BLR’s Human Resources Training Presentations in California

30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.

BLR’s Human Resources Training Presentations in California

Workers’ Compensation


Goals

Recognize the purpose and benefits of workers’ compensation

Understand your role in the systemKnow how you can help reduce claims and

keep costs downUnderstand California’s requirements

regarding workers’ compensation


What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Accident insurance program State mandated Employer funded


What Does It Cover?

Medical and rehabilitation expenses

Lost wages Death benefits


When Does It Apply?

Work-related injuries Work-related illnesses


The Cost of Workers’ Comp

State formula Risk factors for specific jobs Employer’s claims history


Special Terms

No employee lawsuits No employer retaliation


Reporting Work-Related Injuries

Employee claims Employer reports Medical reports OSHA reporting

forms


Maintaining Contact with Out-of-Work Employees

Keep up employee’s morale Encourage the employee to stick with

treatment program Demonstrate that the employee is expected

back at workAlert claims manager to any problems Assure employees of employer’s concern

for their well-being


Dealing with Permanent Disability

Some disabilities prevent any work

Others may require an employee to do a different job


Easing the Return to Work

Rehabilitation Consultation with medical professionals Alternate duty work


What Alternate Duty Work Is

Transitional phase Way for a recovering

employee to make productive contribution

Temporary Supervised

Means to help the employee rebuild strength

Opportunity for employee to learn prevention techniques

Morale booster


What Alternate Duty Work Isn’t

Make-work An excuse to goof off A task that could reinjure the worker

or aggravate an illness


Suggestions for Appropriate Alternate Duty Work

Less strenuous or stressful parts of the employee’s normal job

Normal job tasks performed part-time or at a slower pace

A combination of less strenuous or stressful parts of several jobs

A special project without a tight deadline


Help Prevent Injuries and Illnesses

Conduct regular safety inspections

Correct identified problems immediately

Hold frequent safety meetings Include safety in performance

evaluations


Help Prevent Injuries and Illnesses (cont.)

Require safe housekeepingPerform equipment maintenance on scheduleEncourage employee safety involvement Highlight safety achievements


Effective Accident Investigations

Conduct or cooperate with safety investigations Evaluate situations that lead to stress-related

claims Correct conditions that cause injury or illness Follow up to ensure that corrective action has

been implemented


Basic Rules in California

Compulsory, free coverage for all employees

Acceptable methods for insuring compensation payments

Penalties for failure to insurePosting requirementsReporting requirementsRetaliation for filing claims


Medical Treatment

No limitation on costs Choice of physician Emotional injury and stressPreexisting conditions 24-hour coverageManaged care


Cash Benefits

Lost wages Total disability (temporary or permanent)Partial disability (permanent)Partial disability (temporary)Rehabilitation benefitsDeath benefits


Worker’ Compensation Claims

Occupational injuryOccupational diseaseVocational rehabilitationFailure to pay claimsConfidentiality


Contesting Claims

California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board

Employee expensesAppealsPayments following hearing


Goals

Recognize the purpose and benefits of workers’ compensation

Understand your role in the systemKnow how you can help reduce claims and

keep costs downUnderstand California’s requirements

regarding workers’ compensation


Summary

Workers’ compensation is a valuable employee benefit

Employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses are entitled to benefits

It is important to report all safety and health incidents promptly

Conduct or cooperate with thorough investigations


Summary (cont.)

You play an important role in maintaining contact with out-of-work employees and helping them come back to work

You can help reduce claims and keep down costs by promoting safety and health and preventing injuries and illnesses

You must comply with California law regarding workers’ compensation


Quiz

1. Employees may collect workers’ compensation when ___________________________________________________.

2. Workers’ comp covers _________________________________.

3. Staying in touch with employees recovering from injury or illness can help identify problems with their treatment or benefits. True or False

4. Regular safety inspections are one way to help reduce workers’ comp costs. True or False

5. A good way to ease recovering employees back to work is ___________________________________________________.


Quiz (cont.)

6. You can fire an employee for filing a workers’ comp claim if you think the claim is bogus. True or False

7. It is your responsibility to determine when an injured employee can return to work. True or False

8. Name at least three qualities of effective alternate duty work: ___________________________________________________.

9. Employees with job-related injuries or illnesses shouldn’t return to work until they’re back in peak condition. True or False

10.When you investigate incidents leading to workers’ comp claims, you should try to determine ___________________________________________________.


Quiz Answers

1. Employees may collect workers’ comp when they have a work-related injury or illness.

2. Workers’ comp covers medical and rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and death benefits.

3. True. Staying in touch can also help keep up the employee’s moral, encourage the employee to stick with the treatment program, demonstrate that the employee is expected back at work, and assure all employees that their employer cares about their well-being.

4. True. Regular inspections can detect hazards and give you the opportunity to take corrective action before anyone is injured or becomes ill.


Quiz Answers (cont.)

5. A good way to ease recovering employees back to work is to assign them alternate or light duty work that they can perform without reinjuring themselves or becoming ill again.

6. False. Employers are prohibited by law from retaliating in any way against employees who file claims—even if the employer believes that the claim has no merit.

7. False. Medical professionals will determine when an employee can return to work.


Quiz Answers (cont.)

8. Alternate or light duty work is (1) a transitional phase, (2) a way for a recovering employee to make a productive contribution, (3) temporary, (4) supervised, (5) a means to help the employee rebuild strength, (6) an opportunity for the employee to learn prevention techniques, and (7) a morale booster.

9. False. Employees may return to work with the approval of their physician while they are still in the rehabilitation phase as long as there is alternate or light duty work for them to do.

10. When you investigate incidents leading to work-related injury or illness, you should try to determine what conditions and/or actions caused the injury or illness, whether similar incidents have occurred before, and what equipment, procedures, and/or training changes could prevent future incidents.

Documents

BLR’s Human Resources Training Presentations in California