This session at the PARMA 2019 Annual Risk Management Conference highlighted best practices for prevention, management and handling of cyber-related claims. Speakers included James P. Wagoner at McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth Graham Van Leuven at Clyde & Co. Lejf E. Knutson at McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth Assessing Cyber Vulnerabilities The following types of risks exist in all organizations: Data breach – Wrongful disclosure, unverified disclosure or computer security failure to prevent outside access. Phishing – A targeted attack to gain user credentials or gain access to a machine or network. Fraudulent Fund Transfers – Fraudulent emails
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At the 2019 PARMA Annual Conference, a panel discussed sexual harassment claims. The speakers were: Brenna Hampton – Hannah Brophy Teresa McGinty – Hannah Brophy Tyrone Spears – City of Los Angeles Under California law, sexual harassment is defined as negative, inappropriate or unwanted conduct directed towards a worker based on their: Sex Gender and gender identity Marital status Sexual orientation Pregnancy or pregnancy related medical condition Childbirth. There are two main types of sexual harassment: Quid pro quo – Employment is conditional upon the employee’s acceptance of a supervisor’s unwelcome sexual advances Hostile work environment – Inappropriate and unwelcome
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At the 2019 PARMA Annual Conference, a panel discussed challenges around employment practices liability claims in California. The panel was Anthony Carlton – Chula Vista Elementary School District Robert Cutbirth – Freeman, Mathis & Gary LLP Marc Liebowitz – Laughlin, Falbo, Moresi & Moresi LLP Employers in California are seeing more employment practices liability (EPL) claims than ever before. The primary lawsuits being filed relate to age discrimination with disability related a close second. Other types of litigation commonly seen include engagement in protected activity, sex/gender, race, and sexual harassment. The EEOC in Southern California is very active right now
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Jargon frequently used within workers’ compensation shapes injured employee perceptions, opinions about the system and the care they will likely receive ー eventually impacting the outcomes. At the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference, Bob Wilson, President and CEO of WorkersCompensation.com, presented his thoughts on how to change this climate by emphasizing function and recovery. It is easy for cynical thoughts to creep into the minds of every stakeholder in workers’ compensation, which comes with experience, but there is also cynicism in the minds of injured workers. And rightly so. These injured workers do not know how workers’ compensation
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Session presented by: Jeffrey Austin White – Senior Vice President, Workers’ Compensation – Gallagher Bassett The pace of change in claims and risk management persists at an ever-increasing rate with disruption driven by InsurTech entities and the advanced technologies they are providing insurance operations. This session at the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference demonstrated how insurers currently apply InsurTech and tools like artificial intelligence, highlighting their potentially disruptive impact on risk management and claims over the next three-to-five years. InsureTech is a movement, an investment in innovation in the insurance industry. Historically, the industry evolved slowly and based
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Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever. Diversity can impact why claims are filed, how they are managed and, possibly, the end result. Meanwhile, diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias play roles before an injury, during claim management and can drive trial outcomes and resolution. In this session at the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference, Martine Cumbermack, Partner at Swift, Currie, McGhee and Hiers, discussed why diversity and inclusion are important in claims management. The workforce is certainly becoming more diverse. According to a BLS Reports 2017 study on labor force characteristics by race and ethnicity, the workforce is
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George Furlong – Senior Vice President, Managed Care Program Outcomes Analysis – Sedgwick Stephany A. Rockwell – Risk Manager, Risk Management Finance – JBS As workers’ compensation program success becomes increasingly dependent on how data can be used to take action, this session at the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference takes a pragmatic look at available decision making tools. Big data is about combining multiple, disparate data sets into integrated and usable information. This allows identification of patterns, breaking down silos, and mining through large amounts of data allowing for better decision making and validating impacts of change.
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Closing long-tail claims greatly reduces immediate costs, decreases reserve requirements and diminishes collateral needs, however, not all of these claims are ripe for closing. Mitigating the impact of long-tail claims requires sound strategies for uncovering opportunities to close them when possible and properly managing them when case facts do not support their closure. In this session at the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference, employers shared their strategies for managing and, when possible, closing claims that have stubbornly resisted resolution. Speakers included: Kevin Confetti, Deputy Chief Risk Officer, University of California Jennifer Saddy, Managing Director, Absence Management, American Airlines
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It is not the accident severity or the injured body part that always determines the length of time an injured worker spends away from work. It is how the injury is managed by the patient, doctor, employer and claims administrator. This session at the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference highlighted strategies for defining key stakeholders’ roles and the interaction needed for a successful return-to-work environment. Speakers included: Kathy Schroeder, Senior Director, Global Risk Management, Office Depot William Zachry, Senior Fellow, Sedgwick Institute There are many exposures driving loss time. Factors like an aging workforce, co-morbidities and opioid addiction
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Growing societal acceptance of marijuana and its increased use raise many legal and medical considerations for workers’ compensation and disability. This session at the 2018 National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference provided updates and professional opinions on the legal and medical aspects of marijuana. Speakers included: Stuart Colburn, Esq., Shareholder, Downs Stanford Marcos Iglesias, MD, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Broadspire The Law Ten states, DC, PR and Guam have legalized recreational marijuana use and 33 states currently offer medicinal marijuana, however, it is still illegal federally. For workers’ compensation, seven states will currently preclude reimbursement and six will
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