NJ Cannabis Bill Advances Mandating Workers’ Compensation Coverage

The NJ Assembly will hold a hearing on October 26, 2020 at 10:30am on legislation A1706 that will mandate workers’ compensation carriers to cover coverage for the medical use of cannabis in certain circumstances.

Appellate Court Cautions Attorneys Against Disrespectful Attacks on Judges of Compensation

Civility has an essential role in the judicial process. All parties and the court are required to both understand and conform to the role of formal politeness and courtesy in behavior and speech in order to both maintain decorum and confidence in the judicial process.

Testing Can’t Promise You a Rose Garden. But What Can It Promise?

Developing a pandemic preparedness strategy for the workplace is critical in control of COVID-19. Today's guest author, Michael Gelman, MD PhD, discusses the how the application of the latest medical information can achieve that goal.

The events of the past week have made it very clear:

Michael A Gelman MD PhD

there is no testing strategy that, alone, can guarantee safety from COVID-19. Rather, a strategy of targeted layered containment represents the best hope for reducing the risk of transmission. Even with the best testing achievable, masks help; distancing helps; being outdoors helps; reducing mass gatherings definitely helps; and in extremis, closing in-person schools and non-essential businesses helps. That’s why Governor Cuomo’s cluster action initiative, as advised by multiple nationally-recognized epidemiologists, is being implemented. It’s uncomfortable and onerous - but the shutdown in March and April was uncomfortable and onerous, and until there’s a lot more immunity than there is now, it’s the best we can do.

NJ & NY Launch Apps to Help Prevent the Spread of Covid-19

Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of COVID-19 exposure notification mobile apps in their respective states that will serve as crucial tools to supplement the effort to trace and contact individuals subject to a COVID exposure. 

NJ Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Extending Public Health Emergency

Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 186. The Order extends the Public Health Emergency that was declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103, which was previously extended on April 7, May 6, June 4, July 2, August 1, and August 27. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed. 

US DOL Proposes New Rule Defining Independent Contractor Status

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a proposed rule clarifying the definition of employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as it relates to independent contractors.

NJ "Hand and Foot" Clarification Bill Advances

The New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has advanced legislation S2722 that clarifies the effective date of the recently enacted hand or foot bill, of P.L.2019, c.387,  to include cases pending, but not yet settled or filed after the date of enactment. That legislation increased benefits to injured workers.