The original intent of workers' compensation: a team approach

A state's legislation dictates the expectations in the handling of work-related injuries. However, the reality is that positive outcomes depend more on a company's value system, such as whether an organization views its employees as assets rather than liabilities, than on legal protections. This article reviews the workers' compensation system in the United States and the false assumptions that create barriers to effective and timely resolution of claims. The United States workers' compensation system is a very reactive process. Professionals in the workers' compensation field who work with employers, medical providers, and insurance companies regularly encounter deeply ingrained assumptions that create unnecessary barriers to injured workers' opportunities to participate in transitional work and modified duty while recovering from a work-related injury. Regardless of the size or type of the employer, the jurisdiction where the injury occurred, or the type of claim management organization, these perceptions continue to permeate the industry. This article addresses these assumptions and offers suggestions for a more proactive approach to achieve quicker and more successful outcomes.