Class Code 8006
Stores – Groceries – Retail; Stores – Fruit Or Vegetables – Retail
Class Code 8006 covers retail grocery stores and standalone fruit or vegetable shops in California, including produce departments inside supermarkets. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this classification is $3.942 per $100 of payroll. Understanding this code helps employers classify payroll correctly and manage workplace risks and workers' comp costs.
What Class Code 8006 Covers
This classification applies to retail operations that sell groceries and fresh produce directly to consumers: neighborhood markets, supermarket produce departments, fruit stands, and specialty vegetable shops. It includes employees who handle, display, weigh, bag, price and sell fresh fruits and vegetables as well as stockroom receiving for those items. Tasks covered include unloading produce pallets, rotating perishable inventory, cleaning produce areas and floors, operating hand trucks and pallet jacks, and cashiering duties performed within the grocery/produce retail operation. Operations that belong to other classes — for example, wholesale distribution, deli/bakery production, or large warehouse-only distribution centers — should be separately classified when those tasks make up a distinct payroll segment.
Who It Applies To
- Independent grocery store owners and operators with produce departments
- Supermarket produce department clerks and stockers
- Specialty fruit and vegetable retailers and market stands
- Produce receiving and inventory clerks who handle inbound shipments
- Front-end cashiers and baggers stationed in grocery/produce retail areas
Common Job Duties
- Receiving and unloading produce shipments from trucks and pallets
- Stocking and rotating perishable inventory on shelves and displays
- Weighing, pricing, bagging and packaging fresh fruits and vegetables
- Cleaning produce areas, mopping spills, and removing spoiled product
- Operating manual pallet jacks, hand trucks and store cleaning equipment
- Assisting customers with product selection and running the checkout
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.942 Rate
The pure premium rate of $3.942 per $100 of payroll represents the estimated cost of claims per $100 of payroll for this class before insurer expenses and adjustments. To calculate pure premium, divide total payroll for class 8006 by 100 and multiply by 3.942; carriers then add their expense loads, state assessments, and apply your experience modification and any policy-level adjustments. Final premium is affected by accurate payroll allocation, claims history (experience mod), safety programs, payroll audits, and selected deductibles or retrospective rating options.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA General Industry regulations apply to grocery and produce retail operations — key requirements include hazard communication for cleaning chemicals, proper housekeeping and spill control, training for manual handling and PPE, and certified operator training if forklifts are used. Employers must maintain safe aisles and exits, provide training and records for injury prevention, promptly report serious workplace injuries, and implement controls for refrigerated and cold-storage areas. Outdoor produce stands also need to follow Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention rules and provide water, shade and breaks when temperature risks exist.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8006
A PEO like Key HR helps employers properly classify payroll and bundle workers' comp under a managed program that emphasizes injury prevention and claims management to lower costs. Key HR can provide California-specific safety training, onsite or virtual inspections of produce and cooler areas, return-to-work plans, managed claims handling, and payroll accuracy to reduce premium surprises at audit. Those services, combined with consolidated billing and access to loss-control resources, help grocery retailers control their experience modification and workers' comp spend.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Do cashiers and baggers belong in class code 8006?
Yes — if they work in the retail grocery or produce department performing checkout, bagging or customer service as part of the store's retail operations, their payroll is typically included in class code 8006. Separate classifications may apply if those employees perform distinctly different duties (for example, warehouse-only tasks).
How can a small produce market reduce workers' comp costs under this code?
Focus on injury prevention: regular floor cleaning and matting to prevent slips, safe lifting training, ergonomic bagging stations, documented return-to-work programs, and fast, managed claims handling. Accurate payroll reporting and separating non-retail activities onto correct class codes also prevent premium overcharges.
What payroll should I report to class 8006 on the audit?
Report all payroll for employees who primarily perform retail grocery or produce duties under the store's operations — stockers, produce clerks, cashiers working in that retail area, and receiving staff who handle produce. Exclude payroll for distinct operations (warehouse distribution, deli production, third-party contract drivers) and classify those under their proper WCIRB codes.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8006
- Classification
- Stores – Groceries – Retail; Stores – Fruit Or Vegetables – Retail
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.942 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 8006?
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