News
November 12, 2025Members of Retail Council of New York State’s Safety Group 493 to Receive a 50% Dividend for the Second Year in a Row
The Retail Council of New York State reports that eligible members of its Workers’ Compensation Safety Group 493 will receive a dividend of 50% for the policy year 2024, including a 10% enhanced discount for the 2026 renewal period. Policyholders will receive the remaining 40% as a dividend check from the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), which plans to disburse the funds on Monday, November 17.
Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory for most business owners across New York State. While the loss costs and rates have decreased in recent years, it remains a significant expense for employers.
“Our top priority as an organization is to ensure a significant return on investment for the stores we represent,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Melissa O’Connor. “This year, we are able to return 50% of workers’ compensation insurance premiums to members of our Safety Group, an impressive dividend that we worked hard to secure. I want to thank each business — large and small — for their efforts to maintain a safe workplace every day.”
The Retail Council’s Safety Group 493, one of the longest-running, most successful safety groups in New York State, was formed in 1976 as a means of providing affordable, group-rate workers’ compensation insurance to safety-conscious businesses with a history of low or no workers’ compensation claims. Today, the group is made up of retailers both large and small, from a supermarket chain to a sole-proprietor florist. While a dividend is not guaranteed, Safety Group 493 has returned dividends every year to its eligible members, totaling more than $100 million.
