Developing an exemplary workers' compensation program andherding cats have a few things in common.

Actually, they have a lot in common.

The department tasked with doing this is responsible for, amongmany other things: developing and instituting safety protocols for all employeesand then ensuring those best practices are clearly communicated tothe troops; working with one's TPA to ensure the timely handling ofclaims when they do arise; the development and execution ofreturn-to-work programs; and the management ofbudgets and personnel with which to accomplish all this.

Well-being of your workforce

The essential ingredient, however, in developing a trulyeffective workers' comp program — the elusive element I've noticedis always present — is this: a sincere sense of responsibility forthe well-being of your workforce. No matter how long that journeywill take at your organization, it has to begin with that firststep.

I know this because I've had the pleasure of judging and thenbestowing National Underwriter Property & Casualty's Excellencein Workers' Compensation Risk Management Award for several yearsrunning — and this year, NU and PropertyCasualty360.com will once again recognize the“best of the best” in workers' comp. We are now accepting entriesat propertycasualty360.com/pages/wcrm-awards/.

Three winners will each receive an exclusive, feature-lengthprofile in the August 2017 issue of NU and onPropertyCasualty360.com, as well as round-trip airfare to thepremier annual event for workers' comp professionals, the Workers'Compensation Institute's Educational Conference (on Aug. 6-9 at theOrlando World Center Marriott, where we will present the awardstatuettes during the event's general session before an audience ofhundreds), and two nights' hotel accommodations.

Also at WCEC, the three winners will join me in a specialroundtable session as part of the conference program, during whichattendees will learn the secrets of these award-winning programs.Following the panel, the winners will be interviewed by KimberlyGeorge of Sedgwick and Mark Walls of Safety National, co-hosts ofthe popular webinar series “Out Front Ideas with Kimberly andMark.” That video interview will be featured onPropertyCasualty360.com.

Proud of work you do

Another thing I've noticed that all of our winners have had incommon is that they were all deeply humbled and honored to receivethe award. I say that not in some display of shamelessself-promotion, but rather to describe the reaction of the winnerswhen I call them every summer — and believe me when I say it is theone series of phone calls I look forward to most every year. Thesepeople are invariably very proud of the work they do, as theyshould be, but at the same time they know that their work is neverdone. And they all have a valuable story to tell.

Co-sponsoring the award once again this year are Sedgwick and Safety National, two companies that know morethan their share about the essential ingredients of an award-worthyworkers' comp program. Our special thanks also go to the Workers'Compensation Institute, with which NU continues to enjoy a solidrelationship.

Will you be among those honored? Enter today and let's find outtogether.