WCI News & Insights

Florida Essential Services and Activities During COVID-19 Emergency

Not Everyone Has Equal Opportunity to Work From Home

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the Coronavirus presenting new logistical hurdles to keep employees and businesses...

Generation Z Appears To Mimic Some Traits That Boomers Use Successfully in Workplace

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new survey of more than 1,000 U.S. employees from Reflektive, suggests...

White Paper Explores WC Compensability of COVID-19

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Is COVID-19 compensable under workers’ compensation? Maybe. A new white paper from Broadspire, a...

HHS States System Is Safe After Supposed Cyberattack

F.J. Thomas

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a recent NextGov report, the head of Health and Human Services (HHS)...

LA Doctor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Liz Carey

Baton Rouge, LA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Federal authorities announced a 71-year-old doctor will serve 18 months in...

Let Us Be the Leaders of Professionalism, Civility and Human Kindness

Glen Wieland

In these unprecedented times, the Workers Compensation Institute urges civility and cooperation for all those involved...

Keep Employees Engaged, Informed During COVID-19 Threat, Expert Advises

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Some of the very same strategies that help keep injured workers engaged...

Inspector Accused Of False Reporting In Hotel Collapse Resigns

Liz Carey

New Orleans, LA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A building inspector who allegedly filed false inspection reports before a...

New Study Shows Nerve Regrowth In Spinal Injuries

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Exciting new research from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of...

COVID-19 Drives Up Employee Reimbursement Requests, Report Suggests

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Cancelled business trips and cleaning supplies are among the main items pushing...

Failure to Wear A Seatbelt Cause for Claim Denial

Liz Carey

Richmond, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A truck driver injured while delivering ice is not eligible for workers’...

WA: Workers’ Comp To Cover Health Care Workers/First Responders With COVID-19

Liz Carey

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state is taking steps to ensure...

Crane Operator Okay After Night With A Tornado

Liz Carey

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Jason Nash got a bird’s eye view of the recent tornado in...

Experts Ponder WC Beyond Opioids

Nancy Grover

Boston, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Take some athletic tape, package it up with Ben Gay and lidocaine...

New York Insurers Ordered To Pay For Corona Virus Testing

F.J. Thomas

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced recently that new regulations in the state will require...

Veteran Reporter Files Suit Over Injuries From Station-Sponsored Event

Liz Carey

Pittsburgh, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A 72-year-old reporter with Pittsburgh-based television news station KDKA has filed suit...

Ensuring Employees Are Safe During a Pandemic – Tips and Best Practices

Dr. Teresa Bartlett, Sedgwick

COVID-19, the virus that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, is affecting...

WCI Statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) is closely monitoring any developments as they relate to the coronavirus...

More Phishing Attacks Being Reported

F.J. Thomas

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – With cybercrimes and data hacks having the 3rd highest growth rate with an estimated cost...

Vocational Recovery Saves Washington State $$$, Reduces Unnecessary Work Disability

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – There’s a move afoot in Washington state to get injured workers back...

MN Bus Company Failed To Carry WC Coverage For Years

Liz Carey

Roseville, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – An investigation into a company that provides school bus operations revealed that...

Analysis Shows FDA Regulations Increasing Healthcare Costs By $20.3 Billion

F.J. Thomas

Washington DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – A safety initiative put in place in 2006 by the Food and...

Emerging Weed Users: Grandma, Grandpa

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Older workers may be more inclined to test positive for marijuana use....

Cybercrime has 3rd Highest GDP, Experts Say

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Businesses going bankrupt. Cyber threat actors being able to wander around a...

Study of Athletes and Sleep Has Implications for Injury Prevention

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new military study suggests that getting enough sleep is critical to...

Communication and Education Key to Keeping US Workers Safe from Deadly Coronavirus

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With tens of thousands infected worldwide, and some 2000 deaths from the...

NJ legislator Proposes Portable Benefits For ‘Gig’ Workers

Liz Carey

Trenton, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – New legislation proposed in N.J. would create a “portable benefits” system for...

On Tap WC Legislation

Nancy Grover

First responders, marijuana and single payer health insurance are the top workers’ compensation-related issues for state...

Report: Healthcare Spending For Employers Outpaced Economy’s Growth

F.J. Thomas

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new report utilizing claims data from Aetna, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and...

Medical Marijuana may be Bringing Down Workers’ Compensation Claims

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With more and more states legalizing marijuana for either recreational or medical...

Stripper Turns To Gofundme After Fall At Work

Liz Carey

Dallas, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Texas stripper has turned to GoFundMe after incurring more than $20,000...

Study: Trust, Compassion from Providers Leads to Speedier Recoveries

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A good bedside manner can make a tremendous difference in outcomes for...

TN Bills Aim To Combat Misclassification

Liz Carey

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislators in Tennessee hope new legislation will address that state’s problem with...

Uber, Postmates Lose Bid to Temporarily Block AB5

Nancy Grover

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The public interest would not be served by temporarily blocking enforcement...

Wage Theft Victims From California Car Wash Still Waiting for Compensation

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Culver City, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) It’s been nine months since the California Labor Commissioner’s Office slapped L.A....

U.S. Workplaces May Not Be Ready For the Spread of Coronavirus

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Since its discovery on December 20, the coronavirus has grown from a...

Cop Allegedly Uses Same WC Fraud Scheme As Convicted Wife

Liz Carey

Santa Clara, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A former Santa Clara police officer allegedly faked an injury in...

Eliminating Sedentary Behaviors in Call Centers is the Goal of New Research Study

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) — Call center employees are the focus of new government-funded research to prevent...

Delta To Offer New Uniforms Following Employee Complaints/Lawsuits

Liz Carey

Minneapolis, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Delta officials announced they will be replacing uniforms that many of the...

Open Office Concept Going The Way of the ‘Powdered Wig’

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – This year is the tipping point for the open office appeal to...

Use Machine Guarding to Prevent Injuries

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – One of the best ways to lower workers’ compensation exposure is to...

Daily Assaults on Workers a Huge, Underreported Problem, Experts Say

Nancy Grover

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – An upcoming court hearing will consider a class action suit by employees...

Data Breach At Michigan Hospital As Worker Steals Patient Data

F.J. Thomas

Dearborn, MI (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 1,200 patients have reportedly been impacted by a data breach that occurred...

Colorado Lawmakers Seek to Change Employment-Related Marijuana Rules

Bruce Burk

Denver, CO (WorkersCompensation.com) – It is no secret that the use of marijuana is becoming more...

Winter Weather Requires Employer Diligence

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ensuring employees have a clear way to get into their place...

National Retailer Fined By OSHA More Than $200K

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Andover, MA-(WorkersCompensation.com) Target Corp., has been cited by OSHA for having blocked emergency exits at two...

Electrical Safety

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Among the worst possible types of industrial accidents which can occur are...

Study Shows Timing Of Knee Replacement Critical To Outcome

F.J. Thomas

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – The best outcome for an injured worker having a knee replacement is...

NJ Parking Lot Proposal Could Have Major Impact on Workers’ Compensation Cases

Bruce Burk

Trenton, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – The New Jersey Legislature is considering legislation that would designate accidents which...

Teachers Set To File WC Claims Against School District For Cancers

Liz Carey

Cottage Grove, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Four current and former teachers in the South Washington County School...

Mega Claim Costs are Creeping Up

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – High dollar workers’ compensation claims have been garnering much attention these days....

Uber Changes Practices in Response to New CA Law

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – It is no secret that California law could make Uber’s business harder...

ER Opioid Prescriptions Drop by 31 Percent, Study Shows

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Emergency room visits involving opioid prescriptions are one of the risk factors...

WCI 2020 Planning Survey Winner and Highlights

Julie Fetherman

Thank you to everyone who completed the WCI 2020 Planning Survey in December. With close to...

Court Finds Bus Driver’s Obesity Not Caused By PTSD

Liz Carey

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A court in New York state has found that a bus driver...

Is There An Upside To Medical Marijuana Use?

F.J. Thomas

Secaucus, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) — Employers may want to rethink their drug policy if recent studies are...

Johns Hopkins Researchers Slam FDA for Efforts to Deter Opioid Abuse

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A 5+ year initiative by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce...

Workers’ Comp Bowling Injury Held Compensable

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensastion.com) – A Florida workers’ compensation court has come out with a decision that...

Ride Share Drivers More Likely To Be Involved In Accidents, Report Says

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new report has found that ride share drivers are more...

Thoughts on Dental Accidents

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – This article discusses everyone’s favorite topic: the dentist. Most of the time...

Workplace New Year’s Resolutions More Customer Centric for 2020

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Many savvy businesses are replacing the traditional workplace New Year’s resolutions of...

Judge Blocks NY Farmworker Labor Act From Starting

Liz Carey

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A federal judge has temporarily halted controversial legislation that would have given...

Judge Orders Halt To AB5 In Regards To Truckers, In Light Of Lawsuit

Liz Carey

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A federal judge has blocked a new law reclassifying gig workers and...

UPS Faces Over $400K Penalty For Safety Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Braintree, MA (WorkersCompensation.com)- United Parcel Service Inc. has been cited by OSHA following allegations of exposing...

TRIA Extension Set in Stone for 7 More Years

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Workers’ Compensation insurers breathed a collective sigh of relief last month after...

Study Reveals Increased Rate of Impaired Drivers

F.J. Thomas

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Alcohol related deaths are down but more drivers admit to driving impaired,...

More Trouble For Tennessee Hospitals

F.J. Thomas

Knoxville, Tennessee (WorkersCompenstion.com) – Some health facilities may be hoping for a better year in 2020....

Organizations Urged to Ensure Workers Protected from Frightful Weather

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Winter precipitation, along with strong winds are the perfect recipe for cold stress....

Report: Amazon’s Safety Training Plans Scuttled Due to Time Concerns; Amazon Disputes Accusations

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Plans for Amazon to add enhanced hands-on safety training for newly hired...

Are Data Breaches Impacting Patient Outcomes?

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – New research suggests that the efforts made to avoid data breaches may...

Judge Awards Estate Millions After Fall on ‘Walking Dead’ Set

Liz Carey

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – An Atlanta jury has awarded the estate of stuntman John Bernecker more...

Construction Worker Faces Felony Charges For Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Federal Way, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Washington man has been arraigned on a charge of first-degree...

Opioid Class Actions Trending Down

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With all the news surrounding the opioid crisis, we have seen many...

Study: More Training, Finding New Talent are Biggest Needs for Claims Professionals

Nancy Grover

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Industry experts have been espousing the benefits of an advocacy-based claims model...

RTW – Not the first Thing to Discuss with Injured Workers, Panelists Say

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers do not want to hear about their employer’s return-to-work expectations...

Study Suggests Americans Are Heavier, More Stressed

F.J. Thomas

A new America’s Health Rankings report from UnitedHealth ranks states by their health ratings. While the...

Amazon, UPS Under Scrutiny For Employee Injuries

Liz Carey

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Some of the protestors lined up outside the Chicago Amazon Go store...

NY’s ‘Most Aggressive Actions to Combat the Opioid Crisis of Any Other State’ Pay Off

Nancy Grover

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Opioid deaths in New York hit a historical low in 2018. Gov....

DOL Announces $1 Million Competition to Help Transitioning Veterans Find Jobs

F.J. Thomas

Washington, D.C. (workersCompensation.com) – While veterans have valuable skills and experience to offer that are in...

New Report Suggests Primary Care Physicians More Likely To Be Sued Over Diagnoses

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – In today’s ever changing healthcare landscape, it appears several factors can play...

Advanced Technology in WC Credited for ‘Discipline’ in Pricing, Underwriting

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Despite years of price decreases, the workers’ compensation line of business is...

Va Beach Shooting Results In 450 Workers’ Comp Claims

Liz Carey

Virginia Beach, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Four hundred and fifty employees in the city of Virginia Beach...

New York’s Drug Formulary is In Effect

Nancy Grover

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – The much anticipated — or dreaded —drug formulary for the New York...

Data Breach Impacts Several Insurers

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Recently WorkersCompensation.com reported that data breaches are an increasing concern for not just medical...

Top 10 Reasons The WCI Conference Should Be #1 On Your 2020 List!

1. WCI offers THE most comprehensive workers’ compensation program content in the country Choose from over...

Spinal Surgeon Fraudster Gets 30 Months for Kickback Scheme

Nancy Grover

Santa Ana, CA (WorkersCompenstion.com) The orthopedic surgeon infamous for an alleged long-term scheme for his role...

Ski and Ride School Instructors Lead Most Injured List, Report Says

Liz Carey

Crested Butte, CO (WorkersCompensation.com) – When 74-year-old Roxie Lypps was teaching two teenagers how to ski...

Attorney Fee Hearings in Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The objective in any workers’ compensation claim is to lower exposure and...

Uber Hit With $650 Million Tax Bill After ‘Misclassifying’ Drivers

Toni sutton-Deangelico

Trenton, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) alleges that...

Study Suggest Talking To Yourself While Driving May Prevent Accidents

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Organizations trying to prevent motor vehicle crashes might want to tell employees...

Early PT Cuts Costs Nearly in Half, White Paper Says

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – “Injured workers who start therapy within three days of injury require 38...

Injury Trends and Future of Retail Work

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – AmTrust Financial Services recently released a report which showed that the highest workers’ compensation...

State Auditor Says Agencies Unnecessarily Spending $Millions in WC

Nancy Grover

Sacramento, CA (workersCompensation.com) – California could have saved at least $20 million in workers’ compensation premiums...

Legal Considerations of California’s Seizure of Applied Underwriters Subsidiary

Bruce Burk

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – We all know that it’s important to make sure that you follow...

‘Lessor Of’ Language Costs Hospital $600K

F.J. Thomas

Wichita, KS (WorkersCompensation.com) – “Lessor Of” language in healthcare contracts and laws is usually difficult to...

Virtual Reality as Treatment for Pain

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the opioid crisis in full swing, doctors are turning to alternative...

OSHA Slaps Hemp Facility With Massive Fine

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Josephine County, OR (WorkersCompensation.com) – A hemp-processing facility is accused of letting its workers live and...

Trucking Association Files Suit Over California’s AB 5

Liz Carey

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The California Trucking Association has filed suit against the state of California...

Risk Report Suggests Men More Likely To Be Injured In Retail

F.J. Thomas

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – The most hazardous class of retail workers are those in meat,...

Integrated Absence Management Policy Helps OSU Reduce Lost Time Claims by 31%

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If a nurse at Ohio State University Medical Center injures himself at...

Timeliness of a Daubert Objection

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – All workers’ compensation claims can run into issues with a Daubert Objection....

Big Pharma Settlements Nationwide May Help Ease Workplace Opioid Crisis

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A survey by the National Business Group on Health, a nonprofit association...

Florida Considers PTSD For Correctional Officers

Liz Carey

Kissimmee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Florida legislator is proposing a bill that would force the state’s...

California Regulators Seek to Halt Merger of Warren Buffet-Associated WC Company

Nancy Grover

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – It’s not often – if ever – you hear of state regulators...

Important Things To Look For When Reviewing Medical Records

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Reviewing medical records goes hand-in-hand with managing a workers’ compensation claim. However,...

Rousmaniere: Industry Icon Says Farewell

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL(WorkersCompensation.com) – A major turning point occurred in the workers’ compensation system last week. Revered...

NASI: Covered Jobs and Wages Rise, Benefits to Injured Workers Decline

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) –While employment and wages covered under workers’ compensation are rising, the amount of...

DOL: Real Estate Developer Guilty Of Wage Theft

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

North Augusta, SC (WorkersCompensation.com)- A South Carolina real estate developer had to pay $27,959 in back...

Rideshares’ Ballot Initiative Aims to Combat AB5, Includes WC Component

Nancy Grover

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Several ridesharing companies have launched an initiative to ensure drivers have flexibility...

Hospital Pays $20 Million to Settle Neurosurgeon Inventor Kickback Case

F.J. Thomas

Sioux Falls, SD (WorkersCompensation.com) – While denying any illegalities, a South Dakota hospital system has agreed...

Driving Deaths Don’t Need to be the Top Cause of Workplace Fatalities

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – There’s some good news about driving fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety...

New County Program Targets Wage Theft

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Santa Clara County, CA (WorkersCompensation.com)- Millions of restaurant workers are affected by wage theft. However, these...

Employer/Carrier May Have to Pay for Claimant’s Medical Marijuana

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Medical marijuana has been controversial since it was introduced as legal in...

EBM’s Evolution in WC Means Better Care, Decision-Making

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Evidence-based medicine seems like such a good idea; using a systematic approach...

Data Breaches at Hospitals Demonstrate Industry Vulnerability

F.J. Thomas, Nancy Grover

Kalispell, MT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Within the last week, hospitals in Montana and Texas were hit with...

Workers Compensation Institute Announces New Leadership Team

The Workers Compensation Institute (WCI), the national leader in workers’ compensation education, announced today the appointment...

Workers Compensation Institute Forms Board of Advisors

WCI formed a Board of Advisors to guide the future of the Workers’ Compensation Institute and...

TX: Report Shows ‘Significant Opportunities’ For Docs to Improve Adherence to Best Practices

Nancy Grover

Austin, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – Texas workers’ compensation physicians largely avoid discussing pain medications they prescribe to...

Opioid Trial Halted by 11th Hour Deal

Nancy Grover

Cleveland, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) — Walgreens is now the only major defendant left in the nation’s first...

Employee Engagement, Interaction Key To Workplace Safety Among Employees with Mental Health Concerns

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The key to ensuring employees with mental health issues do not impact...

Ex Police Officer Charged With Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Toni Sutton- Deangelico

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A former Los Angeles police officer faces charges of workers’ compensation...

Evidence Clerk Fails to Show Injury is Caused by Occupational Disease

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Proving entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits from an occupational disease can be...

U.S. Faces Mounting Worker Skill Gap

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Contrary to the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. since 2008, 80...

Hopkins Study Suggests Recently-Hired Injured Employees Twice As Likely To Be Reinjured

F.J. Thomas

Baltimore, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study by researchers with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore suggests...

Centers of Excellence Expanding in WC, Expert Suggests

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Centers of Excellence offer unique opportunities for the workers’ compensation system. While...

Post Hearing Evidence in Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – In workers’ compensation proceedings, most cases resolve through settlement. However, the ones...

Unions File Suit Against USDA Over Slaughterhouse Rule

Liz Carey

St. Paul, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Unions for food and commercial workers have filed a lawsuit against...

Washington Study Suggests Employment Quality Impacts Worker Health

F.J. Thomas

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study from Washington State suggests that more than just work...

Dollar Tree Hit With Six-Figure Citation By OSHA

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com)-When people go off to work every day, they expect that their employer will...

FL: Potential Impact of Attorney’s Fees on Future Rates

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Workers’ Compensation Rates in Florida are projected to go down once again....

Judge: Lawsuit Over Alleged Forced Labor Moves Forward

Liz Carey

Jay, OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – Three men who allege they were forced to work for free at...

Marijuana Banking Bill Gains House Passage

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompenstion.com) – Legislation that would ease things a bit for insurers and others who...

More Workers Have Access To Paid Leave

F.J. Thomas

Washington, D.C. (WorkersCompensation.com) – The government has released a study on paid leave from supplemental data that was...

Some CA Gig Workers And Companies Not Too Happy with AB 5

Liz Carey

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new law on the books in Cal., may not be making...

Employers Find Simple Ways to Protect Aging Workers from Injuries

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Arthritis is the most common chronic disease in the workforce. Osteoarthritis, in...

Father-Daughter Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Workers’ compensation fraud hurts everyone. It can cause premiums to go up,...

Survey Debunks Perceptions about Entrepreneurial Millennials

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new survey about millennials who own and operate small businesses found...

Wisconsin Company Faces over $200K In OSHA Penalties

toni sutton-Deangelico

Niagara, WI (WorkersCompensation.com – Accusations of continually exposing workers to machine hazards have resulted in penalties...

Mental Health Issues Plague the Workplace

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mental health disorders are among the most burdensome health concerns for employers...

The Interaction of Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability share a unique relationship. While both...

MT Announces Workers’ Compensation Dividend

Liz Carey

Butte, MT (WorkersCompensation.com) –Montana’s State Fund will give money back to its safest policyholders, fund managers...

Use Change Negotiation Techniques for Delayed Recoveries

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – What’s the best way to deal with an injured worker who just...

WC Stakeholders Assess the Impact of AB5

Liz Carey

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The California Legislature’s final approval of Assembly Bill 5 could be what...

Preparation is Key to Mitigate Losses in Unexpected Workplace Tragedies

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – “Everyone remembers where they were when they learned the World Trade Center...

NIOSH Urges Adherence to Updated Guidelines to Prevent CTS

Nancy Grover

Sarasota FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common and costly musculoskeletal...

Pharmaceutical Company Mallinckrodt Agrees To Pay Out $15 Million for ‘Wining and Dining’

F.J. Thomas

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The U.S. Department Of Justice has announced that drug company Mallinckrodt will...

Court Denies Widow’s Benefits From Husband’s Death In Company Vehicle

Liz Carey

Lubbock, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Texas appeals court has overruled a widow’s appeal for compensation in...

Fall Protection Safety Standard Cited in 6,010 OSHA Violations

Nancy Grover

San Diego, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Fall protection once again tops the list for OSHA’s most cited...

Washington Company Hit With Massive Fine For Asbestos And Lead Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Tumwater, WA- (Workerscompensation.com)- The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has cited a Washington-based...

All Injuries are Preventable, Panelists Sa

Nancy Grover

Sarasota FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – Would your organization shut down an operation or work process during peak...

MA Employment Agency Head Indicted For Millions In Unclaimed Wages

Liz Carey

Worcester, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to the US Attorney for Massachusetts, a man who oversaw two...

Endo to pay $10 Million to Settle Opioid Litigatio

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With many new cases being filed related to the opioid crisis, some...

Study Suggests Work Environment Associated With Musculoskeletal Pain In Therapists

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A study released  by Swiss research publisher Springer Nature suggests that workplace...

As Court Rulings Push Costs Higher, Florida Looks for a Rate…Decrease

Nancy Grover

Boca Raton, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Florida employers waiting for the other shoe to drop following landmark...

NY Supreme Court Rejects Workers’ Suit After Cow Falls on Him

Liz Carey

Utica, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – The New York Supreme Court has denied a worker the right to...

NY: $6 Million In Wage Theft Recuperated In Joint Investigation

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Maspeth, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that about $6 million...

The Application of the ADA to Websites

Bruce Burk

Tampa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – When we typically think about the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), we...

Employer Ordered to Pay $90k To Employee Fired For Hearing Loss

Liz Carey

Houma, LA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Louisiana pressure washing business has been ordered to pay a former...

Speakers Outline Free Ways to ID Creeping Catastrophic Claims Before They Go South

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A handful of claims consume most of the costs in the workers’...

Sackler Family Accused of Funneling Money Away from Purdue Pharma

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – There is no shortage of lawsuits against Purdue Pharma related to the...

Feds Continue Fight Against WA Law Protecting Hanford Workers

Liz Carey

Richland, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The federal government is continuing to fight a new Washington-state law that...

Reducing Pharmacy Costs Could be All About the DNA

Nancy Grover

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompenation.com) – Why is it that some of us need a higher dose of...

Conference Looks at Mental Health Parity Issues

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – The real issue with mental health currently is not its alleged connection...

Study Shows Opioid Prescribing Down; Alt Pain Treatment Up

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL – (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new report shows that opioid prescribing rates for workers’ compensation...

Atlanta Man Pleads Guilty In $300,000 Healthcare Scheme

F.J. Thomas

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The US Department Of Justice issued a press release on a $300,000 healthcare fraud...

Experts Ponder WC 2030

Nancy Grover

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – What will the workers’ compensation system look like by 2030? Will it...

Idaho Injured Worker Sentenced For Lying Under Oath

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Bonneville County, ID (WorkersCompensation.com)- An Idaho Falls resident has been sentenced d to one year in...

More Seniors Staying on the Job

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The number of Americans 65 and older either working or looking for...

WCRI: Increasing Payments to Providers Does Not Necessarily Drive Better Outcomes

Nancy Grover

Cambridge, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Money can’t buy everything. In the case of injured workers, more money...

Restaurant Agrees to Pay $450K in Settlement Over Stolen Wages

Tony Sutton-Deangelico

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A restaurant in a trendy area of Seattle has agreed to pay...

Dayton Bans Nicotine Use for New Employees

F.J. Thomas

Dayton, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – The city of Dayton, Ohio recently adopted a policyprohibiting any use of nicotine for new...

PA Authorities Announce Steps to ‘Lessen the Chances of Errors’ in Loss Cost Filings

Nancy Grover

Harrisburg, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A lack of adequate internal controls has landed the state’s insurance rating...

RAND Report Offers New Insight into PTSD Among Firefighters

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new report might allay concerns about potentially high costs from claims...

Cannabis Grower Slapped With $35K Penalty For Failing To Carry WC

Tony Sutton-Deangelico

Salinas, CA (WorkersCompensation.com)-Ever since recreational marijuana became legal in California, officials have struggled to handle the...

Side Impacts Could Cause Concussion

F.J. Thomas

Hoboken, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study highlighted by Stevens Institute of Technology shows that location of impact...

CA: Payments for Opioids Drop 90 Percent in 5 Years

Nancy Grover

Oakland, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislative reforms have resulted in $3 billion in annual savings to the...

Protecting the WC Industry from Cyber Threats: No Time for Penny Pinching

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Residents of Baltimore, Md., were recently told they would not receive water...

Risk Managers Advised to Curb Distracted Driving Among Employees

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of roadway collisions, which...

Second Judgement Issued In Farm Worker Case

F.J. Thomas

San Diego, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The US Department Of Labor (USDOL) announced that a second judgement has been...

Feeling The Heat: Outdoor Workers Brave The Weather And Hope For Change

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Dangerous heatwaves have swept across the United States this summer, with temperatures soaring in cities like...

Miners Not Convinced by McConnell Promises to Support Black Lung Fund

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – A group of Kentucky miners sickened with Black Lung Disease said they...

My Formula For WCI

Kimberly George

Each year I look forward to attending the Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference as it is truly...

WCI Announces the Election of its New Board of Advisors

Press Release: August 2, 2019 The Workers’ Compensation Institute announces the election of its new Board...

Warren Buffett-Owned WC Insurer Agrees to Pay $3 Million Fine

Nancy Grover

New York, NY (WorkersCompnstion.com) – Applied Underwriters has agreed to pay $3 million for what New...

Happy Work Environment Promotes Improved Productivity

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) An overwhelming majority of workers would like their current employer to offer healthier...

Self-Driving Cars Could Have Substantial Impact On the WC System, NCCI Says

Nancy Grover

Boca Raton, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – While claim frequency has been decreasing overall in recent years, that...

NJ: Doc, Drug Store Accused Of $10 Million In Workers’ Comp Fraud

Liz Carey

Wallington, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – Federal agents say a doctor was forced to write prescriptions for drugs...

Service Industries Hit Harder By Flu

F.J. Thomas

Muncie, IN (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study published in Economics & Human Biology this week suggests there is a direct...

DE: Employee Files Suit Over PTSD Following Prisoner’s Death

Liz Carey

Wilmington, DE (WorkersCompensation.com) – A former health administrator has filed suit over workers’ compensation benefits against...

Obesity is Protected Under Washington State’s Anti-Discrimination Law

Nancy Grover

Olympia, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Obesity is not a justifiable reason to refuse hiring a job applicant...

Investigation Reveals Boxes of WC Claim Forms

Liz Carey

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – An investigation into Chicago’s longest serving alderman has found two boxes filled...

Pain Advocacy Group Closes, Weighs Future of Journal of Pain

Nancy Grover

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The nation’s opioid epidemic is at least partially blamed for the demise...

Australian Study Suggests Health, Injury Type & Timing of Claim Filed Contribute To Claims Satisfaction and RTW

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – “There is a strong positive association between worker experiences of the insurance...

Florida Workers’ Comp Fraud Sting

Bruce Burk

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The legislature creates laws, not suggestions. Despite this, some businesses either believe...

Experts Get the Conversation Going to Reduce Delayed Treatment

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Workers’ compensation stakeholders cite delayed medical treatment as one of their biggest...

Oklahoma Passes New Opioid Settlement Law

Bruce Burk

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com0 – There has been no shortage of opioid litigation in the past...

Berkeley Study Suggests Increasing Minimum Wage Has Positive Effects

F.J. Thomas

Berkeley, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study by The University of California at Berkeley economists Anna Godoey and Michael Reich...

Alaska Workers’ Compensation Rates Decline

Chriss Swaney

Juneau, AK (WorkersCompensation.com) – Alaska state officials report that this year’s workers’ compensation rate decline is...

Give Kids The World Newsletter – July 2019

May 2019

What’s Inside? Article 1: Pillow Talk Article 2: Olivia’s Story Article 3: WCI Give Kids the World Service Day...

McDonald’s Responds to Workplace Violence Criticism

nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ten U.S. senators are asking McDonald’s CEO to “immediately adopt a comprehensive...

PA: Widow’s Attorney Warns County, Husband’s Suicide Was Work-Related

Liz Carey

Westmoreland County, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The widow of a former corrections officer says she may file...

Preventable Deaths Ranked by State

Nancy Grover

Itasca, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – California has the lowest rate of preventable deaths, while West Virginia has...

Ohio Grate Maker Company Faces Over $183K in Fines for Workplace Safety Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Canton, Ohio (WorkerssCompensation.com)- Ohio Gratings Inc., described as ‘the industry leader in the manufacture of steel...

DEA Licensed Physician Charged For Giving Out Pain ‘Goodie Bags’

F.J. Thomas

Huntington Valley, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The US Department of Justice announced that Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Andrew...

Employees Honored as RTW MVPs

Nancy Grover

Durham, NC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers who can stay at work or return as soon after...

Study Shows Need to Train Drivers on Vehicle Automation Systems

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Technology designed to make driving safer may have the exact opposite effect...

Study Finds American Workers Less Engaged Compared to Other Countries

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study from ADP Research Institute shows that American workers are less engaged than those...

Moving the Goal Post in Workers’ Compensation Litigation

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If you have found yourself dealing with a workers’ compensation claim and...

California Law Aimed At Protecting Gig Workers May Harm Hollywood

Liz Carey

Hollywood, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A California law aimed at protecting gig workers at companies like Uber...

Oklahoma Court Decision May Spark More Suits Against Employers

Nancy Grover

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Oklahoma Supreme Court has effectively expanded the definition of ‘intentional...

LA Lake Closed After Lifeguards Develop Bacterial Reaction

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Los Angeles Aquatics Division of the Department of Recreation and...

EX Boston Trolley Driver Sentenced To Jail For Staging Attack To Collect WC

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Boston, Massachusetts (WorkersCompensation.com)- A former Massachusetts trolley driver has been sentenced to three years and one...

Responding to a Defective PFB – Incorrect Dates of Accident

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If you’re an adjuster, then you have probably found yourself trying to...

OSHA Report Alleges Multiple Failures Leading to Miami Bridge Collapse

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Structural design deficiencies, failure to recognize the magnitude of widening cracks, oversights...

Efforts to Engage, Retain Workers – Going to the Dogs

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – You may notice something different about the workplace during the next several...

Psychological Injuries Examined in New Oregon Supreme Court Case

Bruce Burk

The concept of rule in/rule out deals with the notion that an injured worker should have...

Sponsor of Immigration Provision in WC Budget Bill Says it’s for Data Collection

Nancy Grover

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – It’s now up to the State Senate to tackle the budget bill...

Heritage Pharmaceuticals to Pay $$7 Million in False Claims Allegations

F.J. Thomas

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Generic drug maker Heritage Pharmaceuticals of Eatontown, New Jersey will pay $7...

Court Says Carpenter’s Injuries Falling Off Bridge Aren’t Covered by Longshoreman’s Act

Liz Carey

Norfolk, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A carpenter’s fall off a bridge can’t be considered maritime work a...

DOJ Hanford Workers’ Compensation Lawsuit Update

Bruce Burk

A federal judge is poised to rule on a new lawsuit brought against the state of...

Beat Fatigue to Reduce the Bottom Line

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Having tired workers is more than just a simple annoyance. It’s a...

BWC Pharmacy Chief Clarifies What’s Covered/Not Covered in Oxy Chang

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCopmpensation.com) – Ohio’s workers’ compensation agency said it will reimburse injured workers for various...

Over Half of Road Workers Involved in Accidents

F.J. Thomas

Arlington, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study released by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America indicates that...

PTSD Bill on Way to Governor Includes ‘Study’ to Consider Including EMS Personnel

Liz Carey

Hartford, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Nearly 10 years after a police officer was denied workers’ compensation benefits...

A TRUE summer blockbuster: National Worker’s Compensation Review: 2019 edition reveal (including spoiler alerts)!

H. George Kagan

What is the NWCR? Brief History and mission statement: One score less six years ago, our...

Prosecution of Pain Med Physicians: Conspiracy Or Truth?

F.J. Thomas

Salt Lake City, UT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Last week, WorkersCompensation.comreported that Allstate had filed suit against two pain...

Survey on Workplace Mental Health Reveals ‘Alarming’ Findings

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mental health issues can have a significant impact on organizations. They can...

California Business Groups Seek Legislative Help On Independent Contractors

Liz Carey

San Jose, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – While California legislators are working to pass legislation that would redefine...

Dollar Tree Cited Again By L&I For Safety Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Vancouver, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recently issued one of...

Non-Traditional Lite Duty May Fit the Bill for RTW

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Getting injured workers back to function as soon as possible is a...

California’s DWP Down Again

Nancy Grover

Oakland, CA (WorkersCompenstion.com) – “For the second year in a row total direct written premium in...

Employers Can Prevent Summer-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the unofficial start of the summer season, it’s a good time...

Teachers Face Increased Violence in The Classroom

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – By the end of April, the number of workers’ compensation claims over...

Allstate Sues Well Known Senior Physician Following Fraud Investigation

F.J. Thomas

Detroit, MI (WorkersCompensation.com) – Insurance giant Allstate has filed suit against two pain clinics and two...

Ohio Rebates Most Of Employers’ Workers’ Comp Premiums

Liz Carey

Reynoldsburg, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensationhas proposed rebating almost all of employers’ workers’ compensation...

Treating Physicians Share Their WC Concerns

Nancy Grover

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – There are roughly 3,000 board certified occupational physicians in the country. With...

Construction Company Owner Arrested for Fraud

Liz Carey

Jacksonville, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The owner of a Florida construction company has been arrested in a...

Concord Contractors Fined By OSHA for Safety Violations That Resulted In Death

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Concord, New Hampshire (WorkersCompensation.com)- A local contractor was cited by OSHA for over $40,000 in fines...

Connecticut Proposal Offers First Responders Benefits For PTSD

Hartford, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislation to provide extended benefits to first responders who develop work-related Post...

Unprecedented Positive WC Stats Give Experts Pause

Nancy Grover

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – “We’re in an atypical environment right now,” said NCCI’s Chief Actuary Kathy...

Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation

The Workers’ Compensation Institute is excited to announce a partnership with the Alliance of Women in...

Spread of Measles a Potential Concern for Organizations

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – At least 764 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in the...

Tennessee Employers May Be Immune To Mental Anguish Claims

F.J. Thomas

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) –A new amendment to Tennessee’s Healthy Workplace Act may offer employers protection from lawsuits for...

State Presumptive Laws Don’t Go Far Enough, FF Advocates Say

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – While states are increasingly considering and/or adopting legislation to provide workers’ compensation...

Give Kids The World Newsletter – May 2019

May 2019

What’s Inside? Article 1: Gallagher Bassett is Giving it Their All! Article 2: WCI’s GKTW Silent Auction Returns...

Quest Authors Offer Suggestions for Employers in States with Marijuana Laws

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – Employers concerned about the increasing use of marijuana among their workers, especially...

OxyContin Suits and Potential Legal Implications

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – OxyContin has become somewhat of a four letter word with the advent...

Pain Hampers Productivity, IBI Researcher Says

F.J. Thomas

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – “There’s a very high proportion of people using prescription pain relievers...

Injured Workers Increasingly Being Treated As Consumers

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A pervasive trend for stakeholders in the complex workers’ compensation arena is...

NY Farmers Say New Workers’ Comp Laws Could Put Them Out Of Business

Liz Carey

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A New York state proposal that would make farmers subject to overtime...

Lag Times Cost Money, Report Shows

Nancy Grover

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employers/payers spend an extra $50.47 on medical-only claims for each day...

Understanding the Basics Can Prevent ADA Non-compliance

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Trying to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act can seem like...

Company Whose Worker Died In Trench Incident Had Prior Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Sugarcreek Township, Ohio (WorkersCompensation.com) – Earlier this month a worker died in a trench collapse at...

CT Teachers out on WC due to Alleged Mold Exposure

Bruce Burk

Stamford, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mold exposure is no laughing matter. In fact, some research links exposure...

Audit of KY Workers’ Comp Insurer Finds Questionable Expenditures

Liz Carey

Frankfort, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Among the purchases made by the Kentucky workers’ compensation agency the Kentucky...

Study Shows Healthcare Workers Not Cleaning Their Hands Between Tasks

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) issued a news release stating...

Truck Driver Finally Settles, Years After TBI Claim

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Middletown, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – 35-year-old truck driver Jairo Solis has settled his workers’ compensation claim with...

Employers Struggle With Leave of Absence Issues

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Balancing the various paid leave of absence laws can make for confusing...

Workers’ Comp Fund For Drivers Used For Lobbyist, Political Contributions

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A fund set up to pay for injuries to for-hire drivers...

Gig Economy IPOs

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the prevalence of the gig economy sweeping across the nation, naturally...

WCI 2019 Theme Announcement!

WCI 2019 Theme: Coast to Coast The Workers’ Compensation Institute is very excited to reveal the...

FDA Issues Label Changes to Prevent Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received reports of serious harm...

Court Ruling Affirms NCAA Athletes Are Not University Employees, Expert Says

Liz Carey

Minneapolis, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – With Virginia’s win over Texas Tech last night for the national title,...

Pro Wrestlers Seeking Employee Status Get Hope from Newly Formed Organization

Toni sutton-Deangelico

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The topic of workers’ compensation for athletes can be quite interesting; going...

Tennessee Undocumented Worker Case Not Necessarily Clear Cut

F.J. Thomas

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – A recent case heard by the Tennessee Supreme Court highlights some complexities...

Insurer Sees Improved Outcomes, Lower Costs with Workers’ Recovery Approach

Nancy Grover

Des Moines, IA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Being nice can pay dividends. Workers’ compensation managers at Continental Western...

Ability + Curiosity = Success for WC Professionals, NCCI Board Chair Advises

Nancy Grover

Boca Raton, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A commitment to lifelong learning is critical for industry professionals going...

Bakery Owner Out of a Large Sum Of Dough for Going Without WC Insurance

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA(WorkersCompensation.com) – It’s imperative that business owners stay on top of their workers’ compensation policies;...

NY Takes $2 Million from Racing Purses for Workers’ Compensation

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislators in New York have authorized a $2 million transfer from...

Presenteeism Can Cost You

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If your employees are coming to work sick, it might be costing...

Open Office Space Design Wave of the Future

Chriss Swaney

Some workers may hate the growing trend for open office design, but it’s probably here to...

Expert Use Best Practices to Protect Patients, Healthcare Workers from Opioid Effects

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mussels in Puget Sound have tested positive for opioids. That finding last...

Key Congressional Committee Approves Safe Harbor for Medical Marijuana Payments

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – A dilemma for insurers and self-insured employers about whether and how to...

Oxycontin Maker Settles With Oklahoma For $270 Million

Liz Carey

Tulsa OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – The maker of OxyContin will pay out an estimated $270 million in...

Enforcement of Medicare Payments

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Medicare is always on the minds of those who work in the...

WCI 2019 Entertainment & Keynote Speaker!

#WCI2019

Jake Owen to perform at WCI 2019! We are excited to announce that chart-topping, singer/songwriter Jake...

Give Kids The World Newsletter

March 2019

What’s Inside? Article 1: The Sedgwick Effect: An Inspiring Interview with Dave North of Sedgwick! Article 2: An...

Report: Federal Black Lung Fund Threatened

Liz Carey

Coeburn, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A tax increase that was not renewed during the budget showdown in...

OSHA Cites Pet Food Maker for $95K

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Miami, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A premium pet food manufacturer was stunned last week when it was...

Gene Testing Could Provide More Accurate Prescribing for Injured workers – Someday

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Imagine going to your physician and getting the exact medication and dosage...

Employers Are Stymied by Worker Overdoses

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkercCompensation.com) – For the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely...

Workplace Fatalities Decrease Overall But Increase for Older Workers

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The diligence of employers providing a safer work place has paid off...

New Bill Proposal for Workers’ Comp in FL

Bruce Burk

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the start of a new administration and a new legislative session,...

Pennsylvania Firm Penalized By OSHA For Exposing Employees To Trenching Hazard

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Warminster, PA (Workerscompensation.com)-Early last week, OSHA cited Etna Construction Inc. for unsafe conditions at one of...

Illinois Passes Legislation Seen as Threat to Exclusive Remedy

Nancy Grover

Springfield, IL (WiorkersCompensation.com) – Legislation on its way to Illinois’ governor would allow some workers to...

How Safe Are Today’s New Commercial Aircraft?

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – For years, the FAA has essentially allowed airplane manufacturers to sign off...

TX: Study Shows Decrease In Number Of Small Businesses With WC

Liz Carey

Dallas, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – A study released in February shows that nearly a third of small...

Don’t Mess with the Client’s Money

Judge David Langham

The Florida Bar News recently reported on the disbarment of an attorney in December 2018. This happens periodically,...

What is Disability, Really?

Bob Wilson

It is an issue we struggle with, and a difficult one to solve. Much of the...

Producers Of A Hit TV Show Cited By OSHA After Stuntman Gets Injured

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

 

Atlanta, GA (WorkerCompensation.com)-Unless there is a lawsuit of some sort, or it is sexy, or there...

Why We’re Still Talking About Opioids

Nancy Grover

Phoenix, AZ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A lot of people – including workers — are taking pain meds....

The Ranks of the First Responder Special Class is Growing

Robert Wilson

Legislative bills in Montana and Idaho that will grant certain benefits and presumptions for first responders appear to be headed...

Great Public Harm – and Social Media

Judge David Langham

The Florida Bar filed a Petition for Emergency Suspension recently in a case styled The Florida Bar...

Orlando Apollos Hoping to Get WC in Florida

F.J. Thomas

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Last week the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Orlando Apollos would be practicing in Kingsland, Georgia...

OH BWC Eliminates Oxycontin from Drug Formulary

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Board members for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation have voted to...

Florida WC Judges Seek Fair Pay from Legislature

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – We hear a lot about attorneys’ fees in Florida’s workers’ compensation system,...

WCI 2020: Theme & Entertainment Announced

WCI 2020 Theme The Workers’ Compensation Institute is thrilled to announce the 75th Annual Workers’ Compensation...

Perspectives: Status Woe – Outdated Regulation Impedes Healthcare Innovation

Sandy Shtab

As a college student, I interned with my U.S. Senator, an experience that provided an early...

Who Are Our Leaders For Artificial Intelligence?

Peter Rousmaniere

We can see it coming — very incrementally at first. Then there will be large disruptions....

Whistleblower: Grand Canyon Employees Exposed To Uranium In 5-Gallon Tubs

Liz Carey

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A safety manager with the National Park Service said...

Opioid Scripts Down, But CWCI Warns Against Replacing One Drug Problem with Another

Nancy Grover

Oakland, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Opioids previously comprised nearly one-third of the medications prescribed in California’s workers...

Subrogation in Workers’ Compensation Claims

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (workersCompensation.com) – When a workers’ compensation accident happens, one of the first things which...

Tennessee Businesses Are Optimistic Despite Lack Of Workers And Higher WC Costs

F.J. Thomas

Johnson City, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) –In early January, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released a Job Report that indicated...

E-Scooters Could be the Death of Your Company

Bob Wilson

Colorado workers’ compensation insurer Pinnacol Assurance issued a news release recently   urging employers to reconsider their employee’s...

Can a Medicare Advantage Plan Assert a Greater Right of Recovery for Conditional Payments than Traditional Medicare? Optum Seems to Think So

Heather Schwartz Sanderson

The Non-Group Health Plan (NGHP) industry is not only experiencing increased recovery demands from Medicare Advantage...

Gun Violence: A Growing Threat in the Workplace

Liz Carey

Minneapolis, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the snow fell on I-35 Tuesday, Feb. 4, Kenneth Lilly allegedly...

Put Workers At the Center of Claims Process for Best Outcomes, Experts Advise

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Starbucks has a unique way of reporting injuries; they let injured workers...

New Insights Into Modified Duty’s Benefits

Peter Rousmaniere

Do modified duties work to reduce workers’ compensation costs? Aside from anecdotal evidence, we haven’t had...

CMS Releases Proposals that Will Increase Medicare Advantage Plan Growth

Jean S. Goldstein

Recently, CMS released Part II of a set of proposals that CMS indicates “will take significant...

Distracted Driving in Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burke

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With more and more people getting smart phones, texting and driving is...

Benzos: The Next Drug Crisis

Nancy Grover

 

Sarastoa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) A dangerous class of drugs is increasingly being prescribed for back aches and...

Medical Experts Offer Thoughts, Advice for Physician Burnout

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – An increase in administrative burdens, frustrations with new technological requirements and less...

Three Huge Mistakes That Could Essentially Destroy a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

 

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Nobody ever expects an employee to be injured at the work-place, but...

Mega Claims Show the Value of Workers’ Compensation

Nancy Grover

(Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The idea of a $10 million workers’ compensation claim would have been...

Disability Accommodations Cost Employers Less Than You Think

F.J. Thomas

Tallahessee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A recent study released by the Florida Chamber Foundation shows that more employers are...

Report Shows Uber Investigators ‘Suicidal’ From Workload

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Experts say managing employee stress levels is key to employee health,...

Telecommuting and Injured Workers: Who Pays?

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Telecommuting is on the rise on a global basis. More and more...

NY’s Revised Formulary Proposal ‘Nuanced’ and ‘Complex’

Nancy Grover

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York’s Workers’ Compensation Board may be hoping the third time...

New York’s New Virtual Hearings App Comes at Just The Right Time

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Traveling to workers’ compensation hearings is often inconvenient, especially at this...

Report Links Big Pharma Marketing to Opioid ODs

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association,...

WC Pain Experts Weigh In on Opioids, Chronic Pain Draft Report

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Are best practices for treating chronic pain the best we can do?...

Virtual Visits May Top Office Appointments for Care Quality, Experts Say

FJ Thomas

Boston, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Not only is telemedicine convenient, it may actually produce better outcomes —...

New Year Changes in Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk/Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – New Year Changes in Workers’ Compensation The November 2018 elections saw a...

Second Mining Death of 2019 Kills Surveyor

Liz Carey

Bell County, KY (WorikersCompensation.com) – A Tennessee surveyor is dead after a coal mining accident in...

Hartwig Ponders Potential Impact of Shutdown on Worker Safety

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 800,000 federal employees are working without pay during the government...

Swedlow: Change in Leadership ‘One of the Most Significant’ in Quite Some Time

Nancy Grover

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – All eyes are on California to see what, if any changes Gov...

Tennessee Program Gives ‘Hope’ to Injured Workers Post Settlement

Nancy Grover

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers who settle their claims often share a common feeling: despair....

New Year Sees Workers’ Compensation Rates Drop in FL – Again

Liz Carey

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the new year comes yet another decrease in Florida businesses’ workers’...

More States Move To Cover PTSD For First Responders

Liz Carey

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Frequent shootings in 2018 prompted some lawmakers to protect first responders suffering...

Corrections Officer Suspected of Worker’s Compensation Fraud

Toni Sutton

Buffalo, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A New York corrections officer who worked at a Wyoming correctional facility...

WCRI finds opioid dispensing more prevalent in rural areas; small businesses

Liz Carey

Cambridge, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers in mining and construction, as well as workers employed at...

Could (Would) I Write you a Recommendation Letter?

Judge David Langham

A unanimous Florida Supreme Court decided Inquiry Concerning a Judge NO. 18-108 RE: Deborah White LaBora on November...

Rousmaniere: A WCRI for our times

Peter Rousmaniere

An Opinion Piece by Peter Rousmaniere The models for research which the Workers Compensation Research Institute...

Injured Food Service Workers Out on Average 30 Days, Report Says

Liz Carey

Editor’s Note: This story is a follow up to a report that originally ran here on...

Governor Hutchinson Appoints Scott Willhite to the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission

Staff Report

Little Rock, AR (WorkersCompensation.com) – Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday his intent to appoint Scott...

Trucking Deaths Up for 2017, Expert Blames Truckers

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a recent report, trucking deaths on the job reached a...

New York Governor Vetoes Paid Family Leave Revision to Workers’ Comp

Staff Report

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – In the waning days of 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed...

Encouragement for Pain Sufferers

Becky Curtis

This article was originally published on PainPathways.org by Dee Emmerson, TCC Writer. The old ballad, “Home, Home on...

MD: Cafeteria Worker Attacked by Students at East Baltimore High School

Toni Sutton

Baltimore, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – Baltimore school cafeteria worker Tina Hill was injured after an alleged assault...

4-1-1 on Comp: Update on Work Comp Attorneys’ Fees in FL

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the November election in the review mirror, many are speculating on...

Rousmaniere: How PTSD Laws are Changing

Peter Rousmaniere

Sandy Hook… Parkland… Las Vegas… Pittsburgh… incidents of mass carnage shock the country. Many workers are...

4-1-1 on Comp: Private Firefighters in CA

Bruce Burk

Butte County, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – California has recently had the worst set of wildfires in history....

Raging Retail? Recent Report Ranks States by Risk of Violence from Black Friday

FJ Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A report ranking states by risk of violence during Black Friday was recently released...

TN Experiences Ongoing Drug Shortages

FJ Thomas

Knoxville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Some hospitals in east Tennessee have recently sent out notification to providers...

‘Deep Fakes’ and What It Could Potentially Mean for Work Comp

FJ Thomas

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to common definitions, the term “Deep Fakes” is an AI-assisted technology,...

Five Tips for Getting Through the Holidays with Chronic Pain

Becky Curtis

I look forward to the holidays when friends and family gather for food, fun and laughter....

4-1-1 on Comp Defenses: Major Contributing Cause vs. Exacerbation of Pre-Existing Condition and Return to Baseline

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – We hear a lot about the defense of major contributing cause in...

OH Initiates Program to Help Recovering Addicts Return to the Workplace

Kenneth Davis

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Similar to many states struggling with this topic, the nationwide opioid epidemic...

NY: Unbridled Workers’ Compensation Rates Slow Thoroughbred Racing Industry

Chriss Swaney

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – The winners’ circle, and even racing in general, may remain elusive for...

4-1-1 on Comp: Poll Workers and Work Comp Claims

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the elections in the rearview mirror, most people are done thinking...

An Update on Work Comp Rates for Employers

FJ Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – October was the month of reductions in work comp employer costs for...

OH Court Awards Work Comp Benefits to Data Entry Clerk

Toni Sutton

Twinsburg, OH (Workerscompensation.com) – An Ohio appellate court has ruled to uphold an award of benefits...

Resilience Defined

Mark Pew

I had the privilege of closing out the annual conference for the Oklahoma City chapter of...

TX Dept. of Insurance Study: High Percentage Of Injured Workers Have Previous Claims

FJ Thomas

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a study released in May 2018 by the Texas Department Of Insurance...

4-1-1 on Comp: Traumatic Brain Injuries

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs are dealt with regularly in the workers’...

4-1-1 on Comp: CT Man Charged with Work Comp Fraud

Bruce Burk

Manchester, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Manchester, CT resident Ronald Gordillo was recently arrested on a warrant after...

Rousmaniere: Time to Rebalance Workers’ Comp

Peter Rousmaniere

It’s passed the time when workers’ comp should be striking a better balance between cost reductions,...

Exploring the Safety Net for Non-Traditional Employees

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If you are a jockey, small business owner, agricultural worker, freelance writer...

Five Foods to Help Fight Chronic Pain

Becky Curtis

Some of you may wonder why I am including recipes in my chronic pain blog. In...

NYC Law Dept. Report: Taxpayers Are Footing the Bill for More Work Comp Claims

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York City taxpayers are paying more than ever for city...

Study Links Opioids to Workers’ Compensation

Liz Carey

Baltimore, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new report has found that 30 percent of injured workers prescribed...

CA: Five Charged in Work Comp Referral Scheme

Liz Carey

Orange County, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Four chiropractors and a fifth man believed to be a conspirator...

Rousmaniere: The Smart Phone as Curse — and Savior?

Peter Rousmaniere

Distracted driving — driving while distracted by a smart phone or other infotainment gadget — has...

Robots in the Workplace: What Effects Does it Have on Employees, Employers and Work Comp?

Kenneth Davis

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – In this tech-driven age of automation, robots have become a common sight...

Workers’ Compensation Auto Accidents Increasing, Study Shows

Liz Carey

Charleston, SC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Auto accidents on the job continue to be one of the major...

Neck-Up Thinking

Becky Curtis

“Stop the car!” I demanded, “I can’t take this another minute!” We pulled over and I got out,...

TX Resources: Can Responsiveness Determine Long-Term Impacts of Disasters?

FJ Thomas

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Houston Chronicle recently reported that Harris County allotted $14.5 million to...

TX Study Analyzes Access to Medical Care

FJ Thomas

Austin, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – A recent study released by the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of...

CDC Releases Report on Carpal Tunnel Statistics

FJ Thomas

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The CDC released a report in early October, regarding carpal tunnel syndrome with data...

Supervisors Beware

David Langham

In 2016 I wrote that Recent Decisions may Caution Supervisors. That post discusses cases on supervisor liability,...

Risky Business: Pizza Delivery Drivers

Liz Carey

This is the next article in WorkersCompensation.com’s “Risky Business” series, as we explore what is it like to...

4-1-1 on Comp: California First Responder Legislation

Bruce Burk

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – California has passed a new law that provides increased workers’ compensation benefits...

Risky Business: Logging Deemed the Most Dangerous Job of 2018, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Liz Carey

This is the next article in WorkersCompensation.com’s “Risky Business” series, as we explore what is it like to...

4-1-1 on Comp: KY Workers’ Comp Reform

Bruce Burk

Frankfort, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new Kentucky Supreme Court Case has prompted the Kentucky legislature to...

Human Nature in the News

Judge David Langham

There is plenty in the news to depress and exhaust us. That came back to mind...

9th Circuit Deals Blow to Gig Workers, But Perhaps Not a Huge One

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals means business as...

SC: Officers Shot During Search; One Dead, Six Others injured

Liz Carey

Florence, SC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Officers attempting to serve a search warrant were shot at by a...

New Bill Calls for Consistency in Billing Costs for Air Ambulances

Liz Carey

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A 1980s law that deregulated airline traffic shouldn’t be used to allow...

Census Report: Three Quarters of Businesses Have No Employees

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a recently released report from the US Census Bureau, more than 75...

FL Takes on New PTSD Training Initiative for First Responders

FJ Thomas

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis has rolled...

States Trend Toward Digital Conversion in Work Comp

Karen Ridder

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – The 24,000-square-foot building that used to house all of the hard-file records...

Ouch! Former CT FedEx Driver is Awarded $160G in Settlement After Vicious Dog Attack

Toni Sutton

Thomaston, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Russell Horvath, a former FedEx Ground driver, was brutally attacked by two...

Drug Monitoring Back in the News

Florida Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims David Langham

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) returned to the news in August, but quietly. A website for IT-related health...

Shooting in Baltimore Marks Third US Workplace Shooting in 24 Hours

Liz Carey

Aberdeen, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – A woman who entered a Rite Aid distribution center and killed three...

A TX Telehealth Law Update

FJ Thomas

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – In April, the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation adopted a new rule, 28...

Update: Workers’ Comp Coverage for Firefighters

Karen Ridder

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Lawmakers across the country continue to be interested in workers’ compensation for firefighters...

Rousmaniere: How Fare Workers Benefit?

Peter Rousmaniere

Private sector employers and their employees are continually challenged to manage health benefits and other non-occupational...

The Hidden Costs of the Gig Economy

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – While hiring gig workers may save employers money on benefits, consumers...

Death Toll From Cancer for 9/11 Responders Expected to Outnumber Victims of Attack

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the nation recognizes the 17th anniversary of the terrorist attacks...

CA: Groups Help Female Janitors with Workplace Safety Improvements

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Amid concerns that Latina women may not be reporting assaults at...

Opioids Can Interfere and Complicate

David Langham

In May, WorkCompCentral reported Court Reinstates Denial of PTD Award for Worker With Opioid Addiction. In Borkovec v....

Familiar Numbers

Julius Young

The recent California Department of Industrial Relations report on IMR (see link below) isn’t full of...

How Movement at Work Can Make a Difference: An Ergonomics Update

Phil Yacuboski

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – It might be the way our workload is changing or the way...

NY: Correctional Dept. Work Comp Claims Are on the Rise

Toni Sutton

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – While New York City inmates in jails such as Rikers Island...

WA: Amazon Responds to Allegations of Poor Working Conditions

Liz Carey

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – After a month of stories alleging the company provided workers with poor...

CA Company to Offer Work Comp Insurance to the Cannabis Industry

Liz Carey

San Diego, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Program administrator Atlas General Insurance Services will partner with Accredited Surety...

The Search for Ways To Deter Over-Prescription Of Opioids in Work Comp Continues…

FJ Thomas

A recent study released by California Workers Comp Institute (CWCI) indicates that despite efforts to curb opioid use...

CA Supreme Court Upholds Appeals Court Decision in King v. CompPartners

Liz Carey

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The California Supreme Court has ruled that an injured worker further injured...

The CA Supreme Court Speaks

Julius Young

The California Supreme Court has now issued a decision in the closely watched case King v. CompPartners (see...

4-1-1 on Comp: Update on Independent Contractors

Bruce Burk

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – We all know that a worker’s status as an employee or...

HI Flood Updates from Honolulu and Hilo

Liz Carey

Honolulu, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – For hundreds of businesses in Hawaii, safety concerns for employees and customers prompted...

Safe and Sound Week Wrap-Up

Phil Yacuboski

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Businesses and industries across the nation celebrated Safe and Sound Week in...

A Star in Sports: Emmy-Award Winning Sports Caster Keynotes WCI 2018

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Lee Corso, a multiple-award winning ESPN College GameDay analyst, presented to a...

WCI 2018: Why ‘People, Places and Things’ Matter to Work Comp

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kimberly George, SVP Corporate Development, M&A and Healthcare at Sedgwick; and Mark...

Taking Off to New Planets: Let’s Talk About Workers’ Recovery at WCI 2018

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – While the Judiciary College is on a track available to judges involved...

Beyond the Cookie Cutter: WCI 2018 Brings a Diversity and Inclusion Panel to ‘Walk the Talk’

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – “Diversity and Inclusion – Objective Examples of Meaningful Inclusion” panel member Chikita...

It’s a WCI 2018 Wrap: Taking a Comprehensive Look at What You Missed

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – 1) WCI 2018: Block Chains, EDI, ETL… Oh My! At the tail...

Tower MSA Partners’ WCI-TV Segments to Share Advice on Settling Workers’ Compensation Claims

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (August 10, 2018) — For the fourth consecutive year, Tower MSA Partners is sponsoring...

LA Employers Face Fines Following Misclassification Crackdown

Liz Carey

New Orleans, LA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employers recently busted in a statewide misclassification audit will face fines...

Construction Site Risks are On the Rise

Chriss Swaney

Pittsburgh, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Most construction workers and contractors agree that construction jobs can be dangerous....

OH: Agents to Receive New Bulletproof Vests

Toni Sutton

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ohio Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine unveiled a proposal last...

Weather Causes Injury, Concerns on Both Coasts

Liz Carey

Yosemite Valley, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employers and employees on both coasts face dangers from weather extremes...

West Coast Fires Continue to Take Toll on Firefighters

Liz Carey

Redding, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Fires that rage up and down the West Coast are taking their...

FAIA teams up with WCI for agents track

Dave Newell

The Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI 2018) Conference is slated for August 19–22, 2018, and FAIA is...

NY: Ruling that Uber Drivers are Employees Could Impact ‘Gig Economy’

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A New York City unemployment board’s ruling that Uber drivers should...

Deadly Degrees: Excessive Heat Is Hazardous to Those That Work Outside

Toni Sutton

North Hills, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Summer is here, and for many, that means sun and fun....

Bullying: From the Backyard to the Boardroom?

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 60 million workers experience workplace bullying every year. Has the...

WA: More than 40 Workers Test Positive for Radiation after Nuke Site Clean-Up

Liz Carey

Hanford, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 40 workers at the Hanford Nuclear Site have tested positive...

4-1-1 on Comp: Disability in FL Heart Disease and Hypertension Claims

Bruce Burk

The Florida Heart and Lung Bill under F.S. 112.18 provides an evidentiary presumption for first responders...

Spotlight: ‘Secondary Payer’ Sessions at WCI

Michelle Allan of the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC)

As federal policymakers continue to modernize and improve the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) and Medicaid Third...

Risky Business: Stunt Doubles

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – While throwing oneself off buildings, or intentionally crashing a speeding car...

KY: Federal Officials Charge Mine Operators with Violating Safety Legislation

Liz Carey

Owensboro, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A federal indictment handed down this week charges eight former supervisors at...

You Don’t Have to Hire the Psychologist, But You Must Understand the Psychology

WorkersCompensation.com President and CEO Robert Wilson

There are a number of constants in the world of workplace injuries and workers’ compensation. One...

Confusion and Disconnects in Medicine

David Langham

If we are involved in an accident, we each would want the best care possible, delivered...

News at the North Carolina Industrial Commission

National Workers Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN)

Compiled by: Kyla Block Commissioner Myra L. Griffin was confirmed to the Full Commission on June 29,...

WorkersCompensation.com Legislative Update: July 2018

Liz Carey

Providence, RI (WorkersCompensation.com) – This year’s legislative session is over in most parts of the country,...

Work Comp Rebates in OH Join Lower Premiums in Other States

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 180,000 Ohio businesses should start to see rebate checks from...

Rousmaniere: Faces from 9/11

Peter Rousmaniere

The Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center blasted thousands...

CDC: More than 22M People Are Exposed to Noise Risks at Work

Phil Yacuboski

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Hearing loss is America’s most common workplace-related injury, according to the Centers...

The WCIRB Reports

Julius Young

Each year the WCIRB prepares a report on California workers’ compensation losses and expenses during the...

Breakout for Risk Management

Steve Rissman, WCI Program Chair

For some time now, the WCI Conference has boasted of having the best risk management breakout...

Coming to WCI? Help Kids’ Chance Give Kids the World

WorkersCompensation.com President and CEO Bob Wilson (Bob’s Cluttered Desk)

Every year the Workers’ Compensation Institute, as part of their annual educational conference in Orlando, holds...

FL Officials Arrest 12 Unlicensed Contractors in Sting Operation

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Florida officials announced the arrest of a dozen unlicensed contractors during a...

Risky Business: Fireworks Employees at Much Less Risk than Fireworks Consumers

Liz Carey

Slatington, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – On June 30, 2017, an ignition malfunction at a Pennsylvania fireworks company...

Rousmaniere: Making Sense of the Turmoil Over Immigration

Peter Rousmaniere

First, take a long view. About every half century since the late 19th century the United States...

Alternative Therapies Gain Ground, But Still Have a Long Way to Go

Liz Carey

Asheville, NC (WorkersCompensation) – As state workers’ compensation commissions and insurance agencies look to combat the...

Industry Keynote Panel

Steve Rissman, WCI Program Chair

Following in the footsteps of last year’s industry keynote, Kimberly George from Sedgwick and Mark Walls...

Major Supreme Court Decision Will Affect Public Sector Employees, and Could Reach Private Sector Workers in the Future

Dara Barney

A big Supreme Court ruling today (5-4) states that public sector employees won’t be required to...

Workplace Shooting at MD Newspaper

Liz Carey

Annapolis, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – At least five are dead, and two others wounded, in another workplace...

OK Supreme Court Rules On AMA Guide; PPD

Liz Carey

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 opinion Wednesday that...

Risky Business: Circus Performers at Lower Risk of Injury or Accident; but Many Companies Don’t Carry Work Comp, per Industry Expert

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – In the nine years that Doug Miller’s company, Zen Arts, has...

Who Will Win This Year’s Theme Contest?

Workers’ Compensation Institute

WCI’s exhibitors went “all in” with last year’s movie theme in the exhibit hall. Many exhibitors...

TX: Former TDI Work Comp Commissioner Passes Baton to Previous Gov. Policy Advisor

Dara Barney

Austin, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – At just 37 years old, Ryan Brannan has reached new heights on...

AIA and PCI Announce Merger Discussions

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Two of the insurance industry’s biggest professional organizations announced they will enter...

Rousmaniere: How Spinal Cord Injury Care Has Improved

Peter Rousmaniere

Tom, a Colorado firefighter on a rescue mission in 1990, survived a severe work accident that...

WV Supreme Court Rules Insurance Companies Can’t Reclaim Overpayments

Liz Carey

Charleston, WV (WorkersCompensation.com) – The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled this week that insurance companies who...

Black Lung Fund, to Help Ailing Miners, is in Trouble, Per Report

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – While incidents of black lung disease are on the rise, a new...

Technology Integration: Working to Improve Comp Claims

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – New and improved technologies aim to streamline workers’ compensation programs for everything...

AIA and PCI Announce Merger Discussions

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Two of the insurance industry’s biggest professional organizations announced they will enter...

CA Labor Commission: Cheesecake Factory Liable for Unpaid Wages; Damages to 559 Janitors

Liz Carey

San Diego, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Cheesecake Factory restaurants in Southern California may be liable for any...

First Responders See Progress in 32 States for Comp Coverage

Chriss Swaney

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislative efforts to make it easier for first responders to receive workers’...

4-1-1 on Comp: Marijuana Dispensaries and Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk

Honolulu, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – Even though many states have legalized marijuana on a recreational or medical...

The Burning Question – What can be done to Prevent and Treat Burns?

Dr. Zaydon

Introduction According to the American Burn Association, almost half a million patients go to the Emergency...

Appeals Court Overturns KS Work Comp Rule

Liz Carey

Topeka, KS (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a change to workers’...

Panic Buttons: CA Preps to Add New Protections for Hotel Workers

Chriss Swaney

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – California lawmakers are working to approve a new law (AB1761) designed to...

Celebrities Tapped for Labor Law Violations

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Not even celebrities are immune from workers’ compensation and labor law...

4-1-1 on Comp: Social Media and Misrepresentation Defenses in Work Comp

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Anyone who’s anyone has a Facebook these days. To most people, social...

Insureon Study: Nearly One Third of Small Businesses Don’t know if They Need Comp Coverage

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a new poll by Insureon, 26 percent of small businesses...

San Francisco City Attorney Asks Uber and Lyft for Driver Wage Info

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – In a move some say may be a pre-cursor to deeming...

Another Rate Decrease

Julius Young

Advisory California workers’ comp rates are set to decline effective July 1, 2018 per a recent...

Cracks Found in Bridge Hours Before Deadly Collapse Dismissed by Officials, per NTSB

Liz Carey

Sweetwater, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Cracks found on the Florida International University bridge that collapsed in March...

Engaged Employees Have Lower Accident Rates and Absenteeism, Per a Recent Study

Liz Carey

Williamstown, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Manufacturers whose employees are more engaged in their jobs see fewer accidents,...

Building a Better Recovering Worker – The Advocate, The Adversary and The Addled

Bob Wilson

I am in Washington State this morning for the second time in just over 2 weeks....

NY Inspector General Charges 10 Companies with Work Comp/Medicaid Fraud

Liz Carey

‘Corridor of Corruption’ Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Rides that were never given. Patient kickbacks. No workers’...

WV Appeals Court Upholds Denial of Work Comp Benefits to Widow

Liz Carey

Charleston, WV (WorkersCompensation.com) – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has upheld a Workers’ Compensation...

Italian Hacking Group Attacks NM’s Work Comp Website

Liz Carey

Santa Fe, NM (WorkersCompensation.com) – In mid-May, New Mexico’s Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) became the latest...

Expensive Payments and High Insurance Rates

Chriss Swaney

Is Work Comp Under Fire, and What are We Doing About it? Springfield, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) –...

Hospital Violence is on the Rise

Liz Carey

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Hospital workers say the level of violence directed toward nurses and doctors...

Kids’ Chance of Florida to Support WCI Give Kids the World Service Day

WorkersCompensation.com

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kids’ Chance of Florida will be supporting the Workers’ Compensation Institute Service...

HI: Kilauea Takes Away Wages, but There’s Been Only One Injury So Far

Liz Carey

Pahoa, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – After weeks of lava flowing from Kilauea, thousands are out of work...

Liberty Mutual Report: Serious Workplace Injuries Cost Businesses $1B Per Week

Liz Carey

Boston, MA – According to a new report from Liberty Mutual Insurance, serious workplace injuries cost...

TX: Corporate and Personal Injury Attorney Will Spend Ten Years in Prison after Recruiting Niece as ‘Mole’ in $26M Work Comp Fraud Scheme

Phil Yacuboski

Dallas, TX (Workerscompensation.com) – A Dallas area attorney has pleaded guilty to a scheme netting more...

Rousmaniere: Who Are These Injured Immigrants?

Peter Rousmaniere

What is it like to be a low-wage immigrant worker in the US and suffer a...

Eruptions on HI’s Big Island Endanger Workers with Sulphur Gas, Possible Lava Boulders

Liz Carey

Hilo, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the eruption of Kilauea volcano continues into its second week, Hawaii...

What is a Diversity/Inclusion Director, and What Does It Mean for Work Comp?

Cindy Ferraino

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – When the American Disabilities Act (ADA) was created in 1990, it was...

Former NFL Player, Survivor Contestant Heads to Court for Work Comp Fraud

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Former professional football player Brad Culpepper will head to court for...

The Conservative Care Debate: Can it Help Address Pain, and Combat the Opioid Crisis?

Cindy Ferraino

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – With a focus on reducing the amount of lumbar back surgeries as...

Teachers Face Violence in the Classroom

Liz Carey

West Fargo, ND (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kijesta Molch, a fifth grade teacher with West Fargo Public Schools,...

Fix to Federal Work Comp Plan Starts with Opioid Restrictions, Panel Says

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Attacking the opioid epidemic at the federal level starts with limiting the...

Big News at Kids Chance: One Paradigm Exec is Honored with Service Award, and Another Steps Up as Organization’s New President

Dara Barney

Detroit, MI (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kids Chance of America, an organization that works to award scholarships to...

CA Supreme Court Makes It More Difficult to Classify Workers as Contractors

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A ruling yesterday in the California Supreme Court could change the...

Jackson Will Not Return as President’s Physician; May Face Pentagon Scrutiny

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s former nominee to be head of the...

Social Media Helps Investigators Find Fraud in Work Comp

Liz Carey

Long Beach, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – In 2014, it was social media that helped the California worker’s...

Trump VA Nominee Jackson Steps Down Amid Allegations

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Trump Administration’s nominee to head the Veterans Administration withdrew his name...

TX: Home Depot Stands Behind Employee Injured in Shooting; Police Mourn Fallen Officer

Liz Carey

Dallas, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – Home Depot officials said they were horrified to learn one of their...

TN: Waffle House Employees Mourn Coworkers; Hero Raises Money for Employees and Victims

Liz Carey

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employees returned to the Nashville Waffle House where two of their coworkers...

4-1-1 on Comp: Upcoding and Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk

Upcoding is the practice of a medical provider billing a medical event on a more expensive...

Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Universal Basic Income Gets a Reality Check

Bob Wilson

This week it was announced that Finland, which had launched an experiment deploying “Universal Basic Income,”...

TN: Waffle House Employee Killed in Shooting

Liz Carey

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – The weekend Waffle House shooting took the lives of four people, including...

Airline Employees Injured While Flying Should Be Covered, According to Some Legal Experts

Liz Carey

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Incidents like Southwest Airline’s engine incident and emergency landing have farther reaching...

Rousmaniere: The Real Gig Problem for Work Comp

Peter Rousmaniere

The “gig economy” term, as usually used, refers to disruption to regular employment. There is a...

As the Gig Economy Expands, Employers Are Cautioned to be Careful

Liz Carey

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – While a federal judge ruled recently that UberBlack drivers cannot be considered...

Is ‘Upcoding’ a Trending Practice in Work Comp?

Phil Yacuboski

Scranton, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – At the Pelicci Pain Relief Center in Scranton, Dr. Leroy Pelicci submitted...

Reveal.com: Tesla Underreported Employee Injuries

Liz Carey

Fremont, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Tesla underreported employee injuries and didn’t follow standard safety procedures, according a...

National: Vaping Bans Become More Common as Companies Assess ‘Smoke-Free’ Workplaces

Liz Carey

Juneau, AK (WorkersCompensation.com) – A statewide smoking ban proposed in Alaska would include provisions to prohibit...

4-1-1 on Comp: Vaping in the Workplace

Bruce Burk

Vaping is the new smoking. Employers are struggling with how to deal with employees using e-cigarettes...

In Texas, Even the Loss of Leadership is Big

Bob Wilson

I was somewhat dismayed this week to hear of the announced resignation of Texas Workers’ Compensation...

MA: Sports Bar Shut Down Over Lack of Work Comp Insurance

Liz Carey

Lunenburg, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Massachusetts sports bar has been closed and its liquor license has...