Lowering the cost of workers' comp
Approach manages seven of the top Retrospective Rating programs (or simply, retro programs) in Washington state. When your company is in retro, you can earn refunds on your workers’ comp premiums.
We serve over 2,200 employers across 5 industries. Since 1992, we’ve helped them earn more than $565 million in refunds.
Find out more about the industries we serve and the groups we manage.
What is retro?
Join a Group
The Retrospective Rating Program (retro) is a safety incentive program offered by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. In a retro program, your company can earn a partial refund of your workers’ compensation premiums. You start by signing up to participate in a retro group of employers from your industry.
Work Together
Every company in the group commits to improve safety practices and closely manage workers’ comp claims. Approach helps you do both, with annual safety check-ups and a dedicated claims coordinator. Our services are included with your retro participation at no extra cost.
Earn Refunds
Each year, the group’s premium is re-calculated retroactively (which is how retro gets it’s name). If the group’s retro premium is lower, your company can share in the refund. We’ll help you pay less in up-front premium, too. Best of all, any employer with a workers’ comp account in good standing can participate!
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1
Employers
Every employer within the group agrees to best practices for safety and claim management. You continue to pay L&I your workers’ comp premiums just as you always have. There are no payroll changes or administrative headaches.
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2
Association
The sponsoring association operates the retro group, approves new participants, and collects membership and participation fees. They also get the best job of all: issuing the refund checks!
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3
Approach
As a third-party administrator, Approach handles safety and claims on behalf of the association. We work directly with employers to manage their workers’ comp claims. We’re on your side, fighting for your company from claim filing to closure.