Over the past five years, many companies have been obliged to change their ACC regime three times. They cite this as an example of how Government policy changes cost firms money.
Model one: The fully ACC-funded scheme which cost around $200,000 to cover 300 people.
Model two: ACC refunded part of the levy in return for companies managing their own accident cases, which brought the premium to cover the same workforce down to $100,000.
Model three: A welcome though costly changeover to private providers which once in place reduced the price for cover to $31,000 a year.
Model four: A nationalised and partner-provider scheme, roughly as in model two, is reinstated. While costs are expected to rise to around $114,000, the changeover audit will also be expensive.
Says one frustrated general manager who insists that actual costs of injured workers average $10,000-$15,000 annually: "No one has benefited from all those changes. Our employees aren't better off and neither are we."
Government policy changes can be costly
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