Class Code 8039
Stores – Department Stores – Retail
Class code 8039 covers retail department stores and the workers who staff sales floors, stockrooms, receiving docks, and in-store customer services. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate is $3.759 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the baseline claim cost for this retail exposure.
What Class Code 8039 Covers
This classification applies to businesses operating department store-style retail operations where general merchandise is displayed, sold, and stored on site. Typical operations include cashiering, sales and customer service, shelf and fixture merchandising, stockroom handling, inventory counts, receiving and loading-dock activity, in-store order fulfillment (curbside pickup), and janitorial/maintenance services performed for the store. It includes employees working on the sales floor, in fitting rooms, back-of-house stock areas, and store-controlled delivery or pickup functions; third-party delivery drivers contracted separately may be classified differently. Work with heavy manual handling, pallet jacks, customer interactions, and routine use of box cutters or hand tools are common in this code.
Who It Applies To
- Large and regional department store chains with multi-category merchandise
- Independent downtown or suburban department stores
- Big-box stores that operate a department-style sales floor under store control
- Cashiers, sales associates, and customer service representatives
- Stock clerks, merchandisers, and receiving/warehouse staff
- Janitorial and maintenance crews employed directly by the store
Common Job Duties
- Operating cash registers, POS systems, and handling cash or electronic payments
- Stocking shelves, loading displays, and performing planogram merchandising
- Receiving shipments, breaking down cartons, pallet jack or forklift interaction
- Lifting, carrying, and moving merchandise and freight in stockrooms and on the sales floor
- Using box cutters, hand tools, and price-tagging equipment
- Cleaning floors and fixtures, restroom maintenance, and light building upkeep
- Assisting customers, fitting-room assistance, and processing returns
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.759 Rate
The pure premium rate of $3.759 per $100 of payroll represents the estimated cost of future claims for this class per $100 in employee wages. Insurers use the pure premium as the base to calculate your premium: payroll/100 × pure premium, then adjustments are applied for your experience modification, policy discounts, state assessments, and insurer expense/load factors. Final premiums depend on your claims history, safety programs, payroll accuracy, classification assignment, and return-to-work practices.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers must implement a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and provide job-specific training for hazards present in department stores. Relevant Cal/OSHA requirements include hazard communication for cleaning chemicals, training and certification for powered industrial truck operators, ladder and ladder use safety for restocking, and heat illness prevention for outdoor loading/unloading. Regular housekeeping, spill control, and documented training on safe lifting, robbery response, and emergency action plans are important compliance elements.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8039
A PEO like Key HR helps department store employers by managing payroll reporting and correct class code assignment, administering claims and medical bill reviews, and providing loss-control consulting and on-site safety training. Key HR also supports return-to-work programs, IIPP templates and training, and experience-modification monitoring—practical services that reduce claim severity, improve OSHA compliance, and lower workers' comp costs over time.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are cashiers and sales associates covered under class code 8039?
Yes. Cashiers, sales associates, and in-store customer service staff who work on the sales floor or in store-controlled areas are typically classified under 8039.
Do seasonal or temporary retail workers use the same class code?
Seasonal and temporary employees performing the same retail duties in the store are generally assigned to 8039, but payroll reporting must reflect temporary status and duration; accurate reporting helps ensure proper premium and experience-rating.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs for a department store?
Implement a written IIPP, provide lifting and powered-industrial-truck training, enforce housekeeping and slip-resistant flooring, establish light-duty return-to-work plans, and document all training and inspections—these actions lower claim frequency and severity and help your experience modification.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8039
- Classification
- Stores – Department Stores – Retail
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.759 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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