California taxpayers paid out nearly $1Billion – some $845 million – for the 2019-20 fiscal year to provide workers’ compensation benefits to California state workers. The state pays claims but no premium. The total is up 5.2% or $41 million from the prior year and is up $123 million or 17% since the 2017-18 fiscal …
The state’s Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF) uses high-tech reconnaissance and research to identify employers in several industries that are most likely operating in violation of California labor laws. It looks for payment of wages, workplace safety, and providing workers’ compensation coverage. In the latest fiscal year, the task force identified and inspected 578 businesses …
Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) officials say an updated copy service fee schedule is currently under review and should be out for public comment in a matter of weeks. The increase in the costs to employers for copy services will be the first since the fee schedule was adopted in 2015 as part of the …
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is deep into its analysis of California’s 2020 workers’ comp experience. It is working on the upcoming rate filing, which officials say will be one of its most challenging filings in years. However, two controversial provisions from the most recent filing are unlikely to return. The Bureau is backing …
The Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement committee advanced without opposition a bill to expand an existing workers’ comp presumption for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It will provide the presumption to more public safety officers and others involved in emergency response. Legislators also amended another presumption bill to expand coverage and yet another to make …
Industry veterans expressed concerns last year about an interesting trend in emerging workers’ comp data. It showed a sharp drop off in medical treatment during the stay-at-home periods ordered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have shown that delays in the initial treatment of an injury have long-term, costly effects on workers’ comp claims. …
California’s Labor Commissioner is using a 2014 law to hold Amazon and the delivery service Green Messengers Inc. jointly liable for nearly $6.5 million in unpaid wages and penalties for drivers that deliver Amazon’s packages. Following a year-long complaint investigation, the Commissioner issued the citations after allegedly discovering drivers had to routinely work through meal …
Small contractors in three specialty segments will have to carry a workers’ comp policy even if they claim to have no employees under a bill advanced by the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee. The bill, SB 216 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa), is sponsored by the Contractors State Licensing Board and will ultimately …