Sorry the hardest word for employers in personal injury claims
ALMOST everyone injured in a workplace accident have never received an apology from their boss over the matter, a new survey has found.
Research carried out by the National Accident Helpline found that 97% of employees said that their boss had not taken any personal responsibility for what had happened.
However, the survey found that 88% of respondents would not change their mind about making an accident compensation claim just because their employer apologised.
The survey follows on from previous National Accident Helpline figures, which showed 62% of staff believed that health and safety had become less of a priority for their company since the recession.
John Campbell, legal director of National Accident Helpline, said the results showed that employers still did not take enough personal responsibility for the welfare of their staff.
He said: “Health and safety in the workplace must be more than just a box ticking exercise; if an employer is not truly invested in ensuring his employees are safe and well then, not only will he have difficulties retaining staff but he will leave himself open to financial redress should an accident occur.”
Employers who fail to take health and safety seriously, resulting in an accident to one of their employees, not only face the cost of lost man hours. They also leave themselves open to a compensation claim, meaning that they will pay out twice, added Mr Campbell.