Quote of the day
“If you’re in these categories and your healthcare professional says you’ve got to be quarantined, you’re not actually sick necessarily but you’ve had exposure, you’re going to get access to these benefits.”
La Tasha Buckner, general counsel and chief of staff to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
Kentucky to provide expanded workers’ compensation
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear last week signed an executive order intended to expand access to those working on the front lines against COVID-19. The benefits would be available to employees in child care, grocery, corrections, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy, rape crisis centers, military, active National Guard, postal services and others. Owensboro Times
Minnesota Legislature passes workers’ compensation bill without explicit funding source
Under a bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature last week, employees are presumed eligible for workers’ compensation if they show a positive COVID-19 laboratory test or provide a written diagnosis from a licensed physician, licensed physician’s assistant or licensed advanced practice registered nurse. Although agreement was bipartisan, at least one legislator raised concerns about how the bill will be funded. Washington Examiner
Virus-related workers’ comp claims may have potential in New York
One concern during the pandemic is whether employees on-the-job exposure and contraction of COVID-19 would result in workers’ compensation eligibility. Even more pressing is whether families would receive a death benefit should they pass away as a result of that exposure, writes attorney Edward Guldi. Law360
Retired Arizona sheriff’s deputy talks about denied workers’ compensation
Police in Arizona are calling for changes to state law that would make it easier to get workers’ compensation for PTSD. azcentral [may require registration] (with video)
Liability concerns prompting employers to protect regular employees from COVID-19
On April 3, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommended that all people wear cloth face coverings in public and “especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.” Employers are starting to realize they face potential liability for failing to protect their employees from contracting COVID-19. Forbes