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.
After being involved with numerous degenerative disease claims, a business can be held unfairly liable for such claims. The workers compensation system, processes and insurers often hold the employer liable for the full claims costs.
At ABILITY GROUP we advocate for clients and partners in securing the best possible outcome for their business and injured workers. In our experience businesses are often wrongfully held liable for the actions and decisions made by an individual during the years prior to being employed by the current business. Regrettably if proactive or preventative actions are not adopted by businesses, then the ability to have such degenerative disease related claims declined becomes extremely difficult.
There is growing evidence sitting or a sedentary lifestyle can result in chronic and even deadly health conditions. Many assume it is mostly office workers who are spending increasing time sitting yet there are many jobs that are also at risk. Majority of time sitting is work related yet once people leave work they also spend significant time sitting watching TV or the likes. What does the research say and what can be done?
WorkCover WA has announced a recommended 4.7% decrease in the premium rate for compulsory workers’ compensation insurance in Western Australia. The average premium rate would reduce to 1.483% of 2015/16 total wages and is a record low. Reductions are based on actuarial calculations reflecting lower claims despite these claims costing more.