Simply put, workers’ compensation is a type of legally mandated insurance that covers employees who are hurt on the job. It's generally paid for by employers, and the funds and recovery process are then administered by specialized entities. Due to the scale of workers’ compensation programs, the impact on public health organizations is high. Each state has its own workers’ compensation laws and entities (to find the appropriate office for your state, click here), but they generally require any business that has employees to purchase appropriate coverage or otherwise contribute to a workers’ compensation fund. In some states, small companies or companies in certain industries may be exempt from the workers’ compensation requirements. Employers in industries involving manual labor, however, are almost always required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. Participation in a workers’ compensation program is often described as a substitute for the ability to sue an employer for negligence. That is, absent workers’ compensation laws and programs, an injured employee might be able to sue an employer for maintaining an unsafe workplace or issuing unsafe instructions. Instead, under workers’ compensation programs, injured employees are entitled to apply for limited benefits that are less speculative than a lawsuit would be. If an employer’s conduct is particularly reckless or is intentionally harmful, however, the right to sue generally remains. Compensation varies by state, and workers’ compensation typically covers medical expenses as well as lost wages (at a percentage of your usual wage). In addition, other benefits, such as rehabilitation or retraining, may be available. If an injury didn’t happen “in the course of employment,” however (i.e. at work or during work-related activities), that injury generally is not covered. Moreover, injuries incurred when an individual is working while intoxicated or acting independently are not covered; for example: If employees get into a fight and one is injured, workers’ compensation generally is not available to the injured party. As a public health matter, workers’ compensation raises interesting concerns. Based on data available from 2000, more than 15 percent of states received “F” grades regarding the performance of their workers’ compensation programs from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, indicating that there is quite a lot of room for states at an organizational level to improve on coverage of injured employees. Moreover, the amounts involved are staggering. Nationwide, in 2010, over $50 billion in benefits were paid out. Of this, nearly 50 percent were for medical benefits, which in 1970 were only 30 percent of the total payout. Rising health care costs are expected to account for an increasing share of payouts in the coming years, as well. As the workforce grows and changes, public health professionals would also be well-served to stay abreast of the injuries that are typical to professions that are increasing in popularity; for example: If office work continues to become more and more common, claims for lower back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome should be expected to increase correspondingly. For that reason, studies pursued and educational materials crafted by public health agencies should be tailored to reflect injuries that are common to the workforce as it evolves. In addition, any efficiencies that can be introduced into the workers’ compensation program, whether at the employee end, the health care provider end or the various organizational ends, will have tremendous impact due to the number of people affected by workers’ compensation issues. With over 100,000,000 people currently covered, workers’ compensation is a matter of great public health concern.
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
Bigstock
Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
Bigstock
In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
Bigstock
You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
- How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
- The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
- How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
- The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.
- And, a lot more hacks for job search success!
Let us show you the secrets to getting a new, better-paying job you actually love. Sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp today.
Are you ready to land the job of your dreams (and leave the job of your nightmares)?