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5 Workmans’ Compensation Lessons Learned From the NFL Lockout

Guest post by: Ari Rosenstein

Article Overview: The NFL lockout is obviously complex in many ways and extends far beyond a simple workmans’ compensation disagreement. However, the game of football can teach many valuable lessons to employers. Employers have a lot they can learn from the NFL in the areas of managing workplace safety, reducing claims, and being proactive in keeping insurance costs to a minimum.

5 Workmans’ Compensation Lessons Learned From the NFL Lockout

Even if you are an avid football fan, you may not be aware that one of the key discussions in the four month-old NFL lockout revolves around California workmans’ compensation. Workmans’ comp is a complex issue, and business owners have a lot to learn from the lockout.

It has been a common practice amongst NFL players to use California as a filing base for a workmans’ compensation lawsuit, if they can prove they suffered any injury during their career while playing in the state. California is notorious for being one-sided in its support of employees’ work comp claims. NFL players recognize they will receive higher benefits for filing an injury in California, over other states in the country. This perception creates a vicious cycle for NFL team owners as their insurance premiums suffer when large claims are filed against their policy. The team owners are pushing for players to file for workman’s comp benefits in the players’ home state, if they suffered an injury, not the state where the injury occurred.

California Business Owners– Listen Up!

The NFL lockout is obviously complex in many ways and extends far beyond a simple workmans’ compensation disagreement. However, the game of football can teach many valuable lessons to employers. Despite bearing some of the most employee-favorable workmans’ comp policies, and some of the most expensive insurance costs in the country, California employers have a lot they can learn from the NFL in the areas of managing workplace safety, reducing claims, and being proactive in keeping insurance costs to a minimum.

5 Workmans’ Comp Lessons from the NFL

1. In football, safety is the #1 priority. NFL players wear more protective clothing than virtually any other sport. Owners recognize that the long term success of their team is based on the health and welfare of their players. So too, business owners should take the safety of their employees seriously by purchasing the necessary protective gear, and educating their staff on proper usage.
2. Football players train 4-5 days per week, perfecting their craft. Employees should receive constant training and education on their craft, as well. Whether it is on handling equipment or proper use of machinery, an educated workforce will produce higher quality work with fewer workplace injuries.
3. While most of the practice time in football is spent running plays and strategizing game plans, much of the time is also spent on basic drills, exercise and maintaining overall health and fitness. The fitter and stronger the player, the greater their contribution to the team. Similarly, employers are well advised to create a healthy work environment for their staff. From healthy snacks in the vending machines and incentives for exercising, to flexible work environments and promoting a healthy work/life balance, healthy employees are dramatically more productive than their unwell counterparts.
4. Football fields are impeccable. A single ball of paper thrown on the field during a game will lead to a time-out as the grounds-crew cleans it off. In the workplace, one of the most common causes of injury is slips and falls on dirty work surfaces. Spills should be cleaned, oil removed and other impediments cleared from the floor immediately when they occur.
5. Finally, team owners, coaches and general managers keep safety at the forefront of their players’ minds. From simple stretching exercises and proper hydration, to high-tech protective gear and side-lined medical staff, all pro-players recognize the need to keep their bodies out of harm’s way. An injury may ruin their game, season, or even career. Employers and onsite managers should take note – safety doesn’t happen by itself. It has to come from the top, down. Supervisors must make safety a number one priority in the workplace, and encourage their employees to take it seriously as well.

While the football lockout appears to reaching a resolution, and the California workmans’ compensation conflict will be resolved one way or another, employers should learn from their friends over at the NFL – take safety seriously and your business will be certain to reap the benefits.

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Article Tags: California workmans compensation, workers comp, workers compensation insurance



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