Why Must Employers Communicate with Injured Workers

I receive several calls or emails each week from injured workers asking me why they haven’t received their benefit checks, etc. Why would an employee write to ME — the owner of a website and an avid proponent of workers’ compensation cost control FOR EMPLOYERS?! The President of another website recently told me he receives such inquiries also. In the past, he has received medical forms, reports of injury and a variety of other forms. He lives in Florida and has also received interrogatories from an attorney in NY. Obviously, he was not even close to being a party or having anything to do with actual claims handling. That law firm was confused… Why would employees write to us asking me for their benefits? Well, it’s pretty simple, they aren’t getting the information they need anywhere else. They have no idea who to contact to get the information they seek. Why not? Because in most cases, their employers have not told them the source of this information. The lesson: GIVE THEM CONTACT INFORMATION! Give them a paper with the phone number, name, claim number, adjuster’s name, name of insurance company, and other relevant contact information. Don’t leave them wondering. The reason they finally go to an attorney is because they can’t figure the system out on their own and there is too little communication with the employer. Preferably, give them a wallet card or brightly colored paper that is easily recognized as contact information. My favorite is a durable wallet card because it is easy to find. Make it virtually indestructible. The insurance adjuster is, hopefully, giving them this information, but it is not in a format the employee keeps and can easily find. Some insurance companies have this information only on-line. And, guess what — not all people have computers and many people don’t know how to use a computer. So, go back to basics for communication with employees. This may duplicate what’s on the web, but it gets the message to those who need it most — your injured employees. BE PROACTIVE — communicate now to avoid a problem later. Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp. Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp. Workers’ Comp Kit^® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch. Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs. ©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact I[email protected]�