There are a lot of fears that come with owning your own company. Some business owners have that nagging suspicion that there’s some regulation or law with which they are unfamiliar on noncompliant. They realize that could trip them up down the line.
If you find yourself in receipt of a notice from the New York Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), then you’re likely concerned. You may have anecdotally heard about the fines and other penalties you may face if things don’t work out in your favor. It’s imperative that you don’t ignore the letter you received, but instead, apprise yourself of the steps you should take to respond to it.
Why does the New York Workers’ Compensation Board send out notices?
The WCB may ask you for proof of insurance if their records show that you have employees but they don’t see where you’ve purchased disability or WC coverage.
The WCB may also contact you once they find out that you canceled your disability or WC policy after letting your workers go.
There’s also the potential that the notice will request additional details about the coverage you have. WCB’s records may show that you don’t have the coverage you really do. You may need to respond with the effective dates of your policy and any supporting details in such instances.
The WCB may also reach out to you due to payroll issues.
How to respond to a New York Workers’ Compensation Board notice
Perhaps the worst thing to do after receiving such a letter is to discard or ignore it. Your failure to respond may result in the assessment of a fine and the state issuing a stop-work order.
You should instead fill in the paper notice that the WCB sent you and mail it back. You can also go online and complete it electronically.
As with any government document, there are repercussions that you may face for inaccurately filling out the form or making certain admissions in them. An attorney can advise you of those so that you minimize your legal liability the best you can.
