Securing workers’ comp for staffing companies with high experience modification rates is one of the most frustrating challenges agents face. When a client’s MOD creeps above 1.0 — sometimes through no fault of their own — standard carriers start backing away. Add in multiple class codes, job site variability, or high turnover, and suddenly even the best-run staffing firms get labeled uninsurable. But these accounts can be placed. Landmark Wholesale works directly with agents to turn high-MOD challenges into long-term solutions, using alternate programs, specialty markets, and expert claims advocacy to get deals done.
What Is a MOD & Why Does It Matter?
The MOD, or experience modification rate, reflects a company’s actual loss history compared to expected losses for its industry. A MOD of 1.0 is average. Anything above that number suggests more claims than expected, raising a red flag for many underwriters. A MOD of 1.3 or higher is often considered “high,” especially in the staffing sector, where risks are already viewed as volatile.
Because MODs directly impact workers’ comp premiums for staffing companies — higher MODs mean higher costs — they can disqualify an account from standard markets. But here’s the kicker: the MOD is a lagging indicator, meaning it reflects outcomes from past events like injury frequency or claim severity, not current safety efforts. According to OSHA, lagging indicators can identify weaknesses in a safety program, but they don’t show whether an employer has implemented meaningful improvements. That disconnect is why experienced wholesalers matter — because while the MOD captures history, the right partner helps tell the full story behind it.
Why Staffing Risks Are Harder To Place
Staffing companies present unique underwriting challenges that often inflate their MODs, even when they run safe, compliant operations.
- Frequent employee turnover: Constant hiring means less time to train and more exposure to injury.
- Job site variability: Temporary workers move between client locations, each with its own risks and safety culture.
- Classification complexity: Multiple job functions create billing and coding issues, which can impact both claims and audits.
- Limited control over the worksite: Because staffing firms don’t supervise daily tasks, insurers worry about enforcing safety standards.
These variables don’t sit well with traditional carriers. Many prefer stable, single-class-code businesses with direct control over their workforce. That’s a mismatch, and it’s exactly why high-MOD staffing clients need smarter placement strategies.
How Landmark Helps Agents Place High-MOD Staffing Accounts
Landmark specializes in tough-to-place accounts, and workers’ comp insurance for staffing companies is one of our most active areas. We know how to navigate high-MOD submissions and have access to markets and programs that most wholesalers simply can’t offer.
- Carrier access: We work with specialty insurers who understand staffing nuances and accept elevated MODs.
- Program variety: Whether your client needs a guaranteed cost solution, small deductible, or large deductible structure, we can customize a fit.
- Industry depth: We place risks across healthcare, light industrial, security, hospitality, and skilled trades, even in higher hazard codes.
- Claims advocacy: We partner with third-party administrators and help clients address open reserves, litigated files, and MOD correction opportunities.
- Ongoing support: Our team stays involved after placement to help improve outcomes, retain business, and reduce friction at renewal.
For more on how staffing-specific risks affect placement, see our guide to high-risk workers’ comp insurance.
Get Started With Workers’ Comp for Staffing Companies
High-MOD staffing accounts aren’t dead ends; they’re opportunities to show your value as an agent. Landmark Wholesale is here to help you seize them. Whether you’re seeking a creative solution to workers’ comp for staffing companies or need help diagnosing what’s keeping a submission from binding, our team is ready.
Our tech-enabled platform, fast turnaround, and real underwriting support make it easy to work with us. You stay in control, and we act as an extension of your team — focused not just on placement but also on keeping your accounts healthy and retained. Get appointed or send a submission to get started.
About Landmark Wholesale
Landmark is a nationally licensed facility for tough-to-place risk with a focus on securing alternate workers’ comp solutions. From PEOs to specialty programs, we offer access to coverage solutions other wholesalers can’t. Our recent placements include complex risks in staffing, transportation, and construction sectors — demonstrating our ability to secure coverage where others fail. Partner with Landmark Wholesale to find solutions for your toughest accounts and expand your market reach.
