Worker’s comp claims hurting S.J. finances

Five years ago, in a cost-cutting move, San Jose slashed its risk-management staff, the team charged with vetting workers’ compensation claims and getting injured employees back to work. Today, that move looks to have backfired. San Jose pays the most in the state in workers’ compensation costs, as judged by one industry benchmark, and has a crushing backlog of claims and a high rate of on-the-job injuries.