Changes to ACC’s Accredited Employers Programme

Introduction

The proposed changes to AEP include:

• Introducing a Performance Monitoring model to better measure the performance of Accredited Employers (AEs)
• Strengthening entry and ongoing participation requirements for AEs by:
  • Improving health and safety assessments
  • Strengthening the assessment of claims and injury management processes
• Providing more tailored pricing options for AEs.

The health and safety assessment proposal was modified from that consulted on and now requires AEs to be subject to an updated ACC health and safety audit or become ISO 45001 certified.

Also consulted on was a preliminary proposal to require full and final claims liability settlement for all AEs in the Full Self Cover (FSC) plan. However, given the lack of support this will not proceed. Instead, ACC will shortly consult AEs on a revised proposal for full and final settlement only when an Accredited Employer chooses not to renew their AEP accreditation or has their accreditation terminated.

The changes will be phased in with a transition year in 2024 and changes formally starting to apply from 1 April 2025.

Release of information

A summary of submissions is available on the consultation page:

Consultation on proposed changes to ACC’s Accredited Employers Programme