NJ Governor Patrick Murphy Signs Landmark COVID Compensation Law

Today, NJ Governor Patrick Murphy signed legislation enacting sweeping measures to provide workers’ compensation benefits to essential workers who contract coronavirus [COVID-19] and provides dependency benefits to their survivors.

NJ Governor Pat Murphy Extends Emergency Order Extending Statutory Deadlines

NJ Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 178, which temporarily extends certain statutory deadlines across state government that require review and action by agencies before a specified deadline. The statutory deadlines, in addition to certain effective dates that are being delayed, are included in the accompanying Appendix to the Order. The Order will take effect immediately.

Lessons from Asbestos Litigation Apply to COVID Claims

The rapid emergence of COVID-19 creates new challenges for the nation’s patchwork of state run workplace benefit delivery systems. This paper draws a comparison between COVID claims and asbestos claims, the “Largest and Longest” wave of occupational disease claims in the United States. The comparison offers insight into avoiding past economic, administrative and benefit delivery pitfalls. The lessons from asbestos claims provide an insight into maintaining a sustainable workers’ compensation system to meet the surge of COVID claims.

Workers’ Compensation Insurer Responses to COVID-19

This free NIOSH Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) webinar will highlight the ways that many insurers are responding to COVID 19:

• Communicating prevention programs
• Providing funding for engineering controls and PPE
• Providing remote risk control services

NJ Compensation Courts Closed to the Public Until Further Notice

The NJ Division of Workers' Compensation announced today that the Compensation Courts are closed to the public until further notice in light of the COVID Pandemic. This is not surprising in light of the steep increase in COVID cases nationally and in NJ. 

COVID Presumption Bill Stalled in the NJ Assembly - Action Urged

Legislation (A3999) that would make it easier for employees on the frontline of the coronavirus fight to get work-related benefits is now stalled in the NJ Assembly.

Special Independence Day Event - Music and Experts - Veterans Administration

Special Independence Day Event

NJ Compensation Court Extends COVID Restrictions

NJ Workers' Compensation Courts will extend the existing COVID protocol through Monday, July 13, 2020. 

Court of Appeals Ruling Ignores Evidence that OSHA is Failing to Protect Workers

Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a federal court ruled that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had “reasonably determined” that workers do not need an enforceable emergency workplace safety standard, or “Emergency Temporary Standard,” to protect them against infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

California Governor Newsom Announces Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Workers who Contract COVID-19 During Stay at Home Order

The state of California joins A growing number of states who are now liberalizing access to Workers Compensation. benefits for injured workers. New Jersey will be discussing similar legislation next week in Trenton New Jersey (NJ S2380).

Health Care Workers Are at a Heightened COVID Risk - Updated 5/5/2020

A report published today by the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] highlights the increased risk of health care workers who are working so diligently on the frontlines in the effort to battle the COVID pandemic.