Workers Compensation


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Workers' Compensation

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Workers' Compensation: Court Rules that 'In the Course of Employment' Includes Vacation Activities; Could You End Up Paying for Off-Duty Injuries, Too?
October 2008
Officer Dave Tomlin, a 10-year veteran of the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) and seven-year member of its SWAT team, was told in November 2005 that he would have to take the SWAT fitness test in January 2006. The test involves a half-mile run, climbing a wall, and dragging 150 pounds, and SWAT team members must pass the test each year. . . . more »

Workers' Compensation: Is the Worker an Employee or an Independent Contractor? Don't Risk Getting It Wrong
November 2007
Joe Herrera, the owner of JKH Enterprises, Inc., a Bay Area courier company, thought he had found a way around his workers' compensation woes. He was fined by the state Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) for not carrying . . . more »

Checklist: Employee or Independent Contractor?
November 2007
The presumption under California workers' comp law is that someone who is paid to work for you is an employee; you must rebut this presumption if you want to show that a worker is . . . more »

News Notes: Report Shows Drop In California Spending Lowers Nation's Workers' Comp Benefits And Costs
October 2007
U.S. workers' compensation payments dropped in 2005, according to a National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) report. This decline resulted in part because of the sharp decrease in payments in California as reforms enacted in 2003 and 2004 became effective. California payments fell by . . . more »

Workers' Compensation: Post-Incident Paperwork; What to File and When to File It
September 2007
When you receive a report of a work-related injury or illness that requires more than first aid, or when an employee dies of any cause, you'll need to have your wits about you. Besides whatever attention the worker may need . . . more »

News Notes: State Workers' Comp Site Answers Utilization Review Questions
September 2007
Claims administrators can now find answers to frequently asked questions on utilization review on the state Division of Workers' Compensation website. Also, recorded information on . . . more »

News Notes: Division of Workers' Compensation Releases New Analysis Of Wage Loss For Permanently Disabled Workers
August 2007
A new Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) report highlights the importance of return-to-work in providing positive outcomes for injured workers and shows that permanent disability ratings are . . . more »

Bulletin: DWC Medical Guideline Advisory Committee Starts Work
April 2007
The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has formed a medical evidence evaluation advisory committee, which started supplementing California's medical treatment guidelines at its first meeting on March 19. Topics for the first meeting included . . . more »

News Note: CHSWC Releases Updated Guidebook for Injured Workers
April 2007
The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) has released an updated version of "Workers' Compensation in California: A Guidebook for Injured Workers." This guidebook gives an overview . . . more »

Workers' Compensation: Insurer Fraud; Is Your Worker's Compensation Insurer Defrauding You?
March 2007
Employers tend to be on the lookout for workers who file fraudulent workers' compensation claims--but how carefully do you watch your insurer? When states stepped up their antifraud enforcement efforts in the 1990s with a focus on claimant fraud, they consistently found that claimant fraud was less than 2 percent of all cases. Insurer fraud may account for up to half the cost of fraud in the system. Yet it goes largely uninvestigated--in part because state regulatory agencies have historically relied on insurers to have sufficient internal controls against fraud. In the absence of state vigilance, it falls to employers to protect themselves. In this article we'll look at what forms this fraud takes, how it hurts employers, and what vigilant employers can do to identify and combat this insidious form of theft. . . . more »

Online Exclusive: California Worker's Compensation Do's and Don'ts; Advice for Employers
COCA Online Exclusive
If you have even one employee--and even if that employee is part time or temporary--you are required by California law to carry workers' compensation insurance. Here are a few dos and don'ts to keep in mind when making sure your workers' compensation insurance is in order. . . . more »

California Legislature Roundup: A Rundown of New Laws; Changes Affect Workers' Compensation, Smoking, and Disaster Preparedness
January 2007
Some new laws are on the books as a result of the 2005-2006 legislative session. California employers need to be aware of these changes that, like the bills we reviewed in the October issue of the Cal . . . more »

Bulletin: Another workers' comp rate cut likely on the way
November 2006
California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has announced he will likely recommend a further workers' compensation insurance pure premium rate cut of . . . more »

DOWNLOAD: Leave for Injured and Disabled Workers: How to Navigate the Workers' Comp, ADA, and FMLA Maze in California

In this Employer Guide, we sort out the complex rules governing workers' compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act--as well as the California disability and family leave laws. Includes step-by-step compliance flowcharts. . . . more »

Bulletin: Insurance Commissioner recommends further workers' comp rate reductions
July 2006
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has announced he will recommend . . . more »

DOWNLOAD: Safety Incentive Programs: How to Motivate Employees and Cut Workers' Comp Costs

In this special report, we'll look at what companies have done to implement safety incentives successfully. We'll also point out several resources that can help you set up a safety incentive program quickly. Finally, we'll give you tips on selecting and designing a program that is right for you. . . . more »

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