Leaked emails expose workers compensation staff celebrating ‘wins’ when they cut payments to injured people
- Victoria’s workers compensation scheme has been slammed by Ombudsman
- The report reveals shocking emails between insurance agents about claims
- Emails show staff would celebrate when payments to injured people were cut off
- Staff even joked about putting compensation into ‘Cayman Island account’
Leaked emails between WorkSafe insurance agents and managers have revealed how they would celebrate when payments to injured people were cut off.
Staff emails were revealed as part of the investigation into the Victoria’s workers compensation scheme.
The report showed how staff called the outcomes of claims as ‘wins’ and ‘loses’ and even joked about swindling part of a person’s compensation into an ‘offshore Cayman Island account’.
Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass found the complicated set of financial rewards and penalties was encouraging agents to get people off WorkCover.
She slammed the scheme as ‘downright immoral and unethical’ after finding injured workers were being left without compensation as agents were making unreasonable decisions, the ABC reported.
Leaked emails between WorkSafe insurance agents and managers reveal how they would celebrate when payments to injured people were cut off (stock image pictured)
One email showed a case manager referred to an outcome was ‘another win’ while emailing a member of staff.
‘Handy 75K made today, no biggie :D,’ the staff member replied.
According to the report another agent asked staff what the maximum amount of money they could make was and offered free AFL tickets to whoever responded first. Staff were then told ‘we cannot take our foot off the accelerator’.
WorkCover compensation claims are outsourced to Allianz, CGU, EML, Gallagher Bassett and Xchanging.
Ms Glass found that all agents had been ignoring medical advice and were even ‘cherry picking’ evidence to dismiss claims.
‘The report reveals disturbing examples of injured workers who have been unfairly treated and unjustly denied their legal entitlements,’ Jill Hennessy, the Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety, said.
Following the 18-month investigation, the Government has agreed to the recommendation that it commission an independent review of the claims management model and bring in a new dispute resolution process.
WorkSafe has agreed to the 13 recommendations made by the ombudsman, including establishing a dedicated business unit to review disputes.
WorkSafe chief Colin Radford said they it took the recommendations ‘extremely seriously’ and had made an effort to improve its practices.
Staff emails (stock image pictured) were revealed as part of the investigation into the Victoria’s workers compensation scheme. The report showed how staff called the outcomes of claims as ‘wins’ and ‘loses’ in their emails