There’s only one thing consistent about the issues involving worker’s compensation: They’re always changing.
That’s why Aubrey Noltemeyer, senior partner at statewide law firm Kightlinger & Gray LLP, says you should attend the 2021 Indiana Worker’s Compensation Conference.
The event – which is conducted by the Indiana Chamber and presented by Kightlinger & Gray – is being held August 24 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel.
“There really is something new that is always coming up,” stresses Noltemeyer, who focuses on the defense of businesses in employment-related litigation and whose expertise is in the concentration of litigation before the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board. “Now we have COVID. People are very hungry for information about whether or not COVID is going to be a compensable injury – whether it would be considered an injury that would trigger Indiana worker’s compensation being owed.”
There’s another big reason worker’s compensation is an important issue for you and your business – whether big or small.
Between medical expenses, wages and the challenges of reduced productivity, the average cost of a work-related injury is roughly $38,000. On top of that, those injuries will increase your rates. Keeping your worker’s compensation premium low directly affects your business’ bottom line. The 2021 Indiana Worker’s Compensation Conference will teach you the strategies you need to know to handle these claims and keep your rates low, Noltemeyer explains.
There will be four “hot topics” covered at the conference.
Dr. Robert C. Gregori, president and founder of The Objective Group of Companies, will lead the discussion about one still on everybody’s mind: COVID.
He served as director of physiatry with OrthoIndy thru 2006 and subsequently started several medical companies involving forensics and cost containment. Dr. Gregori now primarily focuses on medical legal consulting.
Workplace violence and its compensability will be another of the areas highlighted at the event.
“Whether at a manufacturing plant, distribution facility or retail mall, workplace violence is happening more frequently and has become an increasingly important issue,” emphasizes Noltemeyer.
Separately, Dr. Gregory T. Hale, a psychologist, will lead a discussion on understanding psychological evidence in worker’s compensation cases – which is becoming more of a necessity. “It’s easy to dismiss these types of claims because it’s not something we see as frequently, and there isn’t a corresponding physical injury. We want to educate employers on what to look for when they are investigating a claim of a psychological injury and make a careful, informed decision as to whether the alleged injury should be compensable,” Noltemeyer states.
Avoiding general employment litigation while managing worker’s compensation rounds out the four key discussion items.
“The Indiana Chamber has long been a conduit for employers to find experts for their (worker’s compensation) cases,” she adds. “Dr. Gregori and Dr. Hale are two really great resources for employers, and access to these very specific experts is an added benefit to attending this event.”
To add a little fun to the conference, there will be a bingo game to learn worker’s comp jargon, which will be played through an app. And of course, there will be prizes for the winners.
In addition to presenting sponsor Kightlinger & Gray, event sponsors are Indiana Spine Group, Paradigm and Workers Comp Management Systems.
View the agenda and register at the event page.
