pandemic News

NCCI: Workers’ Comp Line Thrives Despite COVID-19

The workers’ compensation line powered through the COVID-19 pandemic last year, generating an average profit of 24% while carriers built up $14 billion in “redundant reserves,” the National Council on Compensation Insurance said Tuesday during its virtual Annual Issues Symposium. …

Pandemic’s Labor Reshuffle Likely Just Starting For US Workers

WASHINGTON — If the coronavirus pandemic produced its own brand of anxiety for American workers trying to stay healthy while balancing job and family demands, the coming return to “normal” will pose a new set of challenges. Like whether to …

Viewpoint: Virtual Care May Become New Standard in Workers’ Comp

Claims and care management changed radically during the pandemic. We had to adapt to caring for patients with a previously unknown disease, face the potential of infection in the workplace, deal with a tidal shift to remote work, and handle …

In Rare Policyholder Win, Texas Judge Refuses to Dismiss Theater Chain’s COVID Lawsuit

A federal judge in Sherman, Texas on Wednesday ruled against an insurer that sought to dismiss a $500 million COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuit by the nation’s third-largest chain of movie theaters. The decision broke a month’s-long losing streak for policyholders seeking …

Largest Firefighting Plane May Be Sold for Covid-19 Response

DENVER (AP) — As Western states prepare for this year’s wildfire season, the world’s largest firefighting plane has been grounded and could be converted to help fight against another crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic. After investing tens of millions into upgrading …

WCRI: No Meaningful Delays in Work Comp Medical Care Despite Covid-19

Despite potential obstacles posed by the coronavirus pandemic, injured workers experienced no meaningful delays in access to medical treatment under their employers’ workers’ compensation programs during the pandemic. Research from the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) also shows that states …

Ohio Supreme and 8th Circuit Mull Whether COVID Can Cause Direct Physical Loss

Two appellate courts took steps this week toward answering a key question that may seal the fate of some 1,500 lawsuits seeking insurance coverage for COVID-19-related business-interruption losses: Does the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or people infected with it …

Judge Hands Amazon a Setback in New York Lawsuit Over COVID-19 Shortfalls

NEW YORK — A federal judge on Friday ruled against Amazon.com Inc as the company defends against New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit claiming it prioritized profit over worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic at two New York City …

Complaint May Spur Review of Meat Industry’s Virus Response

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A union complaint about whether an Oklahoma meatpacking plant is doing enough to protect workers from the coronavirus could test the industry’s response to the pandemic because Seaboard Foods says it is following recommendations from the …

Top Investors to Call for Improved Working Conditions in Care Homes

LONDON — A group of investors managing a collective $3 trillion in assets will call on operators of nursing homes to improve pay and working standards for care workers, noting the “devastating outcomes” of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. …