Reduced Injury Protections for Temporary Contract Players in Sports Teams
A recent study reveals that sports teams are less likely to invest in injury protection for players with temporary contracts, raising important questions about fairness and risk management in sports and beyond.
Recent research published in Economic Inquiry indicates that professional sports teams tend to offer less injury-related protection and invest less in the long-term health of players on temporary contracts, such as short-term or part-time athletes. The study analyzed data collected from 2009 to 2017, comprising 4,125 observations of 1,184 athletes, with an average of approximately 3.5 years of data per player.
The findings reveal a trend where players with non-permanent contracts are more likely to miss fewer games due to injuries, suggesting that teams may prioritize the health and recovery of permanent players over their temporary counterparts. This disparity raises significant concerns about fairness and risk management in professional sports, but also echoes broader issues of employment and health investment in the gig economy.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Richard Paulsen from the University of Michigan, emphasized that the reduced investment in the health of temporary players, who often contribute substantial economic value, raises questions about how similar practices might be present in other industries employing short-term workers. "If we see less investment in the health of temporary athletes, what does this imply for temporary or gig workers elsewhere?" he asked. He further noted that many companies lack incentives to prioritize the well-being of interns, seasonal workers, or freelancers, especially if potential burnout or long-term health impacts are not directly beneficial to the current employer.
This research highlights the importance of equitable risk management practices and could prompt a re-evaluation of how organizations, including sports teams, handle injury prevention and health care for all contract types. It underscores broader societal concerns about employment standards and worker protection in increasingly flexible job markets.
For more insights, see the full study: Temporary Employment and the Protection of Investments in Human Capital: Examining the Major League Baseball Player Market.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-sports-teams-injury-players-temporary.html
Stay Updated with Mia's Feed
Get the latest health & wellness insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Related Articles
Understanding How Hippocampal Place Cells and Synaptic Plasticity Drive Memory Formation
Recent studies reveal how hippocampal place cells and synaptic plasticity underpin the brain's ability to gradually acquire and retain memories without overwriting them, offering new insights into neural learning mechanisms.
Innovative Study Demonstrates Creation of Functional Eggs from Human Skin Cells to Address Infertility
A pioneering study from Oregon Health & Science University has successfully created functional human eggs from skin cells, opening new possibilities for infertility treatments and reproductive options.
Limitations of Current Biomarkers in Assessing Post-Pregnancy Heart Failure Risk
New research questions the effectiveness of traditional biomarkers like NT-proBNP for predicting heart failure in women after complicated pregnancies, emphasizing the need for new screening methods.
Revolutionary Drug Formulation Transforms Intravenous Treatments into Rapid Injections
A new drug formulation platform developed by Stanford researchers enables high-concentration protein therapeutics to be injected quickly and easily, potentially transforming outpatient treatments and self-administration of biologic drugs.