The collective dedication of individuals working to enhance the workers’ compensation system and the experience for injured workers never ceases to amaze me. It takes a collaborative effort and exchange of ideas to uncover what works, what needs to be improved and what has yet to be addressed.
In a few short months, the Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) will host the 75th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference — bringing together professionals from across the country. The conference, “Better Together” will take place December 11 – 15, 2021 in Orlando, Florida as the first gathering for this group since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Undoubtedly, many lessons learned and insights gained from this past year will be shared as we all look for ways to better protect and care for members of our workforce.
Charity involvement
Every year I look forward to supporting Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit organization in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families. Conference participants have the opportunity to take part in the silent auction and fundraising gala, which will be held onsite at the Give Kids the World Village in conjunction with the Night of a Million Lights event. The evening’s festivities will undoubtedly be a special time as the industry is reunited around the organization’s important mission.
Educational opportunities
The newly released WCI program anticipates this year’s conference to be another hallmark event. Sedgwick will again have the privilege of partnering with Safety National to co-sponsor the National Underwriter Award for Excellence in Workers’ Compensation Risk Management. Another highlight of the conference will be the keynote panel as some of the industry’s best and brightest come together to carefully consider the topic, “Does Our System Do Harm?”
I look forward to leading a series of sessions titled, “Lessons Learned and Moving Forward 2020/2021 in the Rearview Mirror – Two Years of Impact on Workers’ Compensation.” The series, featuring executive leaders and industry influencers, will be comprised of three sessions:
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Workers’ Compensation Claims Composition
- The Perfect Storm of 2020/2021: Its Impact on Industry Players and Program Practices
- Adapting to the New Normal as Defined by 2020/2021
The opportunities at this year’s WCI conference will be one more reminder that our professional lives have meaning and impact. When we work together under unique circumstances, the industry is stronger and the injured worker experience is improved.
For more details about the WCI 2021 Conference and to register, visit https://www.wci360.com/conference/.