Short-Tenured Workers Filing More Claims

Claims by workers who’ve been on the job for less than two years are trending up, according to the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).
Based on its analysis of New Jersey claims data, “New hires, and shorter-tenure workers more broadly, have grown as a share of the workforce, and of claims, particularly since 2021,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research for WCRI.
He said that the Garden State provides an effective microcosm of the national labor market trends post-pandemic.”
Other findings from the state benchmark analysis include a 13% increase in medical payments per claim in 2023, largely driven by high-cost medical claims of over $100,000.
Total costs per claim in New Jersey remained typical of study states, with higher-than-typical medical and benefit delivery expenses but lower indemnity benefits despite recent growth, WCRI said.
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Frequent recognition of employees for their efforts and achievements can decrease the likelihood of workplace injuries, according to O.C. Tanner Company.
The report highlights how feeling unappreciated worsens mental health, which then increases the likelihood of workplace accidents.
The Salt Lake City-based company’s 2025 Global Culture Report gathered data and insights from 38,075 workers from 27 countries, including 1,208 from France.
From the French worker data, the report found that recognition could contribute to an almost-50% reduction in injuries.
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The Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation is holding a complimentary webinar next week covering OSHA’s most-frequently cited workplace safety and health violations.
The June 18 seminar is open to all TDI license holders and is approved for one hour of agency general education credit.
REGISTER HERE