By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims
Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage is mandated in the State of Michigan. Even so, Workers’ Compensation is a “benefit” to the employee (and the employer). Employees are “entitled” to medical care and compensation should they have an injury while in the course of employment. But that does not allow the injured worker to have an “entitlement attitude”. Workers’ Compensation is not a “social program”. Benefits are governed by laws that were enacted over 100 years ago. Those laws have been periodically modified to change with the times. When you talk about laws, you are talking about attorneys – hence the modifications! Our success in the Workers’ Compensation courts is strongly influenced by the current political arena in our State at that time.
Employers know the part they play in the process: safety programs, safety training, drug screening, employment physicals, prompt reporting of injuries, accident investigations (and preventions).