Income Roulette: Workers Play Without Knowing They're Playing

Many U.S. workers are playing what amounts to a game of income roulette without understanding much about the nature of the game.

Researchers at Unum Corp., Chattanooga, Tenn. (NYSE:UNM), and the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa., workers’ problems with understanding the odds in new reports.

The researchers at Unum note that typical workers think injuries are the health problems most likely to lead to workers missing work.

In reality, Unum says, an analysis of Unum’s own long-term disability (LTD) insurance claims data shows that injuries accounted for a little more than 10% of the LTD claims filed in 2011.

Cancer was the most common cause of LTD claims. It was responsible for 15% of the claims.

Back disorders not resulting from injuries ranked second. They led to a little less than 15% of the claims.