Developing an exemplary workers' compensation program and herding cats have a few things in common.
Actually, they have a lot in common.
The department tasked with doing this is responsible for, among many other things: developing and instituting safety protocols for all employees and then ensuring those best practices are clearly communicated to the troops; working with one's TPA to ensure the timely handling of claims when they do arise; the development and execution of return-to-work programs; and the management of budgets and personnel with which to accomplish all this.
|Well-being of your workforce
The essential ingredient, however, in developing a truly effective workers' comp program — the elusive element I've noticed is always present — is this: a sincere sense of responsibility for the well-being of your workforce. No matter how long that journey will take at your organization, it has to begin with that first step.
I know this because I've had the pleasure of judging and then bestowing National Underwriter Property & Casualty's Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management Award for several years running — and this year, NU and PropertyCasualty360.com will once again recognize the “best of the best” in workers' comp. We are now accepting entries at propertycasualty360.com/pages/wcrm-awards/.
Three winners will each receive an exclusive, feature-length profile in the August 2017 issue of NU and on PropertyCasualty360.com, as well as round-trip airfare to the premier annual event for workers' comp professionals, the Workers' Compensation Institute's Educational Conference (on Aug. 6-9 at the Orlando World Center Marriott, where we will present the award statuettes during the event's general session before an audience of hundreds), and two nights' hotel accommodations.
Also at WCEC, the three winners will join me in a special roundtable session as part of the conference program, during which attendees will learn the secrets of these award-winning programs. Following the panel, the winners will be interviewed by Kimberly George of Sedgwick and Mark Walls of Safety National, co-hosts of the popular webinar series “Out Front Ideas with Kimberly and Mark.” That video interview will be featured on PropertyCasualty360.com.
|Proud of work you do
Another thing I've noticed that all of our winners have had in common is that they were all deeply humbled and honored to receive the award. I say that not in some display of shameless self-promotion, but rather to describe the reaction of the winners when I call them every summer — and believe me when I say it is the one series of phone calls I look forward to most every year. These people are invariably very proud of the work they do, as they should be, but at the same time they know that their work is never done. And they all have a valuable story to tell.
Co-sponsoring the award once again this year are Sedgwick and Safety National, two companies that know more than their share about the essential ingredients of an award-worthy workers' comp program. Our special thanks also go to the Workers' Compensation Institute, with which NU continues to enjoy a solid relationship.
Will you be among those honored? Enter today and let's find out together.
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking insurance news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Insurance Speak podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the employee benefits and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, BenefitsPRO and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Shawn Moynihan
Shawn Moynihan is Editor-in-Chief of National Underwriter Property & Casualty. A St. John’s University alum, Moynihan has earned 11 Jesse H. Neal Awards, the Pulitzers of the business press; seven Azbee Awards, from the American Society of Business Press Editors; two Folio Awards; and a SABEW award, from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers. Prior to joining ALM, he served as Managing Editor/Online Editor of journalism institution Editor & Publisher, the trade bible of the newspaper industry. Moynihan also has held editorial positions with AOL, Metro New York, and Newhouse Newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected].
