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

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?