The relationship of work and worker characteristics to utilization of workers' compensation benefits

Abstract

It is well established that the frequency of claims filed for benefits under the workers' compensation program is dependent not only on the number of workers employed but is influenced by work characteristics such as the nature of work performed, the type of job, and the level of employment. This thesis hypothesized that, in addition to work characteristics, the frequency of claims filed is significantly related to worker characteristics such as age and gender.

Using data on the actual number of claims filed for workers' compensation benefits by university employees, this study investigated the relationship between worker and job characteristics, and the incidence of claims for workers' compensation benefits.

It is found that, for the aggregated workforce in the institution, there are significant relationships between the claims filed and the function, sedentary / non-sedentary type of employment, the job-family, and the age of the worker. However, on disaggregation, no significant relationships were found between the claims filed by employees in administrative, faculty, and research positions, and their age, gender, and the type of their jobs. Non-sedentary nature of the job was found to be related to claims filed by male workers in technical jobs, and possibly related to claims fueled by workers in the clerical category. Age of the worker was found to be significantly related to claims filed by younger workers in support activities such as maintenance, groundskeeping, and food services, and possibly related to professionals in similar activities. Gender was not found to be related to claims filed by workers in any category.