New Study Shows Bullying in the Workplace Can Increase Workers Comp Costs for Employers A new study suggests that bullying and mistreatment in the workplace can lead to increased costs for employers, including through raising workers comp costs, absenteeism, and disability claims. Researchers at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, in 2010 bullying at work accounted for 5.5% of absences due to reported illness. Workplace bullying – which includes insults, intimidation, gossiping, and withholding information – can … [Read more...]
Medical Marijuana Legalization Raises Workers Comp Questions
March 9, 2014 by
States with Legal Medical Marijuana Use Struggle to Understand Workers Comp Impact Although marijuana is still technically legal at the federal level, 20 states and Washington DC have passed laws allowing marijuana to be used for medical reasons (additionally, Washington State and Colorado allow recreational marijuana use). However, with marijuana dispensaries becoming more common, state regulators are now beginning to question whether medical marijuana should be covered under workers comp insurance. “I think that most insurance companies … [Read more...]
WA State Landscaper Charged for No Workers Comp
February 28, 2014 by
Landscaper in Pierce County, WA Charged for Failing to Purchase Workers Comp A landscaper in Pierce County, Washington has been charged by Labor & Industry (L&I) for failing to purchase workers comp insurance to cover his employees, when one of his employees was injured on the job. Kenneth Ivan Winters, 49, faces one count of doing business without workers comp insurance, along with seven counts of making false reports to the Department of Labor & Industries, according to the filed complaint. Each charge carries five years in … [Read more...]
Proposed Bill in Arizona Would Ban Workers Comp Lawsuits
February 26, 2014 by
Arizona Bill Would Ban Lawsuits Against Workers Comp Insurance Companies for Bad Faith, Delays A bill that is currently making its way through the Arizona House of Representatives would ban lawsuits against workers comp insurance companies for denying claims in bad faith. The proposed bill, HB 2455, passed the House Committee on Insurance and Retirement 4-3, and will advance to the Rules Committee. HB 2455 proposes to give exclusive jurisdiction of bad faith claims against workers comp companies to the Industrial Commission of Arizona. If … [Read more...]
Ohio Workers Comp Bureau Carefully Monitors Prescription Drugs
February 6, 2014 by
Ohio Creates Better Monitoring System for Prescription Drug Abuse in Workers Comp Cases The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has created a system to better monitor prescription drugs, especially pain and anti-anxiety medications, to help prevent drug abuse. Starting in January 2014, the state-run workers comp insurance provider said it will no longer cover prescriptions for injured workers unless the provider enrolls in an automated reporting system, so the workers comp company can monitor potential abuse of opiate … [Read more...]
Firefighter Speaks Out About Denied Workers Comp
February 4, 2014 by
Indiana Firefighter Gives Impassioned Plea for Better Workers Comp Coverage A firefighter from Evansville, Indiana spoke out on behalf of other first responders on Monday, January 27th, pleading for better workers comp coverage for those who put their lives on the line. Shawn Oglesby spoke to the Evansville City Council, describing his on-the-job complication which should have been covered by workers comp. While responding to a fire, the veteran firefighter reportedly had a life-threatening allergic reaction to something in the building, … [Read more...]
Workers Comp Awarded to Casino Dealer for Traffic Accident
January 28, 2014 by
Casino Dealer Wins Workers Comp Award Because Traffic Accident Occurred on Work Premises An appellate court ruled that Harrah’s Atlantic City, a casino in New Jersey, is liable for a workers comp reward to one of its employees who was in a traffic accident on the casino’s premises. In September 2012, Carla Burdette was leaving Harrah’s, where she worked as a dealer, around 10 PM. As she left the casino’s parking garage, turning onto a three-lane street, her vehicle was struck. Harrah’s contended that it had no liability for the accident … [Read more...]
House Bill Expands Workers Comp Benefits for SC Police Officers
January 21, 2014 by
South Carolina House Passes Expanded Workers Comp Bill for Police Officers with Work-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Police officers suffer a great deal of mental and emotional stress in the course of their jobs, and now a bill passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives will expand workers comp help to support officers with post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill, passed Wednesday, January 15th, was inspired by the case of Brandon Bentley, a police officer from Spartanburg, SC. While working for the Spartanburg County … [Read more...]
New Mexico Aims to Change Workers Comp Laws
January 14, 2014 by
New Mexico Lawmaker Proposes Changes to Workers Comp Laws A lawmaker in New Mexico is again proposing a bill to make changes to the state’s workers comp laws. Currently, the workers comp laws in New Mexico allow workers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol to qualify for up to 90% of their workers compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. While the law does say that drugs or alcohol cannot be the only reason for the workplace injury, Representative Dennis Roch (R) wants to change the law altogether. "Private … [Read more...]
Blue Collar Temp Workers at Higher Risk of Injury, Need Workers Comp
December 30, 2013 by
Studies Show that Blue Collar Temp Workers are at a Higher Risk for Workplace Injuries, and Therefore More Workers Comp Filings Since the Great Recession began in 2008, companies have tried to cut costs and still deliver product. And that means they have hired more temp workers, especially blue collar workers, who are at higher risk for workplace injuries and potentially filing for workers comp. Currently, the temp industry employs 2.8 million people in the United States. In five states, temps face a greater risk of on-the-job injury than … [Read more...]
