Travelers Injury Impact Report Highlights Longer Recovery Times Amid Declining Injury Rates

Key Terms

workers compensation claims regulatory

Workers compensation claims are requests by employees for medical care, wage replacement or other benefits after a job-related injury or illness; employers or their insurers review and pay these claims instead of employees suing for damages. For investors, the number and cost of these claims act like a company’s recurring repair bills—higher or rising claims can increase expenses, insurance premiums, regulatory scrutiny and operational disruption, which can hurt profitability and cash flow.

lost-time claims technical

Lost-time claims are workers’ compensation claims filed when an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job and misses work as a result. For investors, a rising number or severity of these claims signals higher direct costs (insurance, settlements) and indirect costs (reduced productivity, regulatory fines, reputational damage), similar to how frequent breakdowns in machinery hint at rising repair bills and lost production.

return-to-work plans technical

Return-to-work plans are a company’s policies and step-by-step arrangements for bringing employees back to offices or on-site roles after remote work, extended leave, or a disruption, covering schedules, safety measures, workspace use and who returns when. Investors watch these plans because they influence productivity, operating costs, hiring and retention, and the risk of disruption—like a playbook that shows how smoothly a business can resume normal activity and control expenses during a transition.

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Analysis of more than 1.2 million workers compensation claims reveals how an aging workforce and new employees are reshaping the risk environment for employers

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) today released its 2026 Injury Impact Report, an analysis of more than 1.2 million workers compensation claims received by the company from 2021 through 2025. The report finds that even as workplace injury rates decline, the injuries that do occur are growing more complex and taking longer to heal – a trend driven by an aging workforce and the disproportionate vulnerability of first-year employees.

“The decrease in workplace injuries is a positive story, yet injured workers are still missing an average of 80 workdays,” said Claude Howard, Vice President of Workers Compensation Claim at Travelers. “This report is a reminder that progress doesn’t mean the risk environment requires any less attention, and an employer’s commitment to safety must keep pace with an ever-evolving workforce and injury landscape.”

The Data Behind the Changing Workforce

Injuries involving employees 60 and older represent 16% of all lost-time claims. Their injuries are also more severe, with higher rates of fractures and dislocations, both of which typically require longer recovery times. When injured, these employees miss approximately 97 days – 17 more than the overall average of 80 days.

Despite representing a much smaller share of the total workforce, first-year employees account for approximately 37% of all injuries and 34% of overall claim costs, generating more than 5 million missed workdays over the five-year period. That pattern is even more pronounced in certain sectors, with new employees representing an outsized share of injuries in restaurants (51%), small businesses (46%) and construction (44%).

Lost workdays vary by industry, with the highest averages occurring in:

• Construction: 114 days.
• Transportation: 94 days.
• Professional services: 77 days.
• Manufacturing: 76 days.

Employees at small businesses, which are already operating with leaner teams, miss an average of 86 workdays per injury – six more than the overall average.

A Common Hazard With Growing Consequences

Slips, trips and falls rank among the leading causes of the costliest claims – those exceeding $250,000 – across every industry segment analyzed. As workforce demographics shift, the consequences of these persistent hazards are becoming more significant. For employees 60 and older, slips, trips and falls are the top cause of injury, accounting for approximately 39% of their claims – roughly 15 percentage points higher than all other age groups.

What Employers Can Do

Travelers recommends that employers focus on three areas to strengthen the culture of safety in their businesses:

• Protect new hires by identifying workplace risks, improving safety controls and defining safe work practices.
• Support and engage employees by building a culture of trust and safety where workers feel valued and are encouraged to take part in defining the safety process.
• Prepare for injuries before they happen by implementing structured response and return-to-work plans that support employees throughout recovery.

“The majority of workplace accidents can be prevented,” said Chris Hayes, Assistant Vice President of Workers Compensation, Risk Control, at Travelers. “Getting ahead of the risks isn’t just good safety practice; it’s one of the most meaningful things an employer can do to protect and support their people.”

Additional findings are available at Travelers.com/InjuryImpactReport. For workplace safety resources and information on workers compensation products and services from Travelers, visit the Workers Compensation Hub on the company’s website.

About the 2026 Injury Impact Report

Travelers analyzed more than 1.2 million workers compensation claims the company received between 2021 and 2025 from a variety of industries and businesses of all sizes. Findings were based solely on indemnity claims, where the injured employees could not immediately return to work and incurred medical costs.

About Travelers

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of nearly $49 billion in 2025. For more information, visit Travelers.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260501635586/en/

Media:
Kate Thermansen, 860-954-1789
ktherman@travelers.com

Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.