Most contractors treat workers' comp as a cost they simply have to accept. It is not.
In this host-only episode, Andy and Elliot Bassett break down nine operational levers that directly influence a contractor's E-Mod and workers' compensation costs. The conversation starts with a reframe: the E-Mod isn't just an insurance number handed down from a carrier — it's a reflection of what's happening inside the business, from safety culture to hiring practices to how claims get managed after an injury occurs.
Andy and Elliot walk through the full picture, from having a genuine culture of working safely (not just a safety manual) to the financial impact of recover-at-work programs, pre-employment screening, and choosing healthcare providers who understand the job. They also dig into the administrative side that often gets overlooked — payroll classification accuracy, monitoring claims reserves, net versus gross reporting, and how a company's risk-management story can create real leverage with underwriters.
The bigger point isn't about any single tactic. It's that contractors who understand these levers, and ask the right questions about them, have far more control over their costs than they think.
00:00 — 9 Ways to Take Control of Your E-Mod
01:00 — Why Your E-Mod Is Controllable
04:00 — Build a Culture of Working Safely
08:00 — Manage Claims Before Injuries Happen
10:00 — Recover-at-Work and E-Mod Impact
14:00 — Pre-Employment Screening and Injury Prevention
17:00 — Choosing the Right Healthcare Providers
20:00 — Get Classifications and Payroll Right
23:00 — Monitor Claims Reserves and Loss Runs
26:00 — Net Reporting and Deductible Strategies
29:00 — Carrier Credits and Underwriting Leverage
32:00 — Take Control of Workers' Comp Costs
If you own, lead, or help run a trades business, this episode will hit home.
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