I would challenge anyone to try and watch the news or attempt to be current, in just about any scenario relative to the current political climate we are facing today. Those on the left indicate that this is nothing short of a political coup leading to a dictatorship. Those on the right think that this is too long overdue slipping of all the appropriate rocks, so as to eliminate corruption, fraud, abuse and inappropriate distribution of taxpayer funds.
It is clear that a number of individuals will be looking for other employment as a result of some of the measures taken. However, speaking with my neighbor, a concern is noted by his employees is how these changes will affect my job? A significant campaign during the recent presidential election was the price of groceries. There are those who would argue that the tariffs assigned will only make everyday existence much more difficult.
The original attempt was to speak to my small business owner neighbor about the concept of whole person recovery in workers compensation. This is a relatively new concept, no more than four years old, and in my attempt to instruct my business owner friend that the identified compensable injury extends beyond the local “boo-boo” noted to have occurred. The effect of the injury on the hard-working blue-collar employee will and does compromise the response to treatment, healing, and the determination of reaching maximum medical improvement.
Add to that a concern on the part of the injured individual that the additional consideration of how rapidly things are moving at the national level, how the utilization of tariffs could compromise supply-chain issues, and is my employer doing all that he can to care for my needs if I am injured? One of the more interesting quotes I have heard in the last few weeks is that the current administration is moving at the speed of business, while the organization tries to continue to move at the speed of government.
Our political leaders wordsmith daily, (I refused to use the term lie, as if you look closely, the wordsmithing has a kernel of truth), and it comes down to who do you believe? All of this turmoil is a broadcast across all media platforms, and it is apparent that the employee has significant concerns as there is insufficient objective information that allows a rational and well thought out response.
Accordingly, it becomes so noticeably clear that it is the responsibility of the employer to elevate and clarify the relationships, so that the injured individual feels appropriate care will be rendered if something untoward were to happen.
At this time, I would encourage all participants in the workers compensation ecosystem and users of the workers compensation insurance program to have very clearly stated policies, establish and continue to develop open and effective lines of communication, and deliver to the injured individual assurances that if something did happen, irrespective of the turmoil outside the front door or in DC, all appropriate care will be delivered. And if you, the employer, happen to be communicating with your claim file handler, ask them if they have a clear understanding of the whole person recovery model in adjudicating the claim file, and are they applying all the tenets of that process.