Musculoskeletal disorders from manual labor in factories, construction, printing and warehouse work are one of the most common types of workplace injuries and account for one-third of all workers’ compensation costs. These injuries take a profound economic toll on both workers who suffer these injuries and on employers who pay more for their workers’ comp […]
One bit of good news coming from the COVID-19 pandemic is that the economic downturn has boosted efforts to close older workers’ comp claims that have been lingering as both sides cannot agree on a settlement. Due to the financial pain brought on by the sudden downturn, injured workers who have been reluctant to settle […]
Employers whose businesses continue to operate are obviously concerned about the coronavirus spreading through their worksites, so many have started testing their workers. Recent U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance authorized employers to conduct COVID-19 testing and check temperatures of employees. But doing so could expose a business to a number of employee legal actions […]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order requiring that workers who either test positive for COVID-19 or are diagnosed by a physician as having coronavirus are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The order means that it will automatically be presumed that the employee contracted the virus on the job if they test positive […]
State Compensation Insurance Fund has announced that it will accept any workers’ comp claims for a diagnosed case of COVID-19 filed by essential workers. Workers deemed “essential” who contract COVID-19 would be presumed to have caught the virus at work, and hence would be eligible for all normal workers’ comp benefits under the law. Only […]
If you are one of the companies that has been deemed an essential employer and are remaining open during stay-at-home orders, you should be doing all you can to protect your workers against contracting COVID-19. While some workers are really on the front lines of fighting the disease, like health care workers and emergency services […]
Since face-to-face meetings are out of the question when most non-essential workers are under stay-at-home orders, many companies have opted for the teleconferencing app Zoom. With the recent revelation that Zoom’s teleconferencing system is not always the most secure, it is still one of the least expensive and user-friendly options for holding meetings during the […]
California’s insurance commissioner has ordered insurers doing business in the state to refund some premium payments to policyholders for a number of commercial lines, as well as personal auto insurance policies, due to the reduced risk of claims in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and shelter-at-home orders. Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued the notice, which requires […]
The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus law to help American workers and businesses weather the outbreak has a number of provisions that employers and their workers need to know about and can take advantage of during this crisis. The CARES Act includes provision for: Extended unemployment benefits. Requiring health […]
If you are operating a small business, you are likely relying on a small crew to get the job done. Many employees in small firms have to wear several hats and, if one of them or an owner should die, the business could suffer greatly from that sudden loss of talent or one of the […]