Lockton Looks to Survey Data to Improve Decision-Making, Change Culture

Stuart, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – What’s the best way to change a fixed mindset when it comes to workers’ compensation? Numbers can make the case.

Although conventional thinking rules the day with many employers when it comes processes, costs, and workplace safety, Lockton Companies’ Executive Vice President Ryan Brown believes data can help employers see where they stand – and find new solutions – to make their workers’ compensation efforts run better and change organizational culture.

Toward that end, Lockton, in conjunction with WorkersCompensation.com, is currently running a survey through April 15 to build data to provide insight on how employers can improve their processes, reduce injuries, and save money.

Data for Change

According to Brown, the survey is in line with others Lockton has put together to better inform other segments of the insurance industry.

Data can companies an idea of where best practices are trending. That’s especially helpful when it comes to workers’ compensation processes, Brown explained, because many employers view at-work injuries as a fixed expense that won’t ever change.

“The number one barrier is that it can’t change,” Brown said of employers’ attitudes to improving workers compensation processes. “We use data to show them safety does matter, and losses aren’t a given.”

According to Brown, collecting survey data from enough participants helps Lockton show clients that there are different ways of thinking.

“What we try to do is illustrate information,” Brown said. “From an employer’s perspective, is there a big enough difference between what I’m doing and what others might be doing to change what I’m doing?”

Tammy Boyd, WorkersCompensation.com's Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development said that time is right to focus on workers, instead of old ways of thinking.

"The last two years, the workers’ compensation industry has gone through significant albeit challenging changes." Boyd said. "It’s an exciting time to work in insurance with so many new technologies to assist with process improvements and efficiencies, especially in telehealth and artificial intelligence."

But for Boyd, it's time to embrace the change necessary to make the industry work better.

"We always need to be mindful there is a human element to what we do. A family’s life has been impacted and not just the injured worker," Boyd said. "Timely access to quality of care needs to be at the forefront of decision making."

For Boyd and Brown, the survey data can do just that.

From Numbers to Culture

The survey data makes the case for doing things differently. In a tight job market, a safer workplace can help alleviate the pressures of labor shortages with an accelerated war for talent.

“Are you looking at the scoreboard?” Brown said. “What gets measured gets done.”

And the point of the measuring – like getting a report card in school – is to make changes to reach higher levels of success.

“Like I always tell my kids, you’re going to get an F if you keep doing things the same way,” Brown said. “If you want to get an A, you have to change what you’re doing.”

For the survey that’s currently open, Brown said Lockton wanted to provide an incentive for participation. To that end, the company is offering up a $25 Amazon gift card for everyone who takes the survey, which is anonymous.

Ultimately, Brown hopes that better information will help employers change in their approach and mindset about workers’ compensation.

“A claim file will tell you the what, but not the why,” Brown said. “The power of our approach is the perfect blend of qualitative, quantitative, and cultural information.”

Ultimately, the last component is where employers have the best opportunity to make an impact, and reduce costs, Brown said, if they are willing to think differently.

“Curiosity drives improvement,” Brown said.

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