What problems has the workers' compensation bureaucracy created?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The bureaucracy that was birthed to solve the problems of the injured worker has created many new problems. To illustrate, state legislatures control the benefits to be paid and how they are to be calculated. Therefore, today's employers may have as much control over their employees as they did before the onset of workers' compensation. Although outdated wage scales and artificial maximum benefits may spur injured employees to return to work as soon as possible, they do not necessarily provide adequate compensation for injured employees with valid claims. Furthermore, fraud is rampant among employees, and insurance carriers have resorted to "hardball" tactics to counteract this deception. Such responses to workers' compensation have created a climate of fear and distrust between employees and employers.??    The system does not always fairly compensate injured employees. An injured worker is generally not entitled, for example, to continued employer contributions for retirement benefits while he or she is off work because of an injury. Furthermore, the injured employee may lose his or her job, seniority, and/or job advancement opportunities. The compensation the injured employee is paid is almost always less than his or her earnings prior to the accident even though the employer remains liable for the injured employee's medical expenses.