Staffing shortages, turnover and new hires led to a significant spike in workers’ comp claims in restaurants as the industry reawakened after COVID-19 lockdowns, according to a report from AmTrust Financial Services.

‘We knew that the pandemic was having an outsized effect in the restaurant industry, and it was reflected in some of the numbers,’ said Matt Zender, senior vice president, workers’ compensation strategy at AmTrust Financial Services.

The 2022 AmTrust Restaurant Risk Report looked at nearly 170,000 claims over 10 years to track common injuries and resulting time off for restaurant workers.

It found that while overall injuries fell, specific injuries like crushing, fainting, inflammation, strains, and mental stress were significantly higher compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

‘There was a large drop in frequency of claims from the restaurant sector during the pandemic, which we expected, but the bounce back was also higher than we anticipated."