California labor unions and employers are working to institute reform to California's workers' compensation system is a way that will provide more benefits to workers, without raising the premium for employers. Average workers' compensation payouts have fallen since a series of reforms in 2003 and 2004. The changes led to lower premiums for employers, but have hurt workers, who often spend years trying to get payments. Advocates for reform of the system say that they hope changes to how claims are evaluated, as well as calculations of compensation will lead to a better system for everyone.
See "California workers' comp overhaul effort is stirring", Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times, April 11, 2012