| Dozens of personal injury claims management | | | | Vineeta Kaura, Head of HR at Thompsons Solicitors |
| companies and ten personal injury solicitors’ firms | | | | explains, ‘We wanted to improve communication |
| are being investigated for insurance fraud by the | | | | with employees and decided online total reward |
| Insurance Fraud Bureau, according to the Solicitors | | | | statements would raise awareness of the value of |
| Journal, the leading independent magazine for | | | | their reward package. We really wanted employees |
| solicitors and other legal professionals, providing daily | | | | to understand the total value of what they are |
| news and analysis. | | | | receiving and become more engaged with their |
| Sue Jones, head of unit at the Insurance Fraud | | | | benefits. This is part of our strategy to become an |
| Bureau, asked the managing partners of law firms to | | | | employer of choice.’ |
| keep accurate records of clients and cases referred | | | | Thompsons Solicitors selected Thompsons Online |
| to them by claims management firms. | | | | Benefits to implement a self-service system |
| ‘If insurers are saying, on a consistent basis that | | | | ‘PerquisiteTM’ where employees are given |
| they don’t believe that accidents are taking | | | | the option to view fully branded and personalised |
| place,’ she explained, ‘then you must review | | | | online statements. Employees can access their unique |
| the situation. If you decide to turn a blind eye there | | | | site via the firm intranet, where they can view their |
| may be money laundering issues. | | | | total pay and firm paid benefits. |
| ‘If you’ve paid a referral fee to a claims | | | | Meanwhile, at the High Court in London, Mr David |
| management company and you end up taking money | | | | Dei-Ceci has won a case of personal injury claims |
| into your client account from a fraudulent claim, then | | | | with a record damages settlement of £6.3m. |
| you could be facilitating that fraud.’ | | | | Dei-Ceci was aged 17, in October, 2002, when the |
| Jones added: ‘Some of the big personal injury | | | | car he was travelling in as a passenger crashed in a |
| firms are doing a very good job, and have all the | | | | field. As a consequence of the accident, Mr Dei-Ceci |
| money laundering and compliance procedures they | | | | suffered serious brain injuries, leaving him requiring |
| need. Others are a complete shambles. Some firms | | | | 24-hour live-in care and assistance for the rest of his |
| appear time and time again as being linked to claims | | | | life. |
| management companies whose claims are rejected. | | | | Ged Jones, a personal injury solicitor and a Camps |
| You would think they would want to review the | | | | Solicitors associate, informs that ‘Due to changes |
| relationship.’ | | | | in the law over the last few years, the court now |
| In other news, Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's trade | | | | has the power to impose periodical payments in such |
| union, personal injury and employment rights legal | | | | high value cases rather than award one lump sum, |
| practice, has implemented online total reward | | | | regardless of the wishes of the parties. |
| statements for its staff in conjunction with | | | | ‘This will help to provide claimants with a future |
| Thompsons Online Benefits. | | | | income stream throughout their lifetime and take |
| Thompsons, the employer of over 800 staff, decided | | | | away the risk of investing a lump sum in the |
| to make the move to better employee benefit | | | | precarious financial markets.’ |
| offering by improving the communication of benefits | | | | Damages in the UK are relatively low compared to |
| given to their employees. This allows employees to | | | | the U.S. and Europe. ‘Hopefully,’ adds Jones, |
| gain a greater understanding of what is available, in | | | | ‘this landmark decision will see a significant rise in |
| terms of both their benefits and the value of their | | | | levels of damages being awarded to claimants in the |
| total reward as well. | | | | future. |