[Source: The North Bay Business Journal] While it has little to do yet with the coronavirus, workers’ compensation insurance rates may be going up. Over the next month, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara will review rates recommended by the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau, a nonprofit which evaluates trends, including the costs of potential claims. Read More…
Tag: workers comp
California Supreme Court rejects challenge to Proposition 22
[Source: CalChamber] California voters passed Proposition 22 in November by a 59% majority. The ballot measure classified app-based drivers for companies such as Uber, Lyft, Postmates, and DoorDash as independent contractors and mandated that those companies provide certain benefits including guaranteeing at least 120% minimum wage during engaged time, payment per mile, health care coverage Read More…
Employment attorneys brace for major California law changes
[Source: Bloomberg Law] California enacted a slate of new laws on worker classification, Covid-19, family leave, and court issues that will affect how employment lawyers advise their clients on workplace compliance and litigate disputes. The measures come as the state grapples with a global pandemic, devastating wildfires, and a swelling racial justice movement, and employers Read More…
Governor’s executive order on worker’s comp makes it more difficult to do business in CA
[Source: Fox&Hound] We fully understand why the Governor wants to help Californians impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. But, creating a rebuttable presumption shifts the burden to businesses who are struggling to keep their workers employed while also keeping their doors open. The Governor’s Executive Order opens up employers to significant abuse from employees. What’s to Read More…
Governor’s workers’ compensation order: presume COVID-19 illness arises from the job
[Source: CalChamber] Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday signed an executive order establishing a rebuttable presumption that any COVID-19 related illness of an employee who worked outside the home, not just those who are essential workers, was the result of employment for workers’ compensation purposes if certain requirements are met. The presumption dates back to March 19, Read More…
Who should pay for pandemic impacts?
[Source: CALMatters / Dan Walters] The COVID-19 pandemic and the severe economic recession it induced are disasters unparalleled in recent generations and it will take years to fully recover from their human and financial tolls. Already, however, they are spawning legal and political conflicts, over whom, if anyone, should be accountable for their impacts. There Read More…
State Supreme Court ruling protects employers, preserves workers’ comp exclusivity
[Source: CalChamber] The California State Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of employers finding that an employee’s tort claims against a doctor who reviewed workers’ compensation cases is preempted by the workers’ compensation law. In December 2016, the California Chamber of Commerce filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case of King v. CompPartners, Inc. (S232197), arguing Read More…
Several employment-related bills remain active in California Legislature
[Source: CalChamber] The following is a list of employment-related bills that were on the suspense files and considered by the Senate or Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday, September 1. Legislators have until Friday, September 15, to pass and send legislation to the Governor’s desk for consideration. Immigration AB 450 (Chiu; D-San Francisco) Employer Liability — Places employers Read More…
Insurance commissioner urges carriers to cut workers comp premiums 14 percent
[Source: Los Angeles Business Journal] California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is urging insurance carriers in the state to cut the workers compensation premiums they charge employers by 14 percent. Thursday Jones lowered his suggestion for the average premium rate to $2.19 per $100 of employer payroll, which represents a 14 percent drop on average from Read More…