Wisconsin and Minnesota are seeing a decline in workers’ compensation claims.
Workplace injuries can be devastating. Injured workers suffer the same pain and disruption to their lives as with any other type of injury. Additionally, in Wisconsin, even when workers compensation benefits are appropriately and timely paid, most injured employees who cannot work must survive on two-thirds of their wages, and they often miss out on fringe benefits. Some lose their jobs; others are never able to return to their old occupations. Employers can also suffer from the loss of key workers.
Certainly, we should applaud the advances in technology, workplace-safety campaigns, improved training, and the additions of safety personnel and committees that have prevented work-related injuries. Employers who are dedicated to the safety and well being of their employees also likely improve the morale of the workplace and the dedication of their employees; however, we must do more to protect those who are not so lucky.
Some workplaces discourage their employees from reporting injuries. Some hang signs touting the number of days without a reportable incident and give bonuses when records are set—encouraging employees to work while in serious pain. Some employers have reputations for harassing workers who do report injuries—suddenly writing them up for all kinds of alleged infractions and threats of termination—further discouraging the honest reporting of injuries. Some employers treat every report of injury as “fake news,” and their workplaces treat those employees as frauds. Many workers would rather hide injuries than be treated as frauds by their coworkers.
Fewer workplace injuries should be celebrated. Fewer reports of injury may need further investigation.
