The National Workers’ Comp and Disability Conference is once again knocking on the door. While it feels like you could attend a conference just about every day of the year in our industry, this is the big one. And if you could only attend one, you should book your ticket today.
For me there are two main goals, education and networking. Here are some sessions I’m looking forward to:
Employer Claim Prevention, Early Intervention Protocols and Defense Strategies – Wednesday, November 11, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Injury prevention, early intervention and claim-severity mitigation are hallmarks of Hyatt Hotels’ workers’ comp program. For claims that must be litigated, coordination among employer, adjuster and defense attorney is crucial. Hear a Hyatt health manager and a former workers’ compensation judge and practicing defense expert discuss strategies for claim prevention, managing treatment, return to work and litigation tactics applied to achieve favorable outcomes. – See more at: http://www.wcconference.com/sessions.html#sthash.6yNPexya.dpuf
Building a Culture of Respect for Workers With Disabilities – Wednesday, November 11, 2:30 – 3:45 pm
A worker identified as a person with a disability — whether the cause is occupational or not — may feel stigmatized. Companies that cultivate respect and appreciation for these employees will be more likely to succeed when building disability and absence management programs. They are also more likely to meet mandates, such as the recently enhanced law requiring employers with federal contracts to increase their hiring, retention and promotion of employees with disabilities. Learn how Kaiser Permanente optimizes opportunities for individuals with disabilities, whether they are seeking employment or returning from absences, and how you can use these practices in your organization. – See more at: http://www.wcconference.com/sessions.html#sthash.6yNPexya.np39gBHa.dpuf
Steal These Ideas! Teddy Award-Winning Employers Share Their Successes – Thursday, November 12, 8:30 – 9:45 am
A top industry executive and a prominent commentator will interview workers’ comp and safety managers overseeing some of the most successful programs in the nation. This roundtable will delve into the inner-workings of employers that earned recognition as winners of the 2015 Risk & Insurance Teddy Awards by engaging workers, reducing injuries and managing costs. Learn the key strategies and tangible practices that drive proven and sustainable results. You’ll get inspired and take home ideas to advance your program to the next level! – See more at: http://www.wcconference.com/sessions.html#sthash.6yNPexya.np39gBHa.dpuf
Managing Risks and Claims in the Age of Legalized Marijuana – Thursday, November 12, 2:00 – 3:15 pm
The nationwide proliferation of medical and recreational marijuana-use laws requires employers and other workers’ comp payers to understand the risks, potential obligations and emerging claims-handling issues so they can develop relevant policies. This panel of legal, clinical and risk management experts will discuss trends claims payers must grasp to develop workplace policies, establish claims management standards and set service-provider guidelines, among other practices, so the response to marijuana use is not based on inconsistent, personal judgment. – See more at: http://www.wcconference.com/sessions.html#sthash.6yNPexya.np39gBHa.dpuf
Perspectives From the Industry’s Favorite Bloggers – Thursday, November 12, 3:30 – 4:45 pm
It’s been an interesting year for workers’ compensation. News stories have cast an unfavorable light on workers’ comp practices, challenges to the exclusive remedy continued, and advocates for allowing employers to opt out of state workers’ comp systems expanded their efforts. Those are just a few of the topics that some of the industry’s best-known bloggers will share their views on during this always lively and popular panel. – See more at: http://www.wcconference.com/sessions.html#sthash.6yNPexya.np39gBHa.dpuf
These are just a few that stood out to me, you can see the whole agenda here: http://www.wcconference.com/agenda.html#1
For the networking, let’s face it, one of the most valuable assets you have are your professional relationships. To save $100 on your registration, use the code STACK15. I look forward to seeing you there!
Author Michael Stack, Principal, COMPClub, Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their work comp costs by 20% to 50%. He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and founder of COMPClub, an exclusive member training program on workers compensation cost containment best practices. Through these platforms he is in the trenches on a monthly basis working together with clients to implement and define best practices, which allows him to continuously be at the forefront of innovation and thought leadership in workers’ compensation cost containment. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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