blr’s human resources training presentations in california
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BLR’s Human Resources Training Presentations in California. Workers’ Compensation. Goals. Recognize the purpose and benefits of workers’ compensation Understand your role in the system Know how you can help reduce claims and keep costs down - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
BLR’s Human Resources Training Presentations in California
Workers’ Compensation
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Accident insurance program State mandated Employer funded
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
What Does It Cover?
Medical and rehabilitation expenses
Lost wages Death benefits
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
When Does It Apply?
Work-related injuries Work-related illnesses
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
The Cost of Workers’ Comp
State formula Risk factors for specific jobs Employer’s claims history
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Special Terms
No employee lawsuits No employer retaliation
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Reporting Work-Related Injuries
Employee claims Employer reports Medical reports OSHA reporting
forms
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Dealing with Permanent Disability
Some disabilities prevent any work
Others may require an employee to do a different job
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Easing the Return to Work
Rehabilitation Consultation with medical professionals Alternate duty work
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
What Alternate Duty Work Isn’t
Make-work An excuse to goof off A task that could reinjure the worker
or aggravate an illness
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Help Prevent Injuries and Illnesses
Conduct regular safety inspections
Correct identified problems immediately
Hold frequent safety meetings Include safety in performance
evaluations
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Help Prevent Injuries and Illnesses (cont.)
Require safe housekeepingPerform equipment maintenance on scheduleEncourage employee safety involvement Highlight safety achievements
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Medical Treatment
No limitation on costs Choice of physician Emotional injury and stressPreexisting conditions 24-hour coverageManaged care
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Cash Benefits
Lost wages Total disability (temporary or permanent)Partial disability (permanent)Partial disability (temporary)Rehabilitation benefitsDeath benefits
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Worker’ Compensation Claims
Occupational injuryOccupational diseaseVocational rehabilitationFailure to pay claimsConfidentiality
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Contesting Claims
California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
Employee expensesAppealsPayments following hearing
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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 ___________________________________________________.
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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 ___________________________________________________.
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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.
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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.
30506300/0305 ©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
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.