Author: Kris Janisch

2025 SFM Foundation recap

Posted on by Kris Janisch

The SFM Foundation recently wrapped up its fall fundraising events, resulting in another successful year of helping students.

Founded in 2008, the nonprofit helps families affected by workplace injuries by providing scholarships to children of workers disabled or killed in work-related accidents. The SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota.

SFM’s summer golf tournaments generated approximately $150,000, and the Iowa bowling event and Minnesota fall social raised about $26,500 in total.

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of scholarship applications each year, and these events are vital to our mission of helping young people,” said Deb Zorn, the foundation’s Scholarship Director.

Linda Williams, President of the SFM Foundation, said the organization is grateful for the ongoing support of agent partners, clients and others in the community. That generosity has led the foundation to reach new heights of giving, she said.

Other highlights from 2025 include:

  • Nearly $600,000 in new scholarships, a record since the group was founded
  • Awarding the highest number of scholarships awarded in the foundation’s history, 19
  • The Iowa governor proclaiming Oct. 13-17 as Kids’ Chance Week (the SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota)
  • Reaching Gold Level status from Kids’ Chance of America, recognizing top-tier excellence in nonprofit operations

“These students and families are enduring major challenges,” said Andy Gebhard, Chair of the SFM Foundation Board of Directors. “We’re proud of our mission and thankful for the ongoing support from everyone involved – sponsors, agents and volunteers. Helping these students reach their goals takes all of us working together.”

About the SFM Foundation

The SFM Foundation was created in 2008 by SFM Companies. The nonprofit is dedicated to easing the burdens on families affected by workplace accidents. Scholarships are awarded regardless of which workers’ compensation insurer was involved in the claim. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 266 scholarships totaling $4.7 million. For more information, visit sfmfoundation.com .

 

View more news about SFM

How to avoid injuries on and around hockey and ice rinks

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Injuries on skating rinks can be severe.

A volunteer high school hockey coach and law enforcement officer from Minnesota suffered a traumatic brain injury after hitting his head on the ice in January 2025, and it took months of recovery before he was able to lace up his skates again.

The incident illustrates that more than bumps and bruises can occur on (and around) hockey and ice rinks. Here are some safety tips to help prevent injuries.

Hockey rink safety

  • Anyone going onto a hockey rink should wear a proper helmet that is strapped and secured in place, and that includes coaches. Keep a supply of spare helmets on hand, if possible. Wear a helmet yourself and encourage others to do so.
  • Even during on-ice award ceremonies, you should wear helmets. Also make sure that artificial carpet runners or rolls of rubber are placed on the ice wherever someone is standing or walking to prevent a slip-and-fall injury.

Of course, for those playing hockey, wearing gloves, shoulder pads, hip pads, etc., is also a good idea. And those who are facilitating activities can stay safe by not actively playing, like passing the puck for a drill instead of skating around with the players.

Other safety tips for ice rinks

If you’re planning on being on the ice in any capacity, here are some safety tips.

  • Select proper footwear: Wear flat-soled shoes with good tread to help prevent a slip-and-fall injury and be sure to inspect and replace worn-out shoes.
  • Don’t wear outdoor gear inside: It’s a good idea to wear traction footwear when you’re outdoors on ice rinks, but you should remove them before going into a building. Walking on cement, tile floors and other indoor floor surfaces with traction footwear can lead to slips and falls.
  • Walk like a penguin: An SFM favorite for winter safety, shorter steps with toes pointed slightly outward, consciously transferring body weight from one foot to the other, is a good way to prevent losing your footing. Keep your arms close to your body and hands out of your pockets.

Handouts for others

Use these downloadable resources to help inform others about avoiding hazards on and around hockey and ice rinks:

The SFM Difference: Webinar set for Dec. 3

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Register today for our upcoming webinar for policyholders and agents, The SFM Difference, set for 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. Click here to register .

Presenters include CEO Terry Miller, Wisconsin Team Business Leader Rick Spaulding, Large Accounts Team Business Leader Julie Banker, Premium Audit Team Leader DeAnne Misgen and Dr. Andrew Wilkins, SFM’s Chief Medical Director.

The panel will share their expertise on:

  • A history of SFM
  • SFM’s philosophy on service to our partners
  • Our focus on injury prevention and returning injured employees to work
  • How our unique company structure and departmental expertise benefit our partners
  • SFM’s customer-centered approach to premium audits
  • How our medical services team supports injured workers’ recovery
  • Much more, including a Q&A session at the end of the hour

Policyholders are encouraged to attend. If you are interested in the content but are unable to tune in during the live event, please register for the webinar and you will be signed up to receive the post-event email with a link to the recorded webinar and a copy of the presentation slides.

Register now

Other webinars and informational videos

SFM is building a library of educational video resources from our webinars. Head to our webinars page to view previous recordings and quick videos on work comp topics including:

  • Loss prevention basics
  • Winter slips and falls prevention
  • Best practices for injury reporting and return to work
  • The lifecycle of a claim
  • A breakdown of work comp benefits
  • An explanation of experience modifiers
  • Tips to avoid litigation of a work comp claim
  • Fundamentals of a return-to-work program
  • Good practices for hiring and onboarding new employees
  • Implementing and enforcing safe driving policies and procedures
  • De-escalation protocol for any workplace
  • Preventing strain and sprain injuries

 

View more news about SFM

School employees: Facilitate, don’t participate

Posted on by Kris Janisch

A recent decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court demonstrates the potential workers’ compensation impact of school employees participating in sports and other games.

The state’s high court ruled  in October 2025 that a middle school math teacher who tore her ACL while playing basketball with students during an afterschool practice was entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Minnesota workers’ compensation law says injuries that occur during “voluntary recreational programs” can be excluded from compensability, and the district argued her injury did not happen “in the course of employment.” But the court found that she tore her ACL within the scope of her job and the recreational program exclusion did not apply.

Justices reasoned that the law excludes injuries from employer-sponsored recreational programs only if the program benefits employees (e.g., wellness programs). Here, they ruled, the teacher participated for the students’ benefit, not her own.

It’s a good reminder for school districts that playtime with the kids could be a compensable work comp risk.

“If I were a school or district, I would tell staff to refrain from engaging in physical activities before, during or after the school day unless they are strictly supervising or being present to support the students,” said Mark Arrington, VP of Regional Business.

Facilitate, Don’t Participate

Employers may not be aware that their employees are at risk of injury when they participate in activities, coach or supervise others.

Sports, for example, often involve adult instructors who played the sport when they were younger, but now they are not in the same physical condition as the players on the field – and many times they are not wearing the same protective equipment such as pads and helmets. These factors raise their risk of serious injury even though they have deep experience in how to play the game.

Here’s a handy acrostic to help remember the important points of the “Facilitate, Don’t Participate” concept:

  • Focus on teaching techniques, not participation
  • Avoid activities which come with risk to teachers, paras and/or coaches
  • Comply with your organizational policy on safe participation with student activity
  • Inspire colleagues to coach and teach safely
  • Lead student athletes appropriately in activities
  • Injury while coaching/teaching is not an expectation of the job
  • Train teachers, paras and/or coaches on what is acceptable and not acceptable for them to do
  • Appropriate level of coaching includes facilitation of learning techniques without full-speed demonstration
  • Teaching correct technique in controlled environments is key to avoiding injuries
  • Engaging in play or coaching beyond instruction can and does lead to serious injuries

For more details, check out our Facilitate, Don’t Participate CompTalk, which includes a sample policy for such activities.

How SFM makes the premium audit process easier

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Last year, SFM rolled out several changes aimed at making the workers’ compensation premium audit process easier for policyholders.

“The project touched on every aspect of premium audit,” said DeAnne Misgen, Premium Audit Team Leader. “We improved workflows, added efficiencies and made major enhancements to MyPayroll, our portal for policyholders to complete their annual premium audit.”

For policyholders, the new features included:

  • The ability for users to securely upload multiple documents at once using a drag-and-drop interface
  • Email notifications in addition to physical letters about premium audit deadlines
  • Users can add documentation to their audit after it’s been submitted

Also of note, the upgraded MyPayroll allows users to access the system even after they have missed their payroll audit deadline and received notice of pending cancellation.

“We really made everything more dynamic. It’s much smoother, and we included additional upgrades for specific types of premium audits, like nonprofits or domestic workers,” Misgen said. “MyPayroll is an overall smarter system now. The whole goal was to improve the user experience.”

SFM has also continued to make tweaks to the front- and back-end technology. And the results of the efforts have already materialized, she said. Audits are getting done more quickly; there’s less lag time between an alert and the time an audit was completed; and policyholders have had fewer questions about the process.

“We pride ourselves on customer service at SFM, and that includes making investments in technology and improving processes for our policyholders and agency partners,” Misgen said. “Especially as we grow in our newer markets, these upgrades are helping us help our clients.”

Resources to help with your work comp premium audit

Every SFM policyholder undergoes an annual insurance premium audit after each policy period.

Find useful information on how to make the process simpler with these additional resources:

Why agents trust SFM for workers’ compensation

Posted on by Kris Janisch

When it comes to workers’ compensation insurance, agents count on SFM for several reasons: unparalleled service, consistent results, support for injured workers and ease of doing business.

“Agents know that when they place a client with SFM, they’re choosing a carrier that prioritizes safety, empathy and long-term outcomes,” said Steve Sandilla, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer. “That’s why we continue to see growth in our core states as our reputation spreads among agents and policyholders.”

SFM has maintained its industry-leading client retention rate over the years. An annual policyholder retention rate of over 95% means that policyholders consistently choose to stay with SFM.

Results from a recent Agency Partner Survey showed that nearly all respondents were satisfied with SFM (93% “extremely” or “moderately” satisfied). And 91% said SFM is “easy” or “very easy” to do business with.

Agents most often cited SFM’s customer service and user-friendliness for their ratings, and the relationship underwriting staff was also regularly mentioned as a reason for overall satisfaction. SFM’s website, processes and technology were noted as strengths by those who completed the survey, as well.

“By working with an insurer specifically dedicated to work comp, agents have access to the tools they need to streamline their processes and better serve their clients,” said Mike Happe, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “For agents, SFM is more than a carrier – we’re a collaborator. With fast response times, superior medical outcomes, and cost controls that reduce e-mods over time, SFM delivers what agents need most: confidence, clarity and care for injured workers.”

Why work with The Work Comp Experts

There are numerous benefits to working with a carrier dedicated solely to workers’ compensation, especially considering some of the industry developments in recent years. Some concerning trends carriers are watching include:

  • Higher claims severity
  • Aging workforce
  • Rise in workplace violence claims
  • Mental health issues
  • Increase in litigated claims
  • High rates of injury frequency among newer employees
  • Medical inflation

Multi-line carriers often lack the expertise it takes to tackle these issues and address the concerns of policyholders and agents.

That’s why SFM’s dedication to work comp has resulted in steady growth in its core states. The 2024 market share numbers released this spring showed SFM continues to garner more business. SFM’s carrier ranking in its top five states, based on 2024 written premium:

  • Minnesota – 1
  • South Dakota – 3
  • Iowa – 6
  • Nebraska – 7
  • Wisconsin – 10

Also, SFM’s 2024 market rank increased in its three newest states: Kansas, Indiana and Tennessee. SFM hit a new milestone by making the top 10 in Wisconsin, and SFM’s 2024 market rank increased by four spots in Kansas, eight in Indiana and 11 in Tennessee.

“We’re very much guided by our mission: protecting workers from harm and helping the injured recover,” Happe said. “That mission drives every claim, every premium audit and every conversation.”

Next webinar: The SFM Difference

Join us for our next educational webinar as we discuss the features and services that make SFM a premier workers’ compensation partner.

Set for 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, the webinar will bring together SFM experts to share:

  • SFM’s philosophy on service to our partners
  • Our focus on injury prevention and returning injured employees to work
  • How our unique company structure and departmental expertise benefit our partners
  • Our customer-centered approach to premium audits
  • How our medical services team supports injured workers’ recovery
  • Much more, including a question-and-answer session at the end

Register now

 

Read more Agent Agenda articles

Update on Tennessee market, claims handling

Posted on by Kris Janisch

SFM is making two significant enhancements to its workers’ compensation operations in Tennessee.

Starting Dec. 1, SFM will begin writing business with Tennessee mid-market employers, further expanding SFM’s presence as it continues to gain a greater portion of the state’s market share. At that time, SFM will also start handling Tennessee claims in-house.

“We’re excited about these coming developments and our commitment to Tennessee,” said Cody Allen, SFM Territory Manager. “The agents we work with know about SFM’s work comp expertise and our reputation for exceptional customer service. Soon, that will extend to a larger pool of clients.”

SFM’s 2024 share of the market in Tennessee jumped 11 spots from the previous year, and starting Dec. 1, agents can expect SFM to be available to write business for accounts larger than $25,000 in annual premium, said Mike Happe, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

“Our relationships with agency partners in our newer states continue to build with each passing year,” Happe said. “SFM’s standing as the work comp experts has helped us develop, retain and grow business in these markets, and we’re excited to expand our book of business in Tennessee.”

Claims handling

Starting Dec. 1, SFM will begin handling Tennessee claims through its in-house team.

Injuries that occur on or after that date will be addressed by SFM claims personnel directly, rather than through a third-party vendor. Open claims will be shifted to SFM staff at that time, as well.

Policyholders will see no change in how they report claims – they can still call the SFM Work Injury Hotline, report online through SFM’s website or use the CompOnline portal.

“With SFM’s extensive knowledge of claims handling, it makes sense for us take on those duties. By taking these claims in-house, we will provide better customer service and an improved experience for policyholders and injured workers,” said Angie Andresen, Vice President of Claims.

 

Read more Agent Agenda articles

Universal login for SFM portals launches Oct. 30

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Starting Oct. 30, users of SFM web portals will log in with their email addresses rather than usernames.

The change will allow those with multiple accounts to access all of them with just their email address and a password, and users will no longer have to remember usernames to log in.

Users will complete one-time setup process

The first time customers log in after the change, they will need to complete a one-time setup process where they’ll verify any multi-factor authentication methods they’ve established, change their passwords and verify their contact information.

They’ll enter their email address and the password they had previously established to start the process. (If they have multiple accounts, they can use the password associated with any one of their accounts.)

Users who have chosen to keep their mobile number hidden from their account team during their previous multi-factor authentication setup will have another chance to either confirm their choice, or share their number with their account team.

After they get logged in, users will have access to a new “hub” area where they can manage their login and communication settings.

SFM began sending web application users emails Oct. 1 to let them know the change is coming. Another email will be sent the day of launch.

The change is not expected to be to be too disruptive to users, but it will take a little extra time to log in that first time after the change. Also, they may need to change their password manager or autofill settings to start entering their email address rather than their username.

Following the launch, SFM will have a group ready to support users who have issues.

As a reminder, SFM has several online portals to make the work comp process easier:

  • SFM Agency Manager (SAM)
  • CompOnline
  • ePay
  • Claim Connection
  • SFM’s certificate portal
  • Provider Connection

Contact information becomes separate from log in information

One change rolling out with universal login is that users’ contact email addresses and login email addresses can be different, if desired. This allows users to have a unique log in email, but still have communication directed to a shared email inbox if they’d like.

In the new system, each person must have a unique email address to log in.

 

Read more Agent Agenda articles

SFM Agency Manager offers 24/7 access to a wide range of features

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Our online tool for agents, SFM Agency Manager (SAM), offers a variety of convenient features for your team.

Through SAM, you can:

  • Quote and bind policies
  • Complete a quick class code check to determine whether a risk is in appetite
  • View your customers’ premium audit status and claim data
  • Pull loss runs or sign up to have them emailed regularly
  • View current, future and renewing policies
  • Sign up for email alerts to be notified of cancellations, claim developments and more
  • Customize your dashboard for easy viewing of renewals and cancellations
  • Set up and manage AutoPay for customers
  • View clients’ billing information and make payments

To register for a SAM account, contact your agency’s SAM administrator. If your agency doesn’t have an administrator, or you’re unsure who it is, you can register online.

If you have any questions about SAM, or would like a demo of its features, you can contact us.

 

Read more Agent Agenda articles

Update for Minnesota zero estimated exposure work comp policies

Posted on by Kris Janisch

Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session resulted in a big change for small-business owners that provide building construction or improvement services.

Small-business owners with no employees often find themselves having to take out “zero estimated payroll” or “if any” policies. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Minnesota business owners offering building construction or improvement services face additional requirements when applying for workers’ compensation coverage when they have no estimated payroll. Additional disclosure and record retention requirements were also introduced for entities doing business with these employers.

The legislative changes now codify the definition of a zero estimated payroll policy and attestation requirements for building construction or improvement service businesses.

“Zero estimated exposure policy” means a policy of insurance that an employer obtains to cover the employer’s liability to pay compensation under this chapter after reporting the employer’s total estimated exposure is zero.

Additionally, the legislative changes outline new requirements for these business owners as far as providing and retaining insurance documentation.

  • To the insurance carrier, a signed attestation is required to be submitted with their application for workers’ compensation insurance and annually at each policy renewal. These business owners must provide the insurance carrier written notice within 60 days of the employment of any employees.
  • To their contracting partners, these business owners must provide written notification to each entity they contract to perform building construction or improvement services. This notice must include confirmation of your zero estimated exposure and a copy of the policy.
  • Entities receiving this notification are required to retain both the written notice and the policy for three years from the date they were received.

Additional resources

SFM has integrated a Minnesota zero attestation form into our SAM online application portal and have published this form to our website. Reach out to your SFM underwriter with additional questions.

For further details, check out our CompTalk on the subject.

 

Read more Agent Agenda articles

css.php