In 2013, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and funded Mathematica Policy Research to conduct the study Addressing Return-to-Work Issues in the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act with Administrative Data under the Administrative Data Research and Analysis portfolio of studies. The secondary data analysis aims to examine the characteristics of workers’ compensation claims, case management indicators, and work outcomes using administrative data on the cases reported under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) from 2005 to 2010. The report details these characteristics and describes areas that might help inform the structure of benefits and services in workers' compensation programs. The brief provides a summary of the results and potential areas for further exploration.

Under FECA, all civilian federal employees who have sustained workplace injuries may file a claim to cover a portion of lost income and medical, vocational rehabilitation, and certain other costs associated with those injuries. FECA aims to help injured workers obtain proper medical care and to identify suitable work if the employee is unable to perform the original job functions. Such features underscore the goal of speeding the return to work, whether modified work or the pre-injury job.

This Department of Labor-funded study contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform Worker Protection, Labor Standards, and Workplace-Related Benefits programs and policies and addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.