Survey seeks to determine use of social media in workers' comp

Are workers' comp practitioners by and large using social media to improve the industry? It's a question several industry insiders hope to answer through a pair of surveys.

The Social Media Survey Project was launched in mid-January on WorkersCompensation.com. It is described as a collective effort by the WorkCompResearch Division of WorkersCompensation.com, the Work Comp Analysis Group on LinkedIn, columnist Peter Rousmaniere of Risk & Insurance® Magazine, and Jody G. Thompson Marketing Services.

The developers describe it as "the most in-depth social media assessment ever conducted for the workers' comp industry."

NIOSH: Promote work-family balance to reduce workplace injuries (10/29/12)
Proposed survey targets asthma among health care workers (07/26/12)
Study shows increasing frequency, costs of physician-dispensed meds (09/06/12)
Report outlines effective strategies for successful self-insurance groups (06/18/12)
Louisiana signs on to put a stop to misclassification of employees (03/05/12)

The initial survey will help lay the groundwork for a more in-depth look at whether and how workers' comp professionals use social media. The creators hope to "clear up misconceptions" and "debunk myths" about the use of social media in workers' comp.

"I think we will see more business use of social media for our industry than some believe," explained Robert Wilson, president and CEO of WorkersCompensation.com. "We will be getting a better idea of whether social media sites themselves are trusted, or if it is the individual relationships that determine trust. I also think there will be surprises in how people are accessing social media."

Within a week of the initial survey's posting, more than 1,000 respondents had weighed in. Wilson said the results of the two surveys will be released in April.

"This survey process is giving a voice to the many dedicated professionals who work hard to improve the lives of injured workers every day and a chance to show how we use the latest tools to have a greater impact on our personal and professional careers," according to the survey description. "It is our hope and belief that this effort will have a positive impact on all the stakeholders in workers' comp."

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

February 18, 2013

Newsletter Sign-up