Have you ever suspected an employee of making a less than legitimate workers’ compensation claim? Here are some tips for spotting the fakers.
There’s a good chance you’ve dealt with workers’ compensation claims during your HR career, but have you ever wondered if the employee’s claim might be exaggerated or not entirely true?
According to a Lexology article by Belinda Winter and Annie Smeaton of Cooper Grace Ward, employers who suspect there’s something wrong with a compensation claim – such as the injury being exaggerated, or having occurred outside of work – can proactively monitor the employee in question and submit a response to the workers’ compensation regulator before the claim is determined.
“Failure to take these steps is likely to result in an accepted workers’ compensation claim and increased premiums for the employer,” the article said.
Winter and Smeaton listed these factors as “triggers for further enquiry”:
The lawyers suggested that if an employer believed a claim shouldn’t be accepted, they needed to submit a comprehensive response while the claim was being initially assessed and before it was determined.
According to a Lexology article by Belinda Winter and Annie Smeaton of Cooper Grace Ward, employers who suspect there’s something wrong with a compensation claim – such as the injury being exaggerated, or having occurred outside of work – can proactively monitor the employee in question and submit a response to the workers’ compensation regulator before the claim is determined.
“Failure to take these steps is likely to result in an accepted workers’ compensation claim and increased premiums for the employer,” the article said.
Winter and Smeaton listed these factors as “triggers for further enquiry”:
- Reporting an injury late
- Suffering an injury immediately before retirement
- Suffering an injury during reasonable performance management
- Having more than one active claim
- Having previously rejected claims
- Suffering an injury that relates to a pre-existing condition
- Developing new secondary conditions
- Changing treating medical practitioners
- Suffering severe injuries from a minor accident
The lawyers suggested that if an employer believed a claim shouldn’t be accepted, they needed to submit a comprehensive response while the claim was being initially assessed and before it was determined.
