From incident to insight: How experienced employers can support colleagues in reporting claims: risk and insurance

My 20-year-old son recently took a door-to-door job, a completely new experience for him. During the interview, he asked his new manager what the chances of being bitten by a dog were. The manager replied that he himself had not been bitten in his five years of work.

My son loves dogs and knows how to behave around them. I thought the chances of a dog bite were probably low. However, on the second day of work, my son was bitten by a dog that lunged at him through his owner’s legs and pierced his hand.

My son is older and wiser in injury reporting than the last time he came to one of my houses Columns. He immediately called his supervisor and asked what to do.

It appears the manager was barely informed of any on-field injuries. He told his new employee, “It’s up to you to do what you have to do. Keep working if you want, or go to the emergency room.” My son, dripping blood, went to the nearest emergency room, which he passed through Google could find.

The next day, the manager called him with some standard questions about the incident report. To my dismay, the term “workers’ compensation” never came out of his mouth. However, my son brought it up because I told him what to ask.

This saga of minor worker injuries is still playing out, and my son is doing well, although he suffered a near miss with another dog just a few days later. But it’s really made me realize how much further some employers have to go to educate their employees – and their supervisors – about even the basics of injury reporting procedures, how to facilitate emergency care, and more.

I admit that I work in a fairly specific niche of the broader world of workers’ compensation—a sort of echo chamber—where the companies I typically work with and speak to are top-notch and have long since moved past such missteps.

Recently I spoke to people who represent ours Winner of the Theo Prize 2024. Many of them had actively addressed issues related to reporting injuries, triaging caregivers, and directing staff to immediate, high-quality care. Your proactive efforts are in stark contrast to less savvy employers like my son’s (former) employer.

Can we turn this contrast into a connection?

Consider this my call to the rest of employers across the country to get it right – and know who you are because you’ve worked hard to get there. Are you now ready to reach out to bring other employers to your level?

Think about the problems you’ve solved and the lessons you’ve learned – who would benefit most from what you’ve learned and where could you reach them? You could probably give three or four solid presentations about what your team accomplished in 2024.

Why not get a few partners and/or colleagues together and take part in a panel discussion? Group presentations are much easier and also more engaging for the audience.

There is no question that I would like to see how many of you would submit proposals to present at the 2025 National Comp in Nashville. (And please do!) But also consider other venues – industry groups and local business organizations in your area that host events.

Expand yourself in 2025. Share your knowledge and exchange ideas with other employers in your area. You help promote this and also improve yourself and your company in the process. Have a safe and healthy 2025 everyone. &