Why You Should Invest in Workers' Compensation Insurance and Employee Wellness

A worker falls from a ladder

As safe as most employers try to make their workplaces, there are just some industries where the risk of injury and illness is inherent. When a worker sustains serious health issues as a direct result of workplace activities, the employer is often liable for damages. Every incident varies in magnitude but most claims can run to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.

In cases where an employee’s health condition is proven to be a direct result of an employer’s negligence, a court can levy punitive damages to a business. This type of sanction is often crippling to an enterprise and business owners will want to avoid them as much as they possibly can. One way to do it is by offering workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance policy that pays for the wages that an employee would have earned if he wouldn’t have gotten sick or injured as a result of workplace activities. It allows an employee to keep earning a living as he or she recovers while saving the company the responsibility of having to pay for work that’s not being done. When paired with health care benefits, this type of insurance solves all the problems for both parties while eliminating the need for legal recourse on either side.

Avoiding Health Issues and Expenses by Promoting Better Health

Health experts and entrepreneurs agree that a lot of the health issues that arise from work-related activities can be prevented by getting employees healthier than they are on average. Eating right, exercising and lowering stress levels can all contribute to better employee health, making them less susceptible to sickness and injury.

Explore opening a wellness program for people who work in your company. Studies have shown a direct correlation between healthier employees and higher productivity. This is due in large part to fewer absences and better physical conditioning that allows people to do more in the same amount of time. At the same time, your company is spared from healthcare costs. With everything factored in, the value that a business gets from a wellness program in the long run far outweighs the investments it initially puts in.