The BLS annual refiling survey isn’t mandatory, but completing it can ensure proper classification, avoid follow-ups, and save time. Here’s what you need to know.
Referenced Link:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
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Transcript:
Some of you may be receiving, or may have already received, a letter from the U.S. Department of Labor and also the Illinois Department of Employment Security, specifically surrounding the annual refiling survey, or for a small number of you, maybe the multiple worksite report. These are reports and information that they collect on an irregular basis. In fact, the letter probably indicates that they collect these every three years, even though it indicates that it is called the annual refiling survey. And really, this is a classification participation survey. States are required to get about 70% of these. Some states actually require that you get them done. Interestingly, this is not a requirement. The U.S. Department of Labor, or more specifically, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the BLS, doesn’t require that you complete it. There are about 31 states that actually do specifically require that this gets completed. Illinois is not one of them, so there is not anything that is mandatory.
Now there are probably some good reasons to go ahead and complete this survey. It won’t take you that long. You know, it just is like a head count. It makes sure that you are classified specifically as a chiropractic office or your medical corporation, whatever the case is; this could come into play with some recent federal law changes surrounding gainful employment for all, as well as a few other things that very well are important to the profession as a whole. But at the end of the day, what I wanted to make sure that you all know is there’s not actually a very specific requirement that you complete this survey, so there’s no penalties, even though it kind of indicates that you need to have it done in 14 days. Now, what’s the potential impact? You may end up getting follow-up letters, or follow-up emails, or follow-up phone calls, and so if you want those to stop, the fastest way is just to complete the survey. From what I understand, it’s going to take maybe 5 – 10 minutes max to be able to complete, and then you won’t have the follow-up information. So there’s a good reason to get it done: so you don’t have to deal with all the follow-ups later on, and also to provide good information and to make sure that you are appropriately classified under the correct NAICS code for your practice, so that is why you would do it.
It’s also, you know, just clarifying that it’s not a requirement. There’s no penalties if you don’t get it done. Illinois is not among those states to get it done. In fact, here’s what the here’s what their fact page says specifically: employer cooperation is not required by federal law. 31 states have laws that mandate the completion of the ARS point two, and 34 states have laws that mandate the completion of the MWR point three. And those are the annual refiling survey and the multiple worksite reports. So, at the end of the day, it’s not going to cost you a whole lot of time and may actually save you time in the long run, but there’s no penalties if you don’t get it done. Just wanted to inform you, let you know that these could be coming across your desk, and quite candidly, they could be coming across your desk at any time between now and whenever they stop collecting this information. So hopefully, this helps you out, and we’ll catch you next week.
