• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
 
CHOOSE BROADSPIRE

Amaxx Workers Comp Blog

Reduce Workers Compensation Costs By 20-50%

Header Right

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Get Started
    • Newcomers Class for WC Professionals
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Free Training Center Account
    • Return to Work Resources
    • WC Claims Mgmt. Resources
    • Insurance Advisor Resources
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login

Mobile Menu

Choose Broadspire

CHOOSE BROADSPIREBroadspire Delivers Meaningful Results to Our Clients and Their Claimants
  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Get Started
    • Newcomers Class for WC Professionals
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Free Training Center Account
    • Return to Work Resources
    • WC Claims Mgmt. Resources
    • Insurance Advisor Resources
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login
  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
You are here: Home / Claim Management / COVID-19 and Home Office Workers’ Compensation

COVID-19 and Home Office Workers’ Compensation

June 10, 2020 By //  by Michael B. Stack

Experts predict that 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home at some point in their typical workweek by 2021.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is forcing members of the claim management team to face new challenges.  This goes beyond dealing with work injuries related to this new infectious disease.  These challenges include dealing with the changing American workforce as it transitions into a home office setting.  This adjustment creates an opportunity to address how claims are handled in an effective and efficient manner.

American Workforce Transitions to the Home Office

Over the last decade, there has been a slow transition of Americans working in a home office.  In 2000, less than 3% of the American workforce operated out of a home office.  The number of people working in a home environment has been slow to catch on as employers have concerns about productivity, having the proper technology, and holding employees accountable for their work product.  By 2019, only 9 million Americans were working at home – about 6% of the domestic labor market.

Click Link to Access Free PDF Download

“How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions?”

Since the early months of 2020, the number of Americans working at home has dramatically increased.  While it is unclear what percentage of the labor market is now working at home, experts predict that even assuming COVID-19 concerns are reduced via a vaccine, or better testing protocols, by the end of 2021, 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home at some point in their typical work week.

Addressing Continued Concerns of COVID-19 in the Home Office

The fact that more people are working at home does not lower the concerns employees will make COVID-19 related workers’ compensation claims.  When addressing these issues, members of the claim management team will need to be diligent in their claim investigation and identifying instances of possible exposure.  When addressing these matters, the following issues should be reviewed with caution:

  • Identify possible legal presumptions and how they apply: Several states have amended their workers’ compensation laws to include rebuttable presumptions for certain categories of employees.  These issues should be addressed with care and ensure the employee provides the proper documentation, and met the defined criteria;
  • Apply the legal standard for all other cases: Most state workers’ compensation laws require that the injury or workplace exposure (1) arise out of; are (2) in the course and scope of employment.  Absent a legal presumption, the employee carries the burden of proof (review your state laws as many states have presumed Covid-19 claims are compensable); and
  • Investigate areas of possible exposure: Claim handlers need to hone their investigative skills and become almost a COVID-19 “contact tracer.” Questions should be asked of someone seeking workers’ compensation benefits such as where they go shopping, attendance at social gatherings, and other activities.

Proactive Employment Practices in the COVID-19 Era

Employers can be proactive and should be encouraged to establish reasonable employment practices in the brave new COVID-19 workplace.  Taking simple steps can boost morale among employees and reduce the number of workers’ compensation claims.

  • Permit employees to work from a home office where it is practical, and the employee has a demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of productivity. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter recognized this when he stated, “If our employees are in a role and situation that enables them to work from home and they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen;” and
  • Ensure employees who are working in a home office environment are aware of proper ergonomics. When possible, equip those employees with desk, proper office chairs, and other reasonable workplace accessories.

    FREE DOWNLOAD: “How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions?”

All interested stakeholders must also ensure that workplace retaliation for demanding a safe workplace, or reporting work injuries is not tolerated.

In some work settings, this is not possible.  Current high-risk occupations include those in the meatpacking industry, long-term care facilities, and medical professionals.  Employers should properly train their employees on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and make sure it is provided upon request.  Employers can also evaluate workplace settings to reduce tight, or confined workspaces, and avoid “chokepoints,” were people might congregate.  They should also avoid re-circulating air in a workplace, and ensure fresh air is brought from the inside.

Conclusions

The current work environment will be changing, given the COVID-19 pandemic.  Employers, workers’ compensation carriers, and other interested stakeholders should use this as an opportunity to embrace change, and develop new protocols.  This includes one that deals with the challenges of a home office workforce.

Michael Stack - AmaxxAuthor Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a 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 is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center , which offers the Certified Master of Workers’ Compensation national designation.

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: http://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2020 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

FREE DOWNLOAD: “How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions?”

Filed Under: Claim Management Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic

Related Articles

What to Do AFTER a Workers’ Comp Claim Audit

What to Do AFTER a Workers’ Comp Claim Audit

Select the Right Claims for a Workers’ Comp Claim Audit

Select the Right Claims for a Workers’ Comp Claim Audit

Stop Wasting Time Doing Workers’ Comp Claim Audits

Stop Wasting Time Doing Workers’ Comp Claim Audits
workers' comp Investigation

Best in Class Claims Investigation

Best in Class Claims Investigation

Review Your Claim Management Systems

Review Your Claim Management Systems

Why Every Employer Should Request Their Account Handling Instructions

Why Every Employer Should Request Their Account Handling Instructions

16 Points you MUST include in your Account Handling Instructions

16 Points you MUST include in your Account Handling Instructions

20 Unfair Claim Practices For Your Adjuster To Avoid

20 Unfair Claim Practices For Your Adjuster To Avoid

Complete A Better Accident Investigation

Complete A Better Accident Investigation

One Critical Step To Start Any Injured Worker Investigation

One Critical Step To Start Any Injured Worker Investigation

One Tip To Make Claims Reviews an Effective Use of Time

One Tip To Make Claims Reviews an Effective Use of Time

Efficient Communication Techniques To Get More Done

Efficient Communication Techniques To Get More Done

Free Download

How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions? - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Previous Post: « How Targeted Behavioral Health Support Keeps Catastrophic Claims on Track for Best Outcomes
Next Post: Opioids, Work, and Overdoses »

Primary Sidebar

FREE DOWNLOAD

How Do I Get My Adjusters To Follow My Account Handling Instructions? - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Our Sponsors

Broadspire

Workers’ Comp 3rd-Party Administrator
 

Catastrophic Care Management, Complex Care, and Specialty Networks
 

Ametros

Post-Settlement Administration
 

Medicare Secondary Payer Services
 

Medcor

Injury Triage, Onsite Clinics

Read Our Award-Winning Blog

Blog Categories

Search Our Archive

Subscribe to Our FREE Newsletter

Footer

Search Our Archive

Search our continually growing archive of over 2500 articles about Workers' Comp issues.

Quiclinks

  • Calculators
  • Terms & Abbreviations
  • Glossary of WC Premium Terms
  • WC Resources
  • Best Practices
  • Industries

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • What to Do AFTER a Workers’ Comp Claim Audit
  • Select the Right Claims for a Workers’ Comp Claim Audit
  • Stop Wasting Time Doing Workers’ Comp Claim Audits
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEE NEWSLETTER
Let Us Help You Stomp Down the High Cost of Workers' Comp!
Top of Page ↑
  • Home
  • Training Center
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Products
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Copyright © 2021 Amaxx, LLC. All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy / Legal Notice