When is an off-regular-hours activity not in the course of the employment?

The NJ Supreme Court is deliberating on the issue of whether an an employee should receive workers’ compensation if an injured occurred at an off-regular-hours event. The issue presented to the Court was whether an employee is entitled to benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act, specifically N.J.S.A. 34:15-7, for injuries that occurred while she was volunteering at her employer’s “Family Fun Day” event?

Halting Workplace COVID-19 Transmission: An Urgent Proposal to Protect American Workers

A report authored by David Michaels and Gregory R Wagner and published by The Century Foundation highlights the actions needed to strengthen The Occupational Safety and Health Administration {OSHA] in order to make workplaces safer. Today’s post is shared from tif.og

NJ Announces COVID-19 Worker Protection Complaint Form

NJ Executive Order 192 imposes requirements on every employer-business, non-profit, governmental and educational entities to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to employees, customers and others who come into physical contact with its operations. 

NJ "Hand and Foot" Clarification Bill Signed into Law

NJ Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law 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.

Unions Sue Trump Admin for Shelving Standard That Would Protect America’s Healthcare Workers From Exposure to Infectious Diseases

Today, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), and the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) sued Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for unlawfully delaying rulemaking on an occupational standard to protect healthcare workers from infectious diseases transmitted by contact, droplets, or air — like influenza, COVID-19, and Ebola. In 2017, the Trump administration tabled work on an Infectious Diseases Standard. It has refused to move forward with the standard amid a catastrophic pandemic — and despite the pleas of healthcare professionals. The administration’s unreasonable delay violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

NJ Takes Action to Put Workers’ Health Ahead of Covid

Building on ongoing efforts to safeguard New Jersey’s frontline workforce, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 192, providing mandatory health and safety standards to protect all New Jersey’s workers at work during the pandemic.

Nursing Homes Unprepared for the Winter Coronavirus Surge

As the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) case numbers drastically rise throughout the United State, the lack of preparation becomes more obvious and the burden on the workers’ compensation programs will equally increase. Essential medical workers and their support staff may become in short supply.