WORKERS’ COMPENSATION REFORM IN FLORIDA: Why Did Two Innovative Return to Work Programs Fail?

Abstract

110Why do well-intentionedpublic policies sometimes fail? This research examines the failure of two Florida workers' compensation reforms intended to help previously injured employees return to work: the obligation to rehire program and the pwferred worker program. Interviews conducted with Floridians involved in workers 'compensation reform are examined to find out why these two programs failed. The disappointing outcome of the obligation to rehire andpreferred worker programs can be tied to the dominance of business groups in state policymaking, the failure to provide aproper incentive and enforcement system, and the inability to foresee the consequences of reform because of policy and environmental complexity. 137

Road Safety and Insurance Markets Overview

“…It also provides the opportunity to learn from policy failures in other jurisdictions (Jewett 2001, Fronsko 1999). …”