Transcript Thompson-Thesis-Presentation-SS-approved

Kyle Thompson
April 15, 2011
Masters of Public Administration
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Summary
 Problem: Employers failing to provide Workers’
Compensation Insurance
 Background: What is Workers’ Compensation
 Impact: Why this is important
 Research: Industry, region, and area records
 Results: Identifying regions, industries, and
communities where employers’ fail
Problem Statement
 Compulsory Insurance
 Current Efforts
 Issues
 Impact
Employers’ who fail to insure
jeopardize employee’s safety and security
Background
 The Alaska Workers’ Compensation Act
 Quick, efficient, fair, and predictable delivery of
benefits to injured workers’
 Scope of research
Literature Review
 Common frauds associated with Workers’
Compensation Insurance
 Employers often fail to purchase workers'
compensation insurance, despite state laws
mandating coverage
 Census Bureau
 Department of Labor Research and Analysis
Research Methodology
 Alaska Division of Workers’ Compensation: Primary
data source identifying uninsured employers
 Data codified and reinforced
 Data shows frequency of failure to insure by;
 Industry
 Community
 Region
Research Findings
Failure & Size by Industry
Utilities
Mining
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting
Educational Services
Information
Finance and Insurance
Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing
Public Administration**
Transportation and Warehousing
Manufacturing
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation…
Construction
Health Care and Social Assistance
Services
Trade
Accommodation and Food Services
0.00%
Industry Size by % employed 2006-2009
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
% of Failure to Insure WC 2006-January 2011
25.00%
30.00%
Research Findings
Failure to Insure by Area
50
45
Percentage of Failure to Insure
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Research Findings
% Failure to Insure & % Employed by Census Borough
50
40
30
20
10
0
% of Failure to Insure WC 2006-January 2011
% Employed 2006-2009 Average
Research Findings
Employees by Area with 0% Failure to Insure
Buffalo Soapstone
Diamond Ridge
Big Delta
Salcha
Yakutat
Two Rivers
Point Hope (Tigara)
Klawock (Klawak)
Hoonah
Y
Emanguk (Emmonak)
Chevak
Hooper Bay
Talkeetna
Cohoe
Metlakatla
Haines
Fritz Creek
Anchor Point
Deltana
Bear Creek (Woodrow)
Dillingham
Kotzebue
Unalaska
Gateway
Nome
307
307
317
317
327
339
348
373
379
387
392
406
469
479
515
646
719
747
764
821
956
1153
1467
1616
1720
1752
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
Management Policy Options
 Substantial employment, no record of failure to
insure
 Nome, Gateway, Unalaska, Kotzebue, Dillingham
 Perfect compliance or undetected failure to insure
Option 1
 Examination of identified areas and businesses
 Industries addressed by relative risk of injury
 Efficient use of resources
Management Policy Options
Option 2
 Increased education to Alaskan employers &
employees
 Incremental educational plan
 Stage 1: Review of current materials and venues


Prong 1: Shore up gaps & identify current points of contact
Prong 2: Informing workers’ of their rights & anonymous
reporting
 Stage 2: Coordinate with other state agencies
 Stage 3: Integration of education and prevention
Conclusion
 Greatest Failure Rate
 Smaller employers
 High density of economic activity
 Areas Needing Follow-up
 Smaller Areas (Census Area)

Nome, Gateway, Unalaska, Kotzebue, Dillingham
 Industries

Accommodation & Food Services, Transportation &
Warehousing, Trade, & Other Services
 Regions (Borough)

North Slope, Juneau, Bethel, & Fairbanks
Questions?