More retailer workers injured in January than during holiday rush: AmTrust
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More retail workers were injured in January, not during November and December when many companies take on seasonal employees, according to a report released Friday by comp insurer AmTrust Financial Services Inc.
The 2023 Retail Risk Report shows that the number of comp injury claims for every $100,000 of a retailer’s payroll in the U.S. is 25% higher in January than the earlier months leading up to the holiday season.
“While one might expect injury rates to soar due to the influx of seasonal workers, there’s a hidden dynamic at play,” Matt Zender, senior vice president, workers compensation product manager at AmTrust, said in a statement.
One of the reasons for the “paradox,” Mr. Zender stated, was that younger workers, who often constitute a significant portion of the seasonal workforce, may not report minor injuries, and instead rely on private health insurance.
The report, which looked at more than 42,000 claims filed by retailers between 2017 and 2022, also shows that strains account for 26% of claims reported and 29% of claims payouts in the retail sector.
Falls came in second, accounting for 19% of claims reported and 27% paid out.
Vehicle accident injuries in retail made up only 2.5% of all work-related claims but had the highest comp claims payout at $20,451, according to the report.
