A very easy cost driver to fix is employee communication. Think of it this way: someone is communicating with your employees. They get messages from newspapers, television, billboards, and placards. OR from a frequently played daytime ad for an injury attorney, encouraging them to sue.
It’s just not true talking about the ins and outs of workers’ comp encourages employees to file claims. In fact, the employer’s workers’ comp costs are lower the more a company communicates with their injured employees.
Communication is part of an employer’s multi-level strategy of communication with everyone –employees, doctors, TPA, and broker. It may include video messages from the president, sample weekly meeting guidelines for workers’ comp coordinators to use, and forms for injured employees to complete.
In a workers’ comp program, you will “get” and “give” information. Think in terms of what information you need to “give” and what do you need to “get.”
Aget-well card is an example of giving a message in an informal way. In the card you could include a $20 gift card for pizza. Such a gesture communicates to your injured worker your awareness that the whole family is suffering with the mom/dad out of work, and getting a pizza is a nice thing to do for the whole family. It sends a clear message that the employer cares about the family.
Author Rebecca Shafer, J.D., President, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
WC Books: http://www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/workers-comp-books-manuals.php
WC Calculator: http://www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers’ comp issues.
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