The demographic tidal wave is a formidable threat to the health of American business. Employers are passing up opportunities to expand their businesses because they do not have and cannot find workers who can handle what is required. The best solution is to be the employer of choice.

While workers’ compensation managed care is widely viewed as a means of controlling expenses, the results are sometimes quite different from what is expected. In fact, in many cases the consequences are not only unintended but also undesirable and costly to employers.

As always, in long tail coverage such as Workers’ Compensation, there are challenges that cloud the future. The Workers’ Comp outlook for 2008 is one of caution and concern. Here is an assessment of what employers can look forward to in the year ahead and even beyond.

Rather than diverting attention and finances during periods of lower Workers’ Compensation rates, employers can benefit by taking steps to guarantee long-term savings. Here are eight mistakes employers should avoid so they can achieve long-term Workers’ Compensation savings.

The focus on total claims cost from one year to the next is incomplete and shortsighted. It fails to recognize or measure what’s driving the claim costs. CompScore Metrics looks at the most important measurements for driving down workers’ compensation costs.

Is it any wonder that injured workers often feel confused and turn to friends for advice and counsel that can lead to feelings of resentment and then to litigation? If this all-too-common scenario is to change, employers must exert leadership.

While managing pain is a critical medical intervention when it comes to musculoskeletal injuries, finding a way to deal with it successfully is often illusive. This is a particularly important issue since such conditions account for a high percentage of job-related injuries and a high proportion of workers' compensation costs.