An injured worker is the one stakeholder in the WorkCover scheme who is an involuntary participant. No-one, I hope, wants to get injured (although nothing surprises me anymore).
Following the unfortunate event of a workplace injury, a worker must navigate a slow and complex medical system, and they must do this while adjusting to a new way of life.
We must remember that injured workers are central to all things WorkCover. The system exists to help prevent people from becoming injured, and to support, rehabilitate and compensate those who are.
Over the years, I’ve questioned whether I should feel bad about earning a living off the suffering of others. Think about it. If there were no injuries, there would be no jobs in WorkCover. If premiums and claims costs weren’t a pain-point for employers, I wouldn’t be doing the work I do right now with them.
But ultimately, I’m motivated to improve the work and life experiences of workers, whether they are injured or not, and that makes me feel good. I know my work with employers has helped thousands of workers.
I could run a 12-month program one-on-one with an injured worker, and I’m sure they’ll be better off for it. Or I could run a 12-month program with their employer and many workers will be better off as a result. I’ll help prevent other injuries from occurring and grow a profitable business, improving job security for everyone.
So no, I don’t feel lousy about profiting from WorkCover. And you shouldn’t feel bad when you convert your business’ WorkCover premium savings into bottom-line profits. The more success you achieve in managing WorkCover, the better off your workers will be through the prevention of injuries, increased job security and improved work culture.
