LAUSR

This study provides business owners, human resource, insurance and occupational safety professionals an overview of the dynamics between workers' average weekly wage and workers' compensation outcomes. The understanding of these dynamics can lead to improved and effective interventions to lower occupational injuries' cost such as effective return to work programs. Objective: Explore the relationship between injured workers’ average weekly wages (AWW) and their workers’ compensation (WC) claims outcomes in Maine, US. Methods: A total of 29,668 indemnity (lost-time) claims categorized into three wage-based percentile groups from a 20-year period (5-year intervals) were analyzed. WC outcomes included medical costs, number of indemnity checks, claim's duration, and claim settlements. Results: Generally, claims within the lower percentile group were less likely to have high medical costs, but were more likely to have an elevated number of indemnity checks when compared to those in the middle percentile group. An inverse relationship was observed for those claims within the higher percentile group. Conclusions: Generalizations about low wage earners’ claims being longer-lasting and more expensive or early return to work always reducing the medical cost of claims should be avoided.