SFM has become a member of the Minnesota Keystone Program, which promotes corporate philanthropy by recognizing and honoring companies that donate at least 2 percent of their pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations.

Learn about commercial comparative raters, which comparative raters SFM is connected with, and how you can request access to utilize SFM in the commercial comparative rater.

If you are an appointed agency with SFM and your agency uses one of the platforms for commercial comparative rating that SFM is connected to, use this form to request access if you are interested in utilizing SFM in the commercial comparative rater.

Sarah Hunter recently took over as SFM’s VP of Operations. She will work with SFM’s current Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Dave Kaiser, until his retirement at the end of 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

SFM Mutual Insurance Company, a regional workers’ compensation insurer, has hired Kate Daly as Corporate Counsel.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

SFM Foundation will be accepting scholarship applications for the 2024-2025 academic year until March 31, 2024.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Snow and ice can cause severe injuries at any time throughout the winter season.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

We believe that building a truly inclusive culture is essential for all our employees. Learn about diversity, equity and inclusion and SFM.

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

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

With winter in full swing — and the upcoming thawing and refreezing cycles in the months ahead — workplace safety should be paramount.

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

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.

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

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

SFM is attending several 2024 industry events.

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

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.

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.

Fifteen years after co-founding the SFM Foundation, Dave Kaiser stepped down as board chair on Dec. 6, 2023.

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.

Studies show that sitting or standing in the same position too long can negatively impact your health. Take breaks and move throughout the workday to counteract being too sedentary, and prevent strains, strains and other injuries. Use our resources to help create awareness in your workplace about the importance of getting up and moving to prevent strain and pain.

Exploring different career paths? SFM is offering full-time business internships in the summer of 2024. Delve into the world of workers' compensation insurance as a business intern. You will rotate throughout the organization to gain knowledge in claims management, underwriting insurance policies, data analytics, and marketing/communications.

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

The premium audit process happens at the end of every policy period to ensure premium payments are fair and accurate. There are different types of audits depending on the size and complexity of your organization: 1) online through MyPayroll for smaller employers, 2) electronically for mid-size employers, 3) onsite for larger employers, and 4) by mail in rare cases.

Answers to questions about why SFM is introducing multi-factor authentication, how it will work, and when the changes will go into effect.

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.

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.

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.

SFM writes business in more than 400 class codes. The following lists of our top 20 new business class codes by policy count and premium will give you an idea of where we’re seeing the most success.

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.

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.

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

15 years after the SFM Foundation began their mission to help make college affordable for students affected by work injuries, they’ve granted 232 scholarships totaling $3.7 million, including $502,000 awarded to 16 new recipients announced in May. The 2023 Minnesota golf event raised $125,000 and the Iowa event raised $45,000 for the scholarship program.

Help prevent future workplace injuries, get the employee on the road to recovery and ensure a smooth claim process with these four post-injury tips.

Bringing injured employees back to work as soon as their doctor allows it is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. A strong return-to-work program benefits your employees and your organization.

With the shift to remote and hybrid work in recent years, many employers are quickly learning how to support employees in their new work environments. As with in-office workers, remote and hybrid employees are subject to cumulative injuries, which are typically a result of poor ergonomics at their workspace.

Before you hire temporary employees or independent subcontractors, get answers to your questions about their safety and workers’ compensation coverage.

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.

SFM announced that its Financial Strength Rating of “A- (Excellent)” and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” have been reaffirmed by AM Best Rating Services, Inc.

People think stress is a natural by-product of work. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Use these tips to prevent negative health impacts of work stress.

SFM soared to new heights in 2022, and the company’s remarkable financial results are only part of the story. We continue hearing from our agents and policyholders that we’re delivering on our commitment to provide excellent customer service.

When you’re helping clients understand their options for workers’ compensation coverage, we've provided a few points you can share about the advantages of going monoline and choosing SFM.

SFM’s new Safety Orientation Success Guide helps employers protect a group at high risk for work injuries: new employees.

We’re coming up on three years since we entered the state of Kansas in September 2020. Over that time, our agency partners there have helped us write more than 500 policies for nearly $2 million in written premium.

When a policy goes into cancellation, even if the insured completes the prior term audit, the policy may remain canceled unless the agent contacts the underwriter.

See the list of 2023 industry events SFM is planning on attending over the next few months.

MN Supreme Court decision clarifies the nature and extent of PTSD claims in the state

Are you looking for ideas to start or re-invigorate your safety committee?

Registration is now open for the SFM Foundation 2023 Minnesota and Iowa “Golfing for Scholarships” fundraisers. The Minnesota golf event is scheduled for Monday, June 12, 2023 at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury, Minnesota, and the Iowa event is set for Monday, May 22, 2023 at Hyperion Field Club in Johnston, Iowa.

When you use a third-party service to pay your workers’ compensation premium, your payment can be delayed.

Minnesota Supreme Court rules on PTSD presumption

Wisconsin-based Loss Prevention Specialist Carl Gruber received SFM's most prestigious service excellence award for 2022.

When an attorney gets involved in a workers’ compensation claim, it can increase claim costs and harm outcomes for everyone involved. There are a number of steps that employers can take to prevent the kinds of scenarios that cause workers to seek representation from an attorney.

If an employee feels they’ve been wrongfully targeted for exercising their protected right, they may in turn file a retaliation claim. Learn best practices to avoid them.

The potential for injury from repetitive motion and awkward positions in jobs is widespread across many industries and businesses. You can greatly reduce the likelihood of these injuries by implementing best practices in workplace ergonomics.

Drug and alcohol use and misuse are on the rise. As an employer you can establish or update your drug and alcohol program to prevent the safety risks of drug and alcohol use on the job. Learn how to prevent safety hazards due to drug and alcohol impairment.

Through the whirlwinds of a global pandemic and continued economic uncertainty, policyholders are consistently choosing to stay with SFM, and independent agents are bringing more and more new accounts into the fold. We thank our valued agency partners for sharing our dedication to service, safety and positive results for our customers.

SFM’s territory expansion hits a new high as we broaden our appetite in Kansas and continue efforts to grow in Tennessee in 2023.

Employers don’t always know how important it is to report work injuries immediately. As an agent, you can provide vital information on how timely reporting can impact the trajectory of a workers’ compensation claim.

Elyse Porter is a member SFM’s newest class of claims trainees, which started in June of 2022. She now handles claims as part of our Small Business Accounts team. We asked her about her background and her role at SFM.