[CamB]

Your legal system is definitely the problem - we've got far more of a workers paradise and none of this **** gets pulled, because the legal system doesn't allow it.

We do have a state funded (well, it comes out of payroll really) workplace and accident scheme. The reality is that it provides only an adequate level of care (not gold plated) which is, IMHO, good. It makes no serious attempt to award $$$ to people for lost enjoyment of life, and most of all, there are no lawyers involved.

Mind you, for light manufacturing the combined tax is probably 3% of the gross wages, so it isn't cheap.