|
Thibault to leave Workers’ Compensation Commission |
|
|
|
Thursday, 04 December 2008 |
By Mike Fitts
SCBIZ Daily Staff
COLUMBIA -- Executive Director Gary Thibault will retire from the state Workers’ Compensation Commission early next year.
Thibault will retire in March after five years heading the agency, including one year as interim leader. He has worked for the agency for 20 years and expects he will continue to provide advice on some issues.
Frank Knapp Jr., president of the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce, called Thibault “a fine state employee and friend to the state’s small businesses.”
Thibault’s decision to go was unrelated to state budget cuts. He said that, because of the cuts, the agency is leaving some full-time positions open and using fewer part-time staff members.
Thibault’s departure comes as workers’ compensation insurance rates are leveling off. The National Council on Compensation Insurance called for a 0.3% decrease in S.C. insurance rates for next year, after rates rose more than 70% in the past five years, according to workcompcentral.com.
Efforts by the commission to rein in doctors’ and hospitals’ fees have trimmed expenses. Legislation that was passed in 2007 to slow the increases of businesses’ costs will be taking effect in years to come, Thibault said.
South Carolina’s expenses for workers’ compensation are competitive overall with the state’s Southeast neighbors, Thibault said.
Thibault, 55, said he likely would take some time off before looking at other work opportunities.
|
