Recently, Zywave completed its 2013 P&C Workers’ Compensation & Safety Survey. More than 3,100 participants responded to the survey, which asked employers what their primary concerns were about workers’ compensation issues. These results showed that employers are primarily focused on cost control after accidents.
Unfortunately, our Boston workers’ compensation attorneys know that cost-control efforts can sometimes come at the expense of workers. When an employer or insurer is primarily focused on keeping costs down, this means that the employer or insurer wants to pay the minimum in benefits. Workers who are injured on the job, on the other hand, want to ensure that they get the full compensation possible so they can have their bills and losses covered and be able to receive sufficient income if their work injuries have left them disabled.
Employers Primarily Concerned About Cost Control
According to Zywave, employers were asked to rate their level of concern about many different issues related to workers’ compensation matter. The study revealed that:
- 53 percent of employers described cost control after accidents as something they were either “very” or “somewhat” concerned about. More employers expressed strong concern for cost control than about any other topics.
- 50 percent of employers indicated that risk control is something they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about. Risk control is the insurance industry term used here to describe accident prevention. In other words, fewer employers expressed strong concern about accident prevention than about cost containment.
- Only 23 percent of employers indicated they were very or somewhat concerned about workplace violence.
While this could mean that employers simply don’t see workplace violence or accident prevention as big issues within their industry, the fact is that workers are at risk from accidents and assaults in almost every profession. Employers should be very or somewhat concerned about these issues and should focus seriously on keeping workers safe.
Ensuring Workers’ Get the Benefits They Need
The high percentage of employers who expressed concerns about cost control underscores the need to ensure that workers are getting the benefits that they deserve. Although employers can and should focus on the bottom line, this focus should never come at the expense of protecting employees who are hurt on the job. Employers buy workers’ compensation insurance specifically to ensure that costs and losses are covered and insurance should pay out the full benefits a worker needs and is entitled to receive.
If you were injured at work and you believe that your benefits are being unfairly limited or stopped too early, it is important to get help from a work injury lawyer to protect your rights. Employers, on the other hand, should remember that the very best way to control work injury costs is to prevent work injuries from happening in the first place.
If you are injured on the job in Massachusetts, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your workers’ compensation claim– (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
It’s Summer Job Season and Teens are Optimistic, Massachusetts Workers Compensation Lawyers Blog, May 23, 2013