Employability & Wage Earning Capacity Analysis

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Warning for disabled employees who find their weekly checks reduced or stopped.

Empty Pockets

Workers’ compensation is a safety net for employees hurt on-the-job. It covers medical treatment, lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation if needed. The amount paid for lost wages is generally equal to 80% of an employee’s after-tax average weekly wage. A good rule of thumb is the amount paid should be approximately 60% of gross wages.

Lost wages are paid weekly and continue for the entire period of disability. Offsets come into play when a disabled employee returns to a lesser paying job, turns age 65, or begins receiving Social Security retirement benefits.

Michigan lawmakers enacted major changes to the workers’ compensation law in 2011. This was in response to special interest groups who insisted that disabled employees were not trying hard enough to find alternate employment. Employers and/or insurance companies can now use residual wage earning capacity to reduce or stop weekly benefits. It does not matter if a disabled employee has found a new job.

Insurance companies typically hire vocational experts to perform an employability and wage earning capacity analysis. This is commonly referred to as a Stokes evaluation. It is based upon the Fredie Stokes v. Chrysler L.LC. case that was decided in 2008 and later codified by the Michigan Legislature in 2011.

The problem with Stokes evaluations is that insurance companies make all the decisions. It is their vocational experts who decide what jobs are available and how much each pays. It is not always a fair assessment of what disabled employees can earn. Here are some items that will be contained in the report and why they do not always reflect economic realities. It is important to challenge biased evaluations in court.

Overview

This section is typically one paragraph long describing the purpose of the report. It should be made clear that it is being prepared for evaluative purposes only and no vocational rehabilitation services are being given.

Methodology

Vocational experts are supposed to reach objective findings based upon available jobs. It is not uncommon to see generic occupations and wage information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics used instead.

Background Information

Expect to have your life under a microscope if a workers’ compensation claim is made. Items include full legal name, date of birth, city of residence, driver’s license information, whether a person has reliable transportation, any traffic tickets, military service, educational background, eligibility to work in the U.S., and criminal records. Previous jobs and employment history will also be reviewed.

Medical Information

Medical records from treating doctors should be reviewed. This is important because the vocational expert must determine what jobs can be safely performed within restrictions. Functional capacity evaluations (FCE) and independent medical evaluations (IME) will also be utilized even if not fair assessments.

Documents Reviewed

Data from government sources will be used in the analysis. It is also common to see “want ads” referenced in the report.

Job Search Activities

Vocational experts always inquire about return to work activities. Finding out if a person has been doing a good-faith job search is something insurance companies always want to know. This information can be used against a person should the matter come before a magistrate.

Transferable Skills Analysis

This is the “meat” of a Stokes evaluation. It shows what occupations could be appropriate under the circumstances. Data from government sources and software programs will define a list of potential occupations. Vocational experts also rely upon their own training and experience.

Labor Market Survey

The vocational expert will perform a labor market survey. These are supposed jobs that are available within training, education, experience, and transferable skills. It typically includes wage information. It is not uncommon for the vocational expert to contact employers to confirm availability.

Opinion

A summary of what jobs are available and how much they would pay. Watch out for vocational experts who are not referencing open positions but are instead using them as illustrations. Our experience shows this is not an accurate representation of economic realities.

Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers never charges a fee to evaluate a potential case. Our law firm has represented injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 35 years. Call (844) 201-9497 for a free consultation today.

Related information:

PIWEC Calculation

Author Bio Jeffrey Kaufman

Author
Jeffrey E. Kaufman
Michigan Workers Comp Attorney

Jeffrey E. Kaufman has extensive experience in workers compensation cases and has recovered millions of dollars in benefits for his clients. He believes all injured workers deserve to be on equal footing with insurance companies and employers, and fights tenaciously so their rights are secured and protected.


“Jeff also helped me with getting my Blue Cross bills paid. I would absolutely recommend him and the whole firm. Jeff and the firm did everything they were supposed to do for me and my case.”
Ricardo Perfetto

Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews

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Get Help From our Michigan Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today

You’re not alone. Our Michigan workers’ comp lawyers have been called the best in the state, and our clients love how they’re treated with care, respect, and responsiveness. We will give you the time you need, we will explain your legal rights, and we will always treat you with respect.

Our workers’ compensation and Social Security disability lawyers always put your needs first. Get to know your legal team.

Our attorneys post regularly about common issues related to workers’ comp, including common injuries, settlement calculations, laws, and more.

Injured? It’s Time to Get Some Answers

Don’t let the insurance adjuster push you around. Request your free consultation today.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Our attorneys post regularly about common issues related to workers’ comp, including common injuries, settlement calculations, laws, and more.

Our workers’ compensation and Social Security disability lawyers always put your needs first. Get to know your legal team.