Retail worker injuries spike in January, not during holiday season
Strains are the most common retail worker injury, accounting for 26% of workers’ comp claims and nearly 30% of claim payouts.
More retail workers’ comp claims occur in January than the busier shopping months of November and December, despite the holiday period seeing an influx of less-experienced seasonal workers, according to a report from AmTrust Finacial.
During the past five years, the retail sector saw most of its reported workers’ comp claims during January, while December actually saw the least reported injuries during the period.
However, the November-December injury statistics could be skewed due to the makeup of the workforce during the holidays, according to Matt Zender, senior vice president, workers’ comp product manager, for AmTrust.
“Younger workers, who often comprise a significant portion of the seasonal workforce, might choose not to report minor injuries, relying instead on their health insurance or treating it at home,” Zender said in the report. “This reluctance to engage with workers’ compensation could artificially deflate injury statistics.”
Most common injuries
Strains are the most common retail worker injury, accounting for 26% of workers’ comp claims reported and nearly 30% of claim payouts in the sector. Strains are most likely to occur in January and least likely to occur in December, according to AmTrust.
Falls are the second leading cause of retail workers’ comp injuries and are also most likely to occur in January and least likely to occur in August. Falls account for 19% of claims reported and 27% of claims payouts in the retail sector.
Motor vehicle accidents, which make up relatively few claims in the sector, result in the highest claims payouts, according to AmTrust.
“Relatively few employees drive regularly as part of their job responsibilities in retail,” said Zender. “Nevertheless, businesses are wise to take all the necessary precautions when it comes to deliveries and other driving by retail workers since the pay-out for a strain or fall is between $12,000 and $15,000 — while the average claim payout for motor vehicle accidents is much higher at over $20,000.”
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