NJ is the mist of budgetary chaos and it continues to escalate. NJ decided at the last moment to cancel yet another furlough for state employees at the last moment resulting in the inability to list cases for hearing before the NJ Division of Workers' Compensation. Courtrooms were empty on Friday since no cases had been listed.
Originally, the administration called for yet another paid state vacation for employees because of budget shortfalls. Similar economic issues have frozen new hires, limited the use of durable resources and caused the elimination of printed court calendars. The NJ Division of Workers' compensation is funded substantially from the NJ Second Injury Fund as a line item on premium invoices.
In the recently brokered deal, Governor Corzine has negotiated 10 additional furlough days beginning on July 1st. and gather seven paid leave days for use after June 10th, 2010.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query furlough. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query furlough. Sort by date Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Looking for Furloughs in the Jobs Data
The number of workers on federal government payrolls has fallen only 55,000 since January, which might lead you to conclude that the sequester has not had much impact on federal employment. But the number of federal employees who report working part time because they cannot get full-time hours — a sign they might be on furlough — remains high.
The number of these “involuntary part-timers” was 144,000 in August. That is more than twice the number of involuntary part-timers in the federal government in 2012 and in 2011. (The numbers are not seasonally adjusted, so it’s best to use year-over-year comparisons rather than the change from one month to the next.) How furloughs are executed varies by government agency and department; in some cases workers must take one unpaid leave day each week, and in others they might be able to take their furlough days consecutively (in which case affected workers would report they didn’t work at all, not that they worked short hours). As a result, the numbers above might understate how many federal workers were furloughed in August. For comparison, the number of involuntary part-time workers was actually down year-over-year in the private sector, as Jason Furman, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, noted in a blog post: |
Monday, February 16, 2009
California Closes Division of Workers Compensation 2 Days Each Month-Lack Revenue to Operate
Citing lack of State revenue, Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S16-08, on Dec. 19, 2008, ordering the California Division of Workers' Compensation close the first and third Friday of every month, beginning on Feb. 6, 2009, and ending on June 30, 2010.
Legal documents that would otherwise be due on a furlough day will not be due until the next open business day (normally the next Monday, but Tuesday if the Monday is a holiday).
Legal documents that would otherwise be due on a furlough day will not be due until the next open business day (normally the next Monday, but Tuesday if the Monday is a holiday).
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Government Shutdown: Day 10 - Safety Gets a Furlough
The government shutdown is entering its 10 day and there are major concerns surfacing about the lack
of safety enforcement in the workplace. OSHA has closed down its workplace inspection program and now the implementation of new safety programs OSHA planned to initiate will be delayed.
of safety enforcement in the workplace. OSHA has closed down its workplace inspection program and now the implementation of new safety programs OSHA planned to initiate will be delayed.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Federal Shutdown and Workers Compensation
The Federal budget crisis may have a significant adverse impact on the entire national patchwork of of workers' compensation systems. As President Obama caution yesterday, "A shutdown will have real effects on everyday lives..."
Since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has such an enormous role now in resolving workers' compensation claims, it is apparent that a shutdown of the medical system will leave the State programs stranded as they await data as to conditional payment and approval as to set-aside arrangements. The co-ordination of financial reimbursement and medical records from the Military Personnel Records Center, Veteran's Administration and Tri-Care will also be slowed. Additionally, many state labor departments are funded by the Federal government for rehabilitation programs, and a loss of income will have a dramatic impact upon their operations.
Lack of funding has already caused states to furlough personnel, close offices and not replace essential staff. A Federal shutdown presents a dismal forecast to the ailing workers' compensation system.
Friday, January 17, 2014
United Airlines plane returns to Newark Airport after strong turbulence; 5 flight attendants hurt
As United Airlines begins the furlough today of about 700 flight attendants, a United plane hit turbulence and 5 flight attendance were reportedly injured. Even though they may have been in international airspace, the claims are subject to workers' compensation coverage. Today's post is shared from nj.com.
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
NEWARK — Five flight attendants were hurt, with one complaining of severe back pain, after a Beijing-bound flight that took off from from Newark Liberty International Airport hit turbulence about 30 minutes after takeoff, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said today.
Flight 89 returned to the airport about 4:30 p.m., the spokesman, Ron Marsico said. A United Airlines spokeswoman said the aircraft, which took off at 12:40 p.m., was carrying 189 passengers and 16 crew members. None of the passengers was injured, Marsico said. Emergency workers treated the flight attendants at the scene for minor bumps and bruises. All five were taken to area hospitals, he said. Passengers were offered hotel rooms in Newark and will be flying out tomorrow, the United spokeswoman said. |
Friday, July 23, 2010
New Jersey Task Force Recommends Privatization of Workers Compensation
A NJ Task Force has recommended to Governor Chris Christie that workers' compensation should be privatized in the State. The Task Force looked to the West Virginia system in making its recommendation.
"West Virginia Governor Joseph Manchin signed a law in 2005 fully privatizing the state's Workers' Compensation Commission, transforming it into a private insurance carrier, BrickStreet Insurance. Since the completion of the process in 2008, workers' compensation rates have declined an average of 30 percent statewide, translating to more than $150 million in annual employer savings. BrickStreet—formerly the state monopoly—is now competing for business in other states."
The State of New Jersey, like other major industrial states, is suffering from major economic deficits that have resulted n curtailed state services including the furlough of Workers' Compensation staffs and closing of offices. The state's financial woes are mirrored in the local municipalities and it is anticipated that those governmental entities will also follow the State's lead to jettison the administration of workers' compensation programs. In california some localities have gone even further and privatized their staffs to lower costs.
Click here to read the complete report.
Click here to read more about workers' compensation and claims for benefits. For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered asbestos related illnesses.
"West Virginia Governor Joseph Manchin signed a law in 2005 fully privatizing the state's Workers' Compensation Commission, transforming it into a private insurance carrier, BrickStreet Insurance. Since the completion of the process in 2008, workers' compensation rates have declined an average of 30 percent statewide, translating to more than $150 million in annual employer savings. BrickStreet—formerly the state monopoly—is now competing for business in other states."
Click here to read the complete report.
Click here to read more about workers' compensation and claims for benefits. For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered asbestos related illnesses.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Taxing Workers' Compensation Benefits to Finance the Bailout
As the greatest economic bailout goes forward, the Federal and State governments are exploring new areas to raise revenue, including from workers’ compensation benefits. The multi-billion dollar national workers’ compensation system, insured by recently nationalized unstable insurance carriers, maybe be a source to fund the rapidly increasing national debt.The US national debt already amounts to almost $10 Trillion. The population of the US is 305.603, 863 and each citizen's share of the debt equals $35,091.43.
The economies of the Federal and State governments are crashing. California has now enacted furlough days to reduce its payroll. Delays in the delivery of workers’ compensation benefits will be compounded and insurance companies will be able to hold onto the benefits longer.
Benefit programs have increasingly become a source of revenue for the government. The Social Security Administration has enacted a user fee.
Other Federal programs charge for issuing opinions and rulings. The IRS has such a program for private rulings. CMS maybe required to impose a fee for the review and analysis of CMS MCSAA (Medicare Compensation Set Aside Agreements). The IRS already taxes punitive and non-economic awards.
As the demand for funding increases, Workers’ Compensation benefits may become a source of additional governmental revenue, especially in light of the need to monitor insurance funds and expedite the delivery of benefits. These new developments give added urgency to a complete review of the entire workers' compensation system.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Federal Workers Nationwide Protest Government Shutdown
The US government shut down at midnight as the Republican-controlled House continued to demand changes to Obamacare, and in response workers all across the country are protesting the GOP’s actions. Nearly 100 government employees rallied in downtown Chicago at Federal Plaza on Monday to protest the shutdown, the first in seventeen years, calling Congress’ actions, “political theater of the absurd.” Fox Chicago reports workers carried signs reading: “Jobs Not Furloughs.”  When asked about the impact of a shutdown, a spokesperson for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office responded vaguely: “I think we all know what that looks like.”The Chicago Tribune offered some more specifics: “The early prevailing wisdom is that the Chicago area should be able to weather a short-term shutdown largely unscathed but that the impact will become more apparent the longer federal funding is suspended.” And the Sun-Times reports that if employees considered “non-essential to national health safety and security” are furloughed, it will be “more difficult or impossible” to get a passport, a gun permit, or a new Social Security card. Chris Black, who workers for the EPA, told CBS that a shutdown would do more than just furlough workers. A shutdown will also affect the jobs they do. “I’m involved... |
Sunday, July 18, 2021
OSHA Cites Dental Practice for Coronavirus Retaliation
The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action against two North Texas dentists on behalf of a dental hygienist and a dental assistant who were not reinstated after expressing concerns about what coronavirus safety measures would be in place when the practice reopened in spring 2020.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Budget Crisis Triggers NJ DWC Closing
The NJ Division of Workers' Compensation will be closed on May 22, 2009. This closing is the result of a State mandated furlough because of the lack of revenue in the NJ State Treasury.
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