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Insurance

Opting out of workers’ comp? Sky’s the limit on lawsuits

01/01/2007

Texas law doesn’t require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, but those who don’t may find the cost far higher than the insurance premiums …

Houston janitors OK contract that expands wages, insurance

01/01/2007

Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 5 recently voted in favor of a three-year collective-bargaining agreement that provides janitors in the Houston area with health benefits and a pay increase …

Texans becoming healthier, but still below national average

01/01/2007

If your organization doesn’t have an employee wellness program, a new study provides more incentive to start one. It says that Texas residents, on average, aren’t the healthiest folks in America …

Undocumented workers aren’t eligible for unemployment

01/01/2007

In Pennsylvania, laid off employees who aren’t legally documented to work in the United States aren’t eligible for unemployment compensation payments …

Give FMLA notice when employees go on workers’ comp

01/01/2007

When employees go on workers’ compensation leave, you should tell them about their FMLA rights. That starts the 12-week clock ticking. If you don’t notify them, a lawsuit may follow even if the employee settles the workers’ comp claim …

Gov. Rendell signs workers’ comp reform, then issues a puzzler

01/01/2007

Gov. Ed Rendell signed a workers’ compensation bill that establishes an Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund and caps some legal fees, among other reforms …

Intoxicated employee can still win workers’ comp benefits

01/01/2007

Under the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law, employees who are hurt at work because they were intoxicated can’t receive workers’ compensation benefits. Yet employers should be aware of the law’s fine print …

Use unemployment comp decision to defend a bias lawsuit

01/01/2007

Here’s another good reason to aggressively contest unemployment compensation claims when you have strong evidence that the company fired the employee for a good cause (such as lying or stealing): You can use an unemployment compensation ruling to prove, in a later discrimination lawsuit, that you fired an employee for a valid, nondiscriminatory reason …

Same-Sex Unions in N.J.: Responsibilities and Restrictions of the New Law

01/01/2007

Same-sex unions are now a reality in New Jersey, and employers will have to change the way they deal with employees as a result. It’s too early to tell exactly what steps employers will need to take, but it’s important to understand what led to the decision and legislation …

Job hazard may trigger workers’ comp years later

01/01/2007

When it comes to workplace hazards, take note: Georgia employees have a very long time to file for workers’ comp benefits. As a result, you should keep meticulous records for many years on where and when employees worked …