Despite pressure to cut workers' compensation costs, the Alcoa Board of Education appears reluctant to change a policy allowing injured workers to collect full pay for the duration of their time away from work, the The Daily Times of Maryville, Tennessee, reported Wednesday.

Clayton Bledsoe

In Tennessee, where injured workers receive the standard two-thirds of their salary while away from work, both the City of Alcoa and the school board pay the remaining third, allowing the worker to collect full pay. But while the city pays the difference for 90 days, the board has no cap on how long it will pay the difference.

The board's insurer, the Tennessee Municipal League Risk Pool, has encouraged it to instate a cap. The average claim at Alcoa City Schools costs $10,000, nearly twice the cost of the average claim among risk pool members as a whole.

The school district also does not place injured workers on light duty. They remain out of work until they reach full recovery.

Board members discussed changing one or both policies at this month's meeting, ultimately deciding to address the issue in the fall when it receives next year's premium cost.

“You’re going to have crooks; you’re going to have people take advantage of the system, but I don’t think we should penalize everyone else,” board member Clayton Bledsoe said.

Read The Daily Times' story here.