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Risk in Context Podcast: Evolving work practices bring new risks, impact workers’ compensation

Business leaders delve into the new world of work challenges that organizations are facing and discuss the strategies employers can apply to mitigate these risks.
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19/09/2023 · 3 minute read

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered major workplace transformations. Overnight, millions of workers around the world found themselves working remotely and, in the ensuing months, in reconfigured work environments. Although the pandemic is over, many organizations have introduced hybrid work practices that allow certain employees to work remotely at least part of the time. And while this allows for more work-life balance, it has also introduced new risks for employers, ranging from at-home ergonomic injuries with potential compensability challenges to learning gaps and collaboration difficulties.

In this episode of Risk in Context, Dan Aronson, Marsh’s US Casualty Practice Leader, talks to Christine Williams, a managing director in Marsh's Workers' Compensation Center of Excellence, Melissa Swift, who leads Mercer's Transformation Solutions for the US and Canada, and Wendy Thomas, senior vice president and senior claim advisor in Marsh's Cleveland office. They delve into the new world of work challenges that organizations are facing and discuss the strategies employers can apply to mitigate these risks.

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Key takeaways

The workplace is transforming

Work is becoming more asynchronous, more transparent, and more deconstructed. This brings new opportunities, but also new risks for employers who need to grapple with these new trends.

No one-size-fits-all approach

While there is no single strategy to address the evolving risks of hybrid work, there are multiple approaches that employers can explore, allowing them to find the right fit for their people, their organization, and their industry.

Remote work can complicate compensability

Lack of visibility into workers’ remote work setup can lead to workers’ compensation challenges, complicating the determination of compensability. This underscores the importance of communication, clear guidelines, and timely reporting of injuries.

About our speakers

US Casualty Practice Leader

Daniel Aronson

US Casualty Practice Leader

Dan Aronson is Marsh’s US Casualty Practice Leader. He has full management and oversight responsibilities for Marsh’s various casualty businesses in the United States, including advice and transaction of workers’ compensation, primary liability lines, collateral solutions, excess, international, environmental, product recall, group captives, life sciences, and various specialty industry offerings. He also works closely with Marsh’s casualty consulting, claims, loss control, and data and analytics groups to continue to evolve Marsh’s overall casualty value proposition aimed at mitigating our clients’ cost of risk.

Christine Williams

Christine Williams

Managing Director, Worker’s Compensation Center of Excellence, US Casualty Practice

  • United States

Christine Williams is a managing director in Marsh’s Workers’ Compensation Center of Excellence. She works with colleagues across Marsh to develop solutions and communications to help employers better manage their workers’ compensation risks.

Melissa Swift

Melissa Swift

Partner, US and Canada Transformation Solutions Leader, Mercer

  • United States

Melissa Swift leads Transformation Solutions for Mercer US and Canada. Located in New York City, she is responsible for the firm’s efforts in the areas of workforce transformation, HR transformation, HR digitization, diversity, equity and inclusion, and workforce analytics.

Wendy Thomas

Wendy Thomas

Senior Vice President, Senior Claims Advisor

  • United States

Wendy Thomas is a senior claims advisor. Based in Marsh’s Cleveland office, she provides workers’ compensation and general casualty claim consulting services. She is also a member of Marsh’s Central Zone executive claim leadership team.

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