Did you hire your last Workers’ Compensation claim? Effective hiring practices are one way to control Workers’ Compensation claim costs and, in turn, control your experience modification factor. Fundamental hiring practices include background and reference checks. If those are positive, the next step is to make a written conditional offer of employment, which should include whenever possible a post offer but pre-employment exam. This exam will ensure that the potential employee is physically matched to the demands of the job. The timing of the exam and the manner in which it is performed is critical.
An effective process will include a relationship with a medical resource that can efficiently schedule and complete the exam so that there is minimal delay. The employee will have received a medical questionnaire to complete before the exam so that the doctor will know any pertinent history. The Flanders Group specializes in helping employers manage Workers’ Compensation programs so we can support you with examples and template documents for the best practices we recommend.
The employer will need to provide a detailed job description so the medical professional can understand the specific job requirements. We suggest the exam also include an initial drug screen. Once the exam is complete, the medical professional will determine the employee’s ability to perform the job and any accommodations that they may need.
In the end, the employer has an applicant who is matched to the physical demands of the work environment. It is a critical strategy that prevents injuries from occurring and helps control your experience modification factor.