Quote of the day
“I can tell you from my company’s experience that we have had no clerical claims for telecommuters. So I think that the assumption that the claims experience is going to be lower, as evidenced by the other [National Council on Compensation Insurance], has some validity.”
Diana Rich, with Foundation Building Materials
Flash: WCIRB Disappoints on Telecommuter Rate
California moves to create a workers’ comp class for telecommuters, but the state’s employers are likely to miss out on savings that others enjoy. How did the Rating Bureau bury a request by employers to share in the savings? Get the details here. Workers’ Comp Executive
Massachusetts AG sounds alarm on unemployment assistance fraud
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is warning residents to be aware of reports of consumer data being stolen by criminal enterprises to file fraudulent unemployment claims through state unemployment agencies nationwide, including the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. WickedLocal Cambridge
Colorado hospital laundry employees express fear of exposure
Employees of a Colorado laundry cooperative that cleans used hospital linens are expressing worries about their health and safety during the pandemic. They asked twice for hazard pay and been rejected both times. However, there is no evidence the virus came into the plant via dirty linens. Colorado Sun
Panel rejects AFL-CIO’s request for emergency temporary standard
A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court this week ruled, in a two-page order, that Fed-OSHA acted reasonably in determining that an emergency temporary standard is unnecessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency sets emergency temporary standards if it determines workers are in grave danger, due to exposure to toxic substances or agents. Courthouse News Service