SFM-The Work Comp Experts

November 11, 2024

Here are four ideas for cutting back on sitting time and adding movement to your day.

October 21, 2024

SFM takes a look back at the experience of its summer interns.

October 8, 2024

There are several benefits to working with a work comp expert, especially considering some of the industry developments in recent years.

October 8, 2024

Cody Allen, SFM Territory Manager, has been elected to the governing board at the Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau (ICRB).

October 8, 2024

New employees are among the most likely to be injured on the job. Here are several resources to keep new employees safe.

October 8, 2024

SFM uses several methods to help bring down policyholders' experience modification.

October 8, 2024

You can now see whether your customers have submitted their premium audit information in SFM Agency Manager (SAM).

October 8, 2024

General contractors or contractors who sub-contract work to independent contractors should remember to have the sub-contracted individuals complete the South Dakota Affidavit of Exempt Status form.

October 8, 2024

Set for Nov. 7, the foundation's 2024 fall event will be held at the Westin Edina Galleria in Edina, Minn.

October 8, 2024

In October 2024, SFM made it easier for injured workers to connect with the company by adding a new texting feature.

October 3, 2024

This is the final piece in our four-part series of SFM blogs recapping our June 2024 webinar, Driving Safety, An SFM webinar for policyholders.

September 23, 2024

This is the third in a four-part series of SFM blogs recapping our driving safety webinar.

September 17, 2024

What does the workers’ compensation claims process look like following a driving incident?

September 10, 2024

Start with the basics in workers’ compensation by avoiding common injuries. These three featured resources will help you get started.

September 4, 2024

The Workplace Bullying Institute estimates that 60.3 million U.S. workers are affected by bullying. Here are tips to prevent it in your workplace.

September 3, 2024

The first in a four-part series about safe driving: Data on dangerous driving from SFM's Driving Safety webinar.

August 19, 2024

Creating an organizational culture where everyone is dedicated to building and maintaining a safe work environment requires commitment to safety from the top down. It’s everyone’s job to set an example and make safety part of the foundation of your organization.

August 19, 2024

Employees are at higher risk of injuries during their first six months on the job, according to SFM claim data. Effectively training new employees on safety can be challenging, but it’s key to protecting and retaining quality employees.

August 19, 2024

Building relationships with the local doctors most likely to treat your injured workers lays the groundwork for teamwork between you, the physician and your insurer.

August 19, 2024

Preventing hand injuries in the workplace is vital for a number of reasons.

August 19, 2024

Here are some steps employers can take to improve workers’ compensation practices and save time and money.

August 19, 2024

Report claims as soon as possible and keep an open line of communication with your SFM claims representative.

August 19, 2024

Catch up on the 2024 SFM Foundation golf events and mark your calendar for the Iowa and Minnesota fall events.

July 15, 2024

An update on SFM's market share, midyear 2024.

July 15, 2024

Employers may wonder how these statutes intersect with workers’ compensation benefits.

July 15, 2024

There are several state OSHA fines to be aware of, in addition to federal standards.

July 15, 2024

Billing changes due to endorsements can catch policyholders off guard. When agents receive a notice of an endorsement, they can help ease the concerns of policyholders by alerting them right away.

July 15, 2024

A new U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule regarding who qualifies as an independent contractor took effect in the spring of 2024.

July 15, 2024

Promotional videos about SFM are available on YouTube.

July 15, 2024

The recording of SFM’s recent webinar on safe driving and the implications for workers’ compensation is now available for agents and clients.

July 15, 2024

You can find a wealth of information on current policies in SFM Agency Manager (SAM), including the upcoming e-mod for policies that are renewing soon.

July 15, 2024

2024 golf events in Minnesota and Iowa raised more than $160,000. In total, more than 260 golfers came out for the events, and sponsors continued to help bolster the fundraising effort.

July 15, 2024

SFM is attending several industry events during the summer and fall of 2024.

July 15, 2024

Here’s a look at the latest updates and milestones for SFM’s underwriting staff over the past few months of 2024.

June 20, 2024

SFM Mutual Insurance Co. announced today that the Star Tribune has ranked the workers’ compensation insurer as the eighth best place to work among midsize employers in Minnesota for 2024.

June 12, 2024

Aponte will bring her financial expertise to the nonprofit hospital group — she’s volunteering as a Community Member on the Children’s Minnesota Hospital investment subcommittee.

May 15, 2024

Supporting an aging workforce benefits everyone

May 14, 2024

Register for Driving Safety, an SFM webinar for policyholders, set for 10-11 a.m. CDT Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

May 10, 2024

A number of changes to Minnesota's workers' compensation law go into effect in 2024. Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill on May 8, 2024. The legislation contains 50 sections with amendments to chapter 176, many of which are technical or cleanup provisions recommended by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

May 9, 2024

More than 43,000 Americans died in a traffic-related incident in 2022, a number that has been on the rise in recent years. Defensive driving and other safe driving techniques are learned habits. Here are some tips to help equip employees and yourself with the knowledge you need to be safer on the roads.

May 9, 2024

Total Worker Health offers an integrated approach to worker health, safety and well-being with a proactive approach to overall health and wellness.

May 9, 2024

If you use CompOnline, you can create customized reports on your workers’ compensation claims.

May 9, 2024

While injuries commonly occur when lifting or moving is involved, implementing a program that focuses on proper ergonomics can greatly reduce incidents. Challenges with larger muscle groups (primarily the back and shoulders) are often easier to identify and control than those associated with repetitive motion risk factors.

May 8, 2024

Of the 232 scholarships the SFM Foundation has awarded over the years, nearly 95 percent have gone to students whose parents’ employers were not covered for workers’ compensation by SFM Companies. In fact, the SFM Foundation does not consider the work comp insurer when awarding scholarships. We aim to serve the entire community, and more than 60 different insurance companies have had scholarships awarded by our program.

April 2, 2024

Sarah Hunter recently took over as SFM’s VP of Operations.

April 2, 2024

SFM recorded yet another excellent year in 2023, continuing its strong performance across all core metrics, from policyholder retention to new business and total written premium.

April 2, 2024

SFM has made several enhancements to its resource catalog to create a better user experience for policyholders and agents.

April 2, 2024

SFM recently made additional enhancements to its SFM Agency Manager (SAM) system to streamline the process for agents and make SAM more user friendly.

April 2, 2024

While agents often hear frustrations from clients when it comes to dealing with third-party vendors for premium audits, SFM continues to conduct nearly all audits in-house.

April 2, 2024

Remind policyholders to tell injured workers to register for our Claim Connection portal so they can track the progress of their claim.

April 2, 2024

A look at the latest updates and milestones for SFM’s underwriting staff over the past few months.

April 2, 2024

SFM is planning to participate in several 2024 industry events in the coming months.

April 2, 2024

SFM tapped the local art community when adding artwork to its remodeled offices.

April 2, 2024

A fall from a ladder can be devastating, so take the time to make sure your ladder is in good shape with these ladder inspection safety tips.

March 14, 2024

You may have questions about whether your business is required to submit information to OSHA electronically, and what information you will need to submit.

March 8, 2024

When making the case for wellness programs, measuring both ROI and VOI will illustrate the impact the program has on your organization.

March 7, 2024

SFM is making upgrades to its online MyPayroll system with new features and a streamlined process to make it even easier for policyholders to complete annual premium audits.

March 4, 2024

Slips and falls can happen to anyone. Doing what you can to make your floors more slip resistant is one way you can prevent workplace injuries.

February 27, 2024

While office jobs are generally considered safer than others, they do have their own unique hazards. Here are seven tips for office workers to prevent workplace injuries.

February 26, 2024

Choosing to pay a workers' compensation medical bill yourself can create a ripple effect of future problems.

February 12, 2024

In some cases, automobile accidents are covered by workers’ compensation. Here’s what to if you’re involved in a work-related car accident.

February 2, 2024

If your organization treats workplace safety and wellness as two separate initiatives, maybe it's time to start thinking about the connections between the two.

February 2, 2024

Opioid painkiller misuse not only threatens the general well-being of employees, but can create on-the-job safety risks and inhibit recovery and return-to-work.

January 26, 2024

Employers have some control over workers’ compensation premiums. Here are our best tips for controlling your losses, and as a result, your premiums.

January 23, 2024

An employer's legal marijuana safety and impairment policy options may depend on the level of operations the company has with the federal government.

January 23, 2024

Asking job candidates about past work injuries, disabilities or medical histories isn't appropriate under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or state laws.

January 23, 2024

The numerous benefits of a positive workplace make a compelling case for building a supportive, affirming work environment where employee happiness is valued.

January 23, 2024

Employees in a variety of occupations can find themselves in situations with the potential to become violent at work. De-escalation tactics can be used to defuse volatile situations so they don’t reach the point of violence.

January 23, 2024

Registration is now open for the SFM Foundation 2024 Minnesota and Iowa golf fundraisers. The Minnesota golf event is scheduled for Monday, June 10, at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury, and the Iowa event is set for Monday, May 20, at Hyperion Golf Club in Johnston.

January 16, 2024

Key takeaways and highlights from 2023 at SFM from President & CEO Terry Miller.

January 16, 2024

SFM is diversifying and expanding its footprint in the realm of workers’ compensation insurance.

January 16, 2024

SFM recently hosted another educational webinar for our policyholders and agents on hiring and onboarding, which is available to view on our website.

January 16, 2024

SFM’s online resource catalog offers a wide range of educational resources designed to help policyholders prevent injuries, manage their claim activity and learn more about workers’ compensation.

January 16, 2024

SFM is introducing multi-factor authentication and new password requirements.

January 16, 2024

SFM is making upgrades to its online MyPayroll system with new features and a streamlined process to make it even easier for policyholders to complete their annual premium audit.

January 16, 2024

Updates and milestones for SFM’s underwriting staff in the last quarter of 2023.

January 16, 2024

SFM is attending several 2024 industry events.

January 16, 2024

SFM’s pay-as-you-go wage reporting system allows policyholders to make premium payments that match with payroll throughout the year.

January 16, 2024

As rates for other lines of insurance climb, workers’ compensation rates are steadily decreasing. The explanation for this positive trend is simple – workers’ compensation claim frequency has declined for all but two of the past 20 years, according to NCCI.

January 4, 2024

Peter Lindquist has been part of the legal team at SFM since 2018. He has been a practicing attorney for several years. We asked Lindquist to share a little bit about his background and role.

January 4, 2024

SFM works hard to make sure injured workers’ medications are managed well, and as part of that effort, SFM partners with pharmacy benefits manager, myMatrixx.

November 9, 2023

SFM has released a new version of CompOnline. The improvements enhance security, provide more permissions to the administrator and streamline our behind-the-scenes processes allowing us to serve you even better.

October 4, 2023

The first half of 2023 is in the books, and it’s already been a remarkable year for SFM in a number of ways. New and renewal premium results have been outstanding, customer retention continues to be very strong and claim activity is trending in the right direction as the year unfolds.

October 4, 2023

To enhance security, SFM is introducing multi-factor authentication and longer password requirements for CompOnline users starting January 5, 2024.

October 4, 2023

Join us on November 15 as we discuss best practices for hiring and training new employees. Learn how establishing good fundamentals can increase employee safety and help your business succeed in the long run.

October 4, 2023

Did you know you can get email alerts to help you keep up with your clients’ claim developments? Learn about the various alerts you can get through SFM Agency Manager (SAM).

October 4, 2023

SFM’s online resource catalog offers a wide range of educational resources designed to help policyholders prevent injuries, manage their claim activity and learn more about workers’ compensation.

October 4, 2023

Here’s a look at the promotions, awards, retirements, and other milestones of SFM underwriters so far in 2023.

October 4, 2023

This fall brings two opportunities to support the SFM Foundation with events in Minnesota and Iowa with the Minnesota Fall Fundraising Event on November 9 and new Iowa Bowling for Scholarships event on November 2.

September 26, 2023

Minnesota workers’ compensation law changed recently to allow an employee to notify their employer directly of a request for non-emergency surgery. Once notice has been given, the employer or insurer has seven days to give a response to the request.

September 25, 2023

Following a thorough hiring process is one important way you can prevent problem workers’ compensation claims, along with other challenges. Choosing the right employee for a role is rarely easy, but there are steps you can include in your process to help you more confidently make hiring decisions.

September 25, 2023

Taking time for pre-task planning allows employees to focus on recognizing hazards and putting controls in place to prevent incidents from occurring.

September 25, 2023

Kirsten Peterson has been a Medical Support Representative at SFM for two years, and in the workers’ compensation industry for 15 years. Kirsten is part of SFM’s in-house bill review team. We asked Peterson to share a little bit about her background and her role.

September 25, 2023

SFM’s Companion magazine for policyholders will be delivered via email only starting with the January 2024 edition.

July 24, 2023

On May 30, 2023, Gov. Tim Walz signed the state’s recreational marijuana bill, making Minnesota the 23rd state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use. The new law contains several provisions that affect employers doing business in Minnesota, addressing changes to medical marijuana, use of off-duty lawful consumable products, drug testing in the workplace, as well as implementation of workplace policies.

July 11, 2023

SFM increased written premium and market share in every one of its core states in 2022, and results so far this year show continued momentum. Premium for the first quarter of 2023 came in well ahead of projections, up 12% from the same period the prior year.

July 11, 2023

Did you know that agents can play a role in their clients’ good hiring and safety training practices? Claims statistics show that new employees are more susceptible to injury. Those work comp claims come with a cost.

July 11, 2023

SFM recently hosted another educational webinar for our policyholders and agents titled “The Fundamentals of a Return-to-Work Program” and it’s still available for you to view.

July 11, 2023

SFM’s online resource catalog offers a wide range of educational resources designed to help policyholders prevent injuries, manage their claim activity and learn more about workers’ compensation.

July 11, 2023

SFM is planning to participate in several insurance industry events in the coming months.