Quote of the day
"The best way to fix workers' comp is to fix it at its core, and its core is the organization. I think it's deeply flawed, because there is no real accountability."
North Dakota State Rep. Steve Zaiser, regarding the state's Workforce Safety and Insurance agency
Fixes Loom for Troubled North Dakota Agency, Say Lawmakers
As the North Dakota House rejects a second attempt to restore the governor’s authority to appoint the state’s workers compensation director, defenders of North Dakota’s workers compensation agency say it has promised to address by next month management and employee morale shortcomings highlighted in a recent state audit. By Dale Wetzel, AP via Fargo Forum
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Could Empire State Finally Get a Fix?
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s administration officials meet with top labor, business and legislative leaders in “productive” closed-door discussions aimed at cutting the cost of workers’ compensation for employers while increasing payouts. By AP via 1010 WINS (New York)
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Idaho House Rejects Church Opt-Out Bill
The Idaho House State Affairs committee declines to print a vaguely-written worker’s compensation bill, after committee members from both parties express concern that the Republican-sponsored bill would allow a church or other house of worship to stop paying workers’ comp for any employee. By Jill Kuraitis, New West (Missoula, Mt.)
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‘Stupid Stuff’ Costs Sunshine State Woman
A Floridian’s simple injury claim unravels as she is charged with workers’ compensation fraud, and now the single mother, who makes $7.35 an hour, has to make full restitution of nearly $12,000. But a judge lets her off the hook as to $43,000 in attorneys’ fees and an adjudication of guilt that would have marked her as a felon. By Molly Moorhead, St. Petersburg Times
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ACT Workers’ Comp Scheme Under Review
In Australia, a review begins into the Australian Capital Territory workers’ compensation scheme, and a cycling group already is protesting possible plans to eliminate coverage for lunchtime trips and journeying between the office and home for ACT government workers. IBN News (Australia)
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Latinos Pay Disproportionate Price in Arizona Building Boom
Latino workers likely have the highest injury rate in more dangerous jobs of any other ethic group, according to SCF Arizona spokesman Rick DeGraw. Some Latino workers in the Valley of the Sun report that employers fail to implement protections at job sites and that they are repeatedly told that they easily could be replaced if they complain. By Chad Graham and Matt Dempsey, Arizona Republic
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