A workers' comp program that goes far beyond the competition

The Louisiana Restaurant Association Self Insurer’s Fund (LRA SIF) for Workers’ Compensation offers the best option for hospitality and retail focused businesses for providing this statutorily required coverage. When you consider the LRA SIF for your workers’ comp needs, you receive more for your premium dollars than with any other provider. In addition to local, in-house claims processing, our complimentary loss prevention and safety analysis services can help you identify opportunities to improve your safety environment and practices. The LRA SIF has provided a more than 30-year track record of financial stability and professionalism in serving your industry’s workers’ comp needs.

While all employers like to provide a safe workplace, you must be prepared when workplace accidents occur. Let the LRA SIF serve as your trusted resource, providing rapid claims response with the focus on getting an injured employee treated and available to return to work. We offer competitive rates with upfront premium discounts for hospitality related class codes and other potential discounts based on loss experience.

An added benefit of participating in the LRA SIF is the efforts of the LRA Advocacy Team who works year round with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and the Office of Workers’ Compensation to monitor and develop best practices to keep your costs competitive. The majority of the state legislation the LRA follows each session relates to workers’ compensation and the oversight of the system.  In the 2014 Legislative Session, which is now underway, there are numerous workers’ comp measures proposed, one of which would enhance the penalties for employers who have failed to secure workers’ compensation coverage. 

Workers’ comp coverage is required by Louisiana law and applies to all employers in the state regardless of your revenue or the number of employees. This law is in place not because the employment is dangerous or involves any foreseeable risk of injury, but rather the act establishes the presumption that anyone rendering service for another in any trade business or occupation is an employee.

When an injury or illness is found to be job-related, the affected employee may be entitled to medical care for the injury or illness, payments for their lost wages, and rehabilitation services to speed their return to work.

An important distinction of a group self insurer’s fund is the consolidation of risk over related businesses or industries, which provides for the pooling of this risk to provide competitive rates. Another benefit with a group self-insured fund is that surplus premium remaining (after claims costs and operating expenses) is returned to plan participants whose loss ratio does not exceed plan limits.

Next month, LRA SIF staff members will be distributing this year’s surplus dividends at the LRA’s nine chapter meetings. Our LRA SIF eligible members will receive their portion of the declared $2 million in dividends. Since its inception, the LRA SIF has returned more than $101 million in dividends to eligible members. Our members’ commitment to safety and getting their employees back to work has helped to create this outcome.

LRA Cenla Chapter

Monday, April 7

Diamond Grill, 924 3rd St., Alexandria

Cocktails: 6 p.m. Dinner & Presentation: 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $20

RSVP: Angela Chisholm, achisholm@lra.org; (318) 366-1326

LRA Bayou Chapter

Tuesday, April 8

Big Al’s, 1377 W Tunnel Blvd., Houma

Cocktails: 6:30 p.m. Crawfish Boil & Presentation: 7 p.m.

Cost: $30

RSVP: Courtney Waguespack, cwaguespack@lra.org; (225) 328-2163

LRA Northshore Chapter

Wednesday, April 9

Columbia Street Tap Room, 434 N. Columbia St., Covington

Crawfish Boil & Presentation: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $30

RSVP: Jodi Williams, jwilliams@lra.org; (504) 454-2277

LRA Acadiana Chapter

Monday, April 14

Fezzo’s, 720 S. Frontage Road, Scott, LA

Cocktails: 6:30 p.m. Crawfish Boil & Presentation: 7 p.m.

Cost: $40 per person

RSVP: Courtney Waguespack, cwaguespack@lra.org; (225) 328-2163

LRA Northeast Chapter

Monday, April 14

Catfish Cabin, 1400 Louisville Ave., Monroe

Cocktails: 6 p.m. Crawfish Boil & Presentation: 6:30 p.m.                 

Cost: $20

RSVP: Angela Chisholm, achisholm@lra.org; (318) 366-1326

LRA Baton Rouge Chapter

Tuesday, April 15

Ruffino’s, 320 Third St., Downtown Baton Rouge

Cocktails: 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Presentation: 7 p.m.

Cost: $45 Farm to Table Dinner

RSVP: Courtney Waguespack, cwaguespack@lra.org; (225) 328-2163

LRA Northwest Chapter

Tuesday, April 15

Chianti Restaurant, 6535 Line Ave., Shreveport

Cocktails: 6 p.m. Dinner & Presentation: 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $30

RSVP: Angela Chisholm, achisholm@lra.org; (318) 366-1326

LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter

Wednesday, April 16

Brisbi’s Lakefront, 7400 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans

Crawfish Boil & Presentation: 6:30 p.m

Cost: $35

RSVP: Jodi Williams, jwilliams@lra.org; (504) 454-2277 

LRA Southwest Chapter

Monday, April 28

Steamboat Bill's, 1004 North Lake Shore Dr., Lake Charles

Cocktails: 6:30 p.m. Crawfish Boil & Presentation: 7 p.m.

Cost: $25, option of boiled crawfish or seafood platter

RSVP: Courtney Waguespack, cwaguespack@lra.org; (225) 328-2163

*Due to the price of crawfish, chapter meeting prices marked TBD will be determined closer to the meeting date. Meeting reminders will be mailed and e-mailed prior to the events above and will contain pricing information.