New Cal/OSHA regulations require employers to provide access to their injury and illness prevention programs upon request. Under the new rule, effective July 1st, employers are required to provide a copy of their IIPP within five days upon an employee’s or an employee’s representative’s (a lawyer’s) request. The employer can provide it in electronic or […]
October 19, 2020
Cal/OSHA has implemented new lighting requirements for agricultural operations that are conducted after sunset. The Cal/OSH Standards Board adopted the regulation in February and after receiving clearance by the Office of Administrative Law, it took effect July 1. Night work is used to harvest crops when they are at their optimal quality and to prevent […]
July 30, 2020
There is some good news coming out in terms of COVID-19 and workers’ compensation in California. Overall workers’ comp claims tied to the coronavirus may not be as numerous and as costly as originally thought. Gov. Gavin Newsom in early March announced that any worker who is reporting to a worksite in California and contracts […]
July 30, 2020
Are your safety meetings a drag for your workers? Are they shifting in their seats as they sit through yet another presentation on slip and fall hazards? Safety meetings are a key part of a safety awareness program and are one of the best methods to motivate workers to take safety out of the classroom […]
July 30, 2020
One of the most perilous times for a company in an employment relationship is when a worker is leaving. Departing employees have taken customer lists, vendor lists and sometimes company secrets on the way out the door, whether they were laid off, fired or quit on their own. This unethical, and sometimes illegal, time-honored tradition […]
July 30, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, many employers have had to lay off or furlough staff due to a tremendous drop-off in business. Besides the loss of income they face, these workers will often also lose their employer-sponsored health insurance. With this in mind, many employers have been wondering if they can permit coverage to […]
July 30, 2020
The IRS has issued new emergency guidance that allows employers and insurers to waive the cost of coronavirus testing and treatment for workers who are enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Major health insurers report that employers have been asking if they can make the change to their high-deductible plans without breaching IRS regulations regarding […]
April 9, 2020
COVID-19 is forcing businesses to face a number of risks, liability and insurance implications. Companies could seek coverage for a variety of claims stemming from the outbreak, including workers’ compensation, business interruption, liability and more. And, now that it is a pandemic, the economic fallout may be expansive – hitting your company’s operations in the […]
April 9, 2020
As the coronavirus spread ramps up and more people are being asked to self-isolate, many employers are scrambling to put systems in place to allow their employees to telecommute. Many companies are not set up for telecommuting arrangements, and they have legitimate concerns about productivity, communications ― and even the possibility of workers’ comp claims […]
April 9, 2020
Emergency rules are being developed to guide workers’ compensation classification and claims for coronavirus-affected employers and their workers in California. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is pursuing the temporary rules to ensure fairness for employers so that their workers’ comp rates and experience modifiers (X-Mods) are not adversely affected by COVID-19-related issues. The Rating […]
April 9, 2020