Employer Resources Northwest
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersTacoma, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Employer Resources Northwest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Employer Resources Northwest
- Legal name
- Employer Resources Northwest
- Website
- https://ernwest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Employer Resources Northwest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workers' Compensation Third-Party Administration
- NAICS
- Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)
- SIC
- Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workers’ Compensation & Occupational Health TPA (HLAEALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Employers Liability (Part B) (FSAJAEAC), Third-Party Administrator (TPA) & Program Administrator Services (FSAJALAF), Workplace/Occupational Rehab & Work Conditioning (HSADAIAI)
Keywords
Where Employer Resources Northwest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tacoma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Employer Resources Northwest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- TPA Management Services: ERNwest acts as a Third-Party Administrator for Washington workers' compensation, providing professional management services including claims management, Retro program management, safety performance & compliance, and Return to Work programs. They help employers achieve 10-40% reductions in workers' compensation costs.
- Retrospective Rating (Retro) Program: ERNwest manages group Retro programs sponsored by trade associations, helping employers maximize premium refunds and control claim costs. Over $300 million has been returned to Washington employers through their Retro programs.
- Safety and Loss Control Services: Professional safety services including safety performance & compliance consulting, proactive injury prevention, and loss control. Team includes past Labor and Industry compliance inspectors, Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) and Construction Health and Safety Technicians (CHST).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard TPA Services |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SAW Reimbursement Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Employer Resources Northwest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Employer Resources Northwest is a Washington State Third-Party Administrator (TPA) that helps employers reduce workers' compensation costs and earn premium refunds by managing Retrospective Rating (Retro) programs. It bundles core Retro administration with professional workers' comp management, claims management, safety and compliance consulting, Return to Work coordination, and Stay at Work reimbursement processing for over 4,000 employers across eight trade associations.
Product overview
ERNwest (Employer Resources Northwest) is a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) offering a unified suite of workers' compensation services for Washington State employers. The core offering is the Retrospective Rating (Retro) program, the only way employers can earn premium refunds from L&I. This is supported by Professional Workers' Comp Management services which bundle Safety Performance & Compliance, Claims Management, Return to Work (RTW), and Stay at Work (SAW) modules. ERNwest Training Programs provide educational workshops on Retro, claims management, and industrial insurance topics. The company represents eight trade associations encompassing over 4,000 employers and has returned over $300 million to Washington employers through Retro programs since 1996.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Retrospective Rating (Retro) Program Administration An optional financial incentive program administered through Washington's Department of Labor and Industries that helps qualifying employers earn premium refunds and reduce industrial insurance costs; ERNwest administers group Retro plans for eight trade associations encompassing over 4,000 employers.
- Professional Workers' Comp Management A comprehensive TPA management service acting as an extension of the employer's team, providing proactive oversight, guidance, and advocacy within Washington's L&I system, including day-to-day claim activity management and helping achieve 10–40% reductions in workers' compensation costs.
- Claims Management Comprehensive claims handling service with an upfront and proactive approach, assigning a single point of contact to manage claims from intake to closure while ensuring injured workers receive appropriate medical care.
- Safety Performance & Compliance Safety and loss control services delivered by a team including past L&I compliance inspectors, Certified Safety Professionals (CSP), and Construction Health and Safety Technicians (CHST), including proactive injury prevention, risk analysis, and support for sustained safety performance.
- Return to Work (RTW) Program Program to help employers return injured workers to modified-duty work as safely and quickly as possible, eliminating time loss and controlling claim costs, including assistance with job offer letters and coordination with the SAW program.
- Stay at Work (SAW) Reimbursement Processing Wage reimbursement program administered by L&I that incentivizes employers to bring injured workers back to modified-duty or transitional work; ERNwest completes and submits SAW paperwork to L&I for employers for a small fee, with L&I reimbursing 50% of base wages up to 120 workdays or $25,000 per claim (for injuries on or after Jan 1, 2025).
- ERNwest Training Programs Educational training programs for employers covering Group Retro, Claims Management, Industrial Insurance, Incident Analysis, Return to Work, Fundamentals of Claims Management, DOSH Compliance, and Accident Prevention, delivered via scheduled webinars (hosted on Microsoft Teams) and workshops.
Companies that use Employer Resources Northwest
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Employer Resources Northwest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Employer Resources Northwest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA)coreWSPA sponsors a group Retrospective Rating program with ERNwest, allowing member pharmacies to participate in the Retro program and receive premium refunds.
- Washington Health Care Association (WHCA)coreWHCA sponsors a group Retro program for member healthcare facilities, managed by ERNwest to help reduce workers' compensation costs.
- Life Science Washington (LSW)coreLife Science Washington represents life science companies in the state and partners with ERNwest for Retro program sponsorship.
- GRIP (Grocery Retail Insurance Program)coreGRIP is a grocery retail insurance program that sponsors a group Retro program with ERNwest for member grocery retailers.
- Washington Hospitality Association (WHA)coreWHA sponsors a group Retro program for hospitality members, managed by ERNwest to help reduce industrial insurance costs.
- Washington State Dental Association (WSDA)coreWSDA sponsors a Retro program for member dental practices, providing access to premium refunds through ERNwest's management.
- McDonald's Franchise OwnerscoreMcDonald's franchise owners in Washington partner with ERNwest for workers' compensation management and Retro program participation.
- Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)coreWashington State Department of Labor and Industries administers the workers' compensation system and Retro programs. ERNwest works with L&I on behalf of employers to manage claims and maximize refunds.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Employer Resources Northwest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Helmsman Management Services: Helmsman, a Liberty Mutual subsidiary, is a TPA specializing in workers' compensation and managed care services for self-insured employers. Comparable to ERNwest as a workers' comp-focused TPA, though typically serving larger self-insured accounts.
- PMA Companies: PMA Companies is a national TPA and workers' compensation specialist offering claims, managed care, and loss control services. It is directly comparable to ERNwest as a mid-sized specialist TPA focused on workers' comp cost containment.
- CorVel Corporation: CorVel is a national provider of workers' compensation and disability management services with proprietary technology for claims management. It directly competes with ERNwest in the TPA segment for mid-market and enterprise employers and is comparable in its emphasis on claims cost reduction.
- Broadspire (Crawford & Company): Broadspire, a Crawford & Company subsidiary, is a TPA providing workers' compensation, disability, and liability claims management. It is a direct peer to ERNwest in workers' comp claims administration and managed care services.
Emerging players
- Lockton Companies: Lockton is a large independent insurance brokerage that has expanded into TPA-adjacent workers' comp services. It is comparable to ERNwest in targeting mid-market and enterprise employers for workers' comp cost management, though it operates as a brokerage rather than a pure TPA.
Broad incumbents
- Sedgwick: Sedgwick is the largest third-party administrator in the U.S., providing claims management, managed care, and integrated services across workers' compensation, disability, and property lines. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same Washington employer wallets as ERNwest, with deeper national infrastructure.
- ESIS (Chubb): ESIS, a Chubb-owned risk management and TPA services firm, handles workers' compensation, liability, and property claims for large employers. It is a broad incumbent peer to ERNwest with national reach and enterprise focus.
- Gallagher Bassett Services: Gallagher Bassett is one of the largest U.S. TPAs, providing claims management, loss control, and managed care for workers' compensation and other lines. It operates nationally as part of Arthur J. Gallagher and competes with ERNwest for Washington-based enterprise accounts.
Regional players
- Intermountain Claims: Intermountain Claims is a Pacific Northwest-focused workers' compensation claims administrator serving employers in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Comparable to ERNwest as a regional workers' comp TPA in the same geographic territory.
Others
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I): L&I is the Washington State regulator that administers the workers' compensation system, Retro program, and SAW reimbursements that ERNwest manages on behalf of employers. While not a competitive peer, L&I is the structural counterparty whose policies and programs define ERNwest's core market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Employer Resources Northwest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Employer Resources Northwest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Employer Resources Northwest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Employer Resources Northwest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Employer Resources Northwest
What does Employer Resources Northwest do?
Employer Resources Northwest is a Washington State Third-Party Administrator (TPA) that helps employers reduce workers' compensation costs and earn premium refunds by managing Retrospective Rating (Retro) programs. It bundles core Retro administration with professional workers' comp management, claims management, safety and compliance consulting, Return to Work coordination, and Stay at Work reimbursement processing for over 4,000 employers across eight trade associations.
Is Employer Resources Northwest a public or private company?
Employer Resources Northwest is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Employer Resources Northwest founded?
Employer Resources Northwest was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Employer Resources Northwest based?
Employer Resources Northwest is headquartered in Tacoma, United States, in the North America region.
How does Employer Resources Northwest make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. TPA Management Services are the primary driver. The others are retrospective Rating (Retro) Program and safety and Loss Control Services.
Who are Employer Resources Northwest's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Helmsman Management Services, PMA Companies, CorVel Corporation and Broadspire (Crawford & Company). Lockton Companies is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Sedgwick, ESIS (Chubb) and Gallagher Bassett Services. Intermountain Claims is listed as a regional player. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is listed as an others.
Does Employer Resources Northwest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Employer Resources Northwest.
What industry is Employer Resources Northwest in?
Employer Resources Northwest's product category is Workers' Compensation Third-Party Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAEALAL, Workers’ Compensation & Occupational Health TPA, with a secondary code of FSAJAEAC, Employers Liability (Part B). Its NAICS code is 524292 and its SIC code is 7363.