Florida Workers’ Comp Adjuster Releases New Book Aimed at Getting Injured Employees Back to Work

Employer’s Guide to Implementing a Proactive Return to Work Program – Florida Edition

Boca Raton, FL - May 15, 2008 – Margaret Spence utilized her experience as a workers’ compensation adjuster and consultant to cut through the complexity of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Statutes, to provide employers with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to implement a proactive return to work program. From Workers’ Comp Claimant to Valued Employee challenges employers to understand the hidden cost of injuries and to develop policies and procedures that will allow injured employees to stay at or return to work in productive light or modified duty positions.

Margaret said during her years as an adjuster, she made countless phone calls to employers asking them if light duty jobs were available - eight out of ten times the employer said, “No, We have nothing available. The employee can not come back to work until he or she is full duty”. She said, “Knowing that I had to issue an indemnity payment to an employee, who was able to return to work, was very frustrating.” As a consultant, Margaret realized that there was no road map or guide that provided employers with the resources or knowledge to systematically get injured employees back to work.

Historically, the workers’ compensation system has not supported the return to work process – it is much easier to offer injured employees a settlement than it is to provide them with the opportunity to return to gainful employment. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics annually, 1.2 million injured employees lose, an average of, seven work days directly related to their occupational injury or illness. Most employers have the false assumption that premiums are the most significant cost drivers in the workers’ compensation system. In fact, lost productivity, lost work days and staff replacement cost can be up to 240 percent above direct insurance cost.

When Margaret made the decision, two years ago to write this book she immediately recognized that she would have to change the way employers view light duty before she could motivate them to implement proactive return to work procedures. This book had to accomplish three things, change the perception of light duty, quantify the cost of leaving injured employees at home and provide employers with clear steps that will result in a positive return to work experience.

From Workers’ Comp Claimant to Valued Employee, (ISBN: 978-0-9789407-6-8, DCRC Training Group Press), definitely accomplished this goal. The book is packed with step-by-step instructions, handy checklist, to do lists and hundreds of valuable tips and techniques employers can implement immediately. Margaret also developed and launched an online resource guide that accompanies the book.

The book is currently available on Amazon.com for advance pre-publication sales and it can be purchased now on our website, www.TheyCanReturntoWork.com

About Margaret Spence, CWC, RMPE

Margaret Spence is the President and CEO of Douglas Claims & Risk Consultants, Inc. and WorkCompSeminars.com. She is a Board Certified Workers' Compensation consultant, speaker and trainer who ranks among the experts in the field of injury management and return to work implementation. She is an expert at showing companies how to slash their workers’ compensation cost by implementing strategies that drastically reduce injury rates, increase productivity and energize employees to work safely. For more than two decades, she has managed workplace safety and workers' compensation claims for Fortune 500 Corporations, Public Entities and small businesses. Margaret was recently appointed to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Special Expertise Panel on Employee Health, Safety and Security for a three year term. To learn more about Margaret Spence – visit her website: www.margaretspence.com

About the Book

From Workers’ Comp Claimant to Valued Employee is published by DCRC Training Group Press
ISBN: 978-0-9789407-6-8, 190 pages, Perfect Bound 6 x 9 – Retail Price: US $49.95.
Publication Date: June 2, 2008 – Business/Human Resources
Book website: www.TheyCanReturnToWork.com 
Author’s website: www.MargaretSpence.com

Distribution:
Amazon.com and major book retailers – Bulk Sales contact Patricia Campbell at: pcampbell@theycanreturntowork.com

Contact:

Patricia Campbell – Marketing Director
Douglas Claims & Risk Consultants, Inc
DCRC Training Group Press
1600 NW 2nd Avenue, Suite 19
Boca Raton, Fl 33432
Ph: 561-795-3036
Fx: 561-423-9207
Email: pcampbell@TheyCanReturnToWork.com
Website: www.TheyCanReturnToWork.com