collaborator. With fast response times, superior medical outcomes, and cost controls that reduce e-mods over time, SFM delivers what agents need most: confidence, clarity and care for injured workers.”

Why work with The Work Comp Experts

There are numerous benefits to working with a carrier dedicated solely to workers’ compensation, especially considering some of the industry developments in recent years. Some concerning trends carriers are watching include:

  • Higher claims severity
  • Aging workforce
  • Rise in workplace violence claims
  • Mental health issues
  • Increase in litigated claims
  • High rates of injury frequency among newer employees
  • Medical inflation

Multi-line carriers often lack the expertise it takes to tackle these issues and address the concerns of policyholders and agents.

That’s why SFM’s dedication to work comp has resulted in steady growth in its core states. The 2024 market share numbers released this spring showed SFM continues to garner more business. SFM’s carrier ranking in its top five states, based on 2024 written premium:

  • Minnesota – 1
  • South Dakota – 3
  • Iowa – 6
  • Nebraska – 7
  • Wisconsin – 10

Also, SFM’s 2024 market rank increased in its three newest states: Kansas, Indiana and Tennessee. SFM hit a new milestone by making the top 10 in Wisconsin, and SFM’s 2024 market rank increased by four spots in Kansas, eight in Indiana and 11 in Tennessee.

“We’re very much guided by our mission: protecting workers from harm and helping the injured recover,” Happe said. “That mission drives every claim, every premium audit and every conversation.”

Next webinar: The SFM Difference

Join us for our next educational webinar as we discuss the features and services that make SFM a premier workers’ compensation partner.

Set for 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, the webinar will bring together SFM experts to share:

  • SFM’s philosophy on service to our partners
  • Our focus on injury prevention and returning injured employees to work
  • How our unique company structure and departmental expertise benefit our partners
  • Our customer-centered approach to premium audits
  • How our medical services team supports injured workers’ recovery
  • Much more, including a question-and-answer session at the end

Register now

 

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Update on Tennessee market, claims handling

Posted on by Kris Janisch

SFM is making two significant enhancements to its workers’ compensation operations in Tennessee.

Starting Dec. 1, SFM will begin writing business with Tennessee mid-market employers, further expanding SFM’s presence as it continues to gain a greater portion of the state’s market share. At that time, SFM will also start handling Tennessee claims in-house.

“We’re excited about these coming developments and our commitment to Tennessee,” said Cody Allen, SFM Territory Manager. “The agents we work with know about SFM’s work comp expertise and our reputation for exceptional customer service. Soon, that will extend to a larger pool of clients.”

SFM’s 2024 share of the market in Tennessee jumped 11 spots from the previous year, and starting Dec. 1, agents can expect SFM to be available to write business for accounts larger than $25,000 in annual premium, said Mike Happe, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

“Our relationships with agency partners in our newer states continue to build with each passing year,” Happe said. “SFM’s standing as the work comp experts has helped us develop, retain and grow business in these markets, and we’re excited to expand our book of business in Tennessee.”

Claims handling

Starting Dec. 1, SFM will begin handling Tennessee claims through its in-house team.

Injuries that occur on or after that date will be addressed by SFM claims personnel directly, rather than through a third-party vendor. Open claims will be shifted to SFM staff at that time, as well.

Policyholders will see no change in how they report claims – they can still call the SFM Work Injury Hotline, report online through SFM’s website or use the CompOnline portal.

“With SFM’s extensive knowledge of claims handling, it makes sense for us take on those duties. By taking these claims in-house, we will provide better customer service and an improved experience for policyholders and injured workers,” said Angie Andresen, Vice President of Claims.

 

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Universal login for SFM portals launches Oct. 30

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Starting Oct. 30, users of SFM web portals will log in with their email addresses rather than usernames.

The change will allow those with multiple accounts to access all of them with just their email address and a password, and users will no longer have to remember usernames to log in.

Users will complete one-time setup process

The first time customers log in after the change, they will need to complete a one-time setup process where they’ll verify any multi-factor authentication methods they’ve established, change their passwords and verify their contact information.

They’ll enter their email address and the password they had previously established to start the process. (If they have multiple accounts, they can use the password associated with any one of their accounts.)

Users who have chosen to keep their mobile number hidden from their account team during their previous multi-factor authentication setup will have another chance to either confirm their choice, or share their number with their account team.

After they get logged in, users will have access to a new “hub” area where they can manage their login and communication settings.

SFM began sending web application users emails Oct. 1 to let them know the change is coming. Another email will be sent the day of launch.

The change is not expected to be to be too disruptive to users, but it will take a little extra time to log in that first time after the change. Also, they may need to change their password manager or autofill settings to start entering their email address rather than their username.

Following the launch, SFM will have a group ready to support users who have issues.

As a reminder, SFM has several online portals to make the work comp process easier:

  • SFM Agency Manager (SAM)
  • CompOnline
  • ePay
  • Claim Connection
  • SFM’s certificate portal
  • Provider Connection

Contact information becomes separate from log in information

One change rolling out with universal login is that users’ contact email addresses and login email addresses can be different, if desired. This allows users to have a unique log in email, but still have communication directed to a shared email inbox if they’d like.

In the new system, each person must have a unique email address to log in.

 

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SFM Agency Manager offers 24/7 access to a wide range of features

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Our online tool for agents, SFM Agency Manager (SAM), offers a variety of convenient features for your team.

Through SAM, you can:

  • Quote and bind policies
  • Complete a quick class code check to determine whether a risk is in appetite
  • View your customers’ premium audit status and claim data
  • Pull loss runs or sign up to have them emailed regularly
  • View current, future and renewing policies
  • Sign up for email alerts to be notified of cancellations, claim developments and more
  • Customize your dashboard for easy viewing of renewals and cancellations
  • Set up and manage AutoPay for customers
  • View clients’ billing information and make payments

To register for a SAM account, contact your agency’s SAM administrator. If your agency doesn’t have an administrator, or you’re unsure who it is, you can register online.

If you have any questions about SAM, or would like a demo of its features, you can contact us.

 

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Injuries while entering and leaving the workplace: A primer

Posted on by Patty Busse

Did you know that a workplace injury can occur before or after the workday?

Workers’ compensation law requires that employers provide safe, well-maintained and accessible routes for employees to and from their parked vehicles into their place of work, referred to as safe ingress and egress.

So, if an employee falls in the employer’s parking lot while walking to the employer’s office building, for example, he or she would most likely be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Requirements to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits

In order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, the employee must be able to prove that the injury:

  • Occurred reasonably close to the start or end of the workday.
    While there is no strictly defined rule, over the years, Minnesota case law has appeared to define a reasonable time period to be about one hour before or after work. So, if employees stay after work for a couple of hours to watch a sports game or have drinks with coworkers, for example, they might not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they are injured while leaving the workplace.
  • Happened on the employer’s premises.
    This could include a public street, if an employee must cross the street to get from the work premises to an employer-owned parking lot. This could also include property owned by a non-employer entity (such as a shared building parking lot) if the employer requires or regularly allows employees to use the property to enter and exit the workplace.
  • Took place within a customary route of entry or exit.
    If the employee decided to take a shortcut not typically used by other employees, an injury might not qualify for workers’ compensation.

Related Minnesota case law

Following are a couple of Minnesota cases that involved employee injuries while entering or exiting work:

  • Birch v. Hance Distributing
    In this case, the employee had finished his shift at Burger King at 2:30 p.m., joined some friends and coworkers in the lobby briefly, and then went to socialize in the parking lot for about 15-30 minutes longer. When he eventually traveled to his car to leave, he stepped off a curb and hurt his knee. The Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals determined that he sustained a compensable injury and was still well within the timeframe that was reasonable for ingress and egress.
  • Johnson v. Ricci’s of Hugo
    In this case, the employee punched out from her bartender job and then spent the next hour drinking, playing pool and socializing with friends at the business. She slipped and fell while leaving through the back door and fractured her ankle. Because the employee was not engaged in activities incidental to her job duties and instead had become a customer at the establishment, the appeals court ruled that her injury wasn’t eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
  • Olson v. Total Specialty Contracting
    In this case, the employee had been instructed by the employer where to park and what specific route to take to enter a jobsite. He was specifically instructed to park, cross the stress, walk between buildings to the jobsite fence, and follow the fence to the gate to enter the building. When about 5-10 feet from the gate to enter the building, the employee slipped and fell. Even though he was not on the actual jobsite at the time of the fall, the Worker’s Compensation Court of Appeals determined that he was still in the course and scope of his employment at the time he fell while using a designated route in ingress, and awarded benefits.

 

This is not intended to serve as legal advice for individual fact-specific legal cases or as a legal basis for your employment practices. Originally published December 2013; updated October 2025.

 

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