workers’ compensation News

Employers Pushing Back as States Expand Work Comp to Cover COVID-19

As more states take action to ensure workers who contract COVID-19 are eligible for workers’ compensation, employers in Illinois are hoping to block one of the nation’s most expansive emergency rules. The Illinois Technology & Marketing Association (TMA) said in …

Travelers Sees Rising Claims as Coronavirus Crisis Spreads

Property and casualty insurer Travelers Cos. Inc. reported a 25% drop in quarterly profit on Tuesday and warned that potential claims tied to compensation coverage for furloughed and laid-off employees would hit results for the year. The coronavirus pandemic has …

Viewpoint: 6 Ways to Handle Work Comp Claims for Coronavirus; Only 1 Makes Sense

Workers’ compensation disability claims based on COVID-19 are already rolling in and thousands more are expected. Here are six approaches to handling these claims: Act based on “gut reaction.” It just seems intuitively “right” to cover nurses and doesn’t feel …

When Employees Work From Home: Work Comp Subrogation and the Remote Employee

When employees work remotely from home or other locations, the normal rules of course and scope can become complicated and confusing. The same is true of subrogation potential. When the employee is injured in their home, subrogation targets tend to …

Viewpoint: Anticipated Coronavirus Claims Scenarios Across Major Coverage Lines

As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed over the past several months, participants in the insurance industry have recognized the likelihood of a resulting increase in claims volume. Much of the early focus has been on the ramifications to insurers that …

Viewpoint: Empathy, Compassion and Confidence for Better Outcomes

Humanitarianism deals with actively working to improve the happiness and welfare of others. The concepts of humanitarianism and advocacy are actually integral to the workers’ compensation industry, as we’re in the unique position to offer solutions that are truly win-win …

Analysis: Recession, Fear of Job Loss, and Return to Work

With the COVID-19 virus causing economic disruption, The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute would like to share the findings from a study we published in 2010 that sheds light on how a typical recession affects the return to work of injured …

Virus Impact on Comp Limited; Some Insurers Pledge to Cover Medical and Emergency Workers

The outbreak of coronavirus has already resulted in some workers’ compensation claims and more are expected. But whether those claims are going to succeed depends on the individual circumstances and in which state the infection occurred. While compensability issues will …

Uber’s Challenge to Balance Driver Safety With Customer Privacy

NEW YORK — Margaret Bordelon can still feel the hands of the drunk man who tried to pull her in for a kiss at the end of his Uber ride last September in Lafayette, Louisiana. An Uber driver for only …

Iowa Court Drastically Cuts Insurer’s Payment to Paralyzed Worker

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday dramatically reduced the compensation a paralyzed northeast Iowa man received from a jury in a lawsuit against an insurance company even while finding the company’s actions were “reprehensible.” Despite criticizing …