Properly training recovery management professionals can provide one of the best ROIs in the workers’ compensation ecosystem. Training in communication, empathy, and clear expectations pays off fast: injured workers who report a positive claims experience—driven largely by respectful, timely contact—are far more likely to be back at work (84.3% vs. 64.9%), cutting wage-loss and medical spend tied to prolonged disability. Better communication also curbs litigation: WCRI’s recent work shows attorney involvement materially inflates costs (adding about $7,700–$12,400 to indemnity on average and sharply increasing lost-time days and expense payments), while fear of denial, delays, or not being heard—problems solvable with empathetic outreach—are key triggers for hiring lawyers. Empathy-centered claims practices have been linked to 20–50% lower claim costs in industry data, and the downstream talent benefit is real: preventing avoidable separations via smoother RTW avoids turnover costs that commonly run one-half to two times annual salary.
The Whole Person Recovery Method™ from WorkCompCollege.com is based on these principles and can dramatically improve outcomes for your company and the people it serves..View Citations
