A NSW micro employer is a business with 5 or less employees and a basic premium tariff <$30,000. A micro employer with an injured worker may experience financial difficulties with return to work (RTW) of an injured employee. WorkCover acknowledges for many micro employers there is a financial burden they can’t afford or sustain. WorkCover is now extending special RTW assistance to these businesses.
ABILITY GROUP was engaged by a client after their premiums increased materially after a frustrating claim. Despite their continued frustrating efforts to achieve a desired outcome, the insurer was unable to delivery what our client was seeking. Our strategic claims review and subsequent efforts delivered $140,000 of workers compensation related refunds.
From 30 June 2015, the calculations for NSW businesses with a premium > $30,000 change completely. The new key drivers of premium become:
– Wages and business activity
– Claim performance now benchmarked against scheme rather industry
– Return to Work related metrics
The most significant changes in 20+ years were intended to simplify NSW workers compensation, but they are being referred to as complex and confusing. Although various claim costs are no longer premium impacting, some of the more dramatic premium increases will result from how an individual business compares to the overall NSW scheme performance. Businesses that struggle with claims will be penalised.
The upcoming NSW medium to large business workers compensation changes mean the assessment of liability will be become increasingly critical. The ability to identify and document the facts of an injury can become crucial in minimising the future costs, speed of return to work and acceptance of liability. Employers who are suspicious of particular claims will benefit from use of investigators.
According to NSW Government’s Get Healthy At Work, Australians spend one third of their lives at work, so being healthy at work can have some big benefits. Healthier employees are alert, fitter and more resilient against illness. A successful workplace health program improves productivity, attracts new employees, enhances business image and reduces absenteeism.
Difficult workers compensation injuries and claims can have a dramatic people, business and financial impacts that can cause problems for your customers/clients. ABILITY GROUP specialises in providing a variety of injury and claim management related services that assist businesses and brokers navigate the complexities of workplace injuries and workers compensation claims in achieving favourable outcomes and allowing them to focus on their core business. As an example, 9 months after the original injury ABILITY GROUP was engaged to assist a client with a difficult workers compensation claim. Our client had typical time pressures and with the injured worker continuing to be paid, claim costs were escalating.