Workers compensation

03/25/2009 -- WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement:

"I take the issues raised by the Government Accountability Office investigation regarding past Wage and Hour Division enforcement very seriously.

"As secretary of labor, I am committed to ensuring that every worker is paid at least the minimum wage, that those who work overtime are properly compensated, that child labor laws are strictly enforced and that every worker is provided a safe and healthful environment.    » read more »

03/17/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today sent the following letter to Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner to share his concern that a potential 27 percent pure premium rate increase would have an overwhelmingly negative impact on businesses, employees and California’s economy. The Governor has a strong record of working to reform the state’s workers’ compensation system, and those reforms have saved employers more than $40 billion so far.

Text of the letter:

March 17, 2009

Via facsimile: (916) 445-5280

The Honorable Steve Poizner
Commissioner
California Department of Insurance
300 Capitol Mall
Suite 1700
Sacramento, California 95814

Dear Steve,    » read more »

$10 Million Savings for Montana Business

1/10/2008 -- (HELENA) Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today said that Montana employers may see a drop in their workers' compensation rates come February 1, 2008, thanks to the efforts of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and the Labor-Management Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation.    » read more »

January 4, 2008 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today signed legislation that fixes a new workers’ compensation law. The original bill, which was recommended by a bipartisan study committee, passed the House and Senate last year.

“I am pleased the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate acted quickly to fix unintended problems with the law. The original bill was an attempt to address real concerns and to make sure workers are protected. We must continue to look at those issues, ” Gov. Lynch said.    » read more »

October 02, 2007 -- DEDHAM – Today, a Norwood man and his company pled guilty to charges that they failed to pay proper wages. Arthur Tenaglia, 51, and his business, the Allstate Company, Inc., each pled guilty today in Dedham District Court to charges of failure to pay the proper prevailing wages (1 count) and workers’ compensation fraud (1 count). In addition, Tenaglia and Allstate agreed to accept a citation for misclassification of workers.    » read more »

Pure Premium Rate To Fall By 4.2% In 2008

September 19, 2007 - The state of Michigan announced some positive news for the state's business climate as pure premium rates for workers' compensation insurance are expected to drop by an average 4.2 percent in 2008, continuing a long-term downward trend during which the rate average has dropped by 35.9 percent over the past 10 years.    » read more »

7.31.07, Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today appointed 11 members to the newly established Workers’ Compensation Board of Directors, with William Lhota serving as chair. The independent, external board of directors will serve as the primary fiduciary entity of BWC funds and be held accountable for the bureau’s operations.    » read more »

New York Businesses Expected to Save More than $1 Billion

July 11, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith today announced that rates for workers’ compensation insurance will decline by more than 20.5% and save New York businesses about $1 billion in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The rate drop stems from the historic reform of the Workers’ Compensation Law earlier this year.    » read more »

Bill Aimed At Stopping Spiraling Insurance Costs That Hurt Businesses' Ability To Grow, Compete

Columbia, S.C. - June 25, 2007 - South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford today joined with business groups from across South Carolina to sign the workers' compensation reform bill, a measure aimed at curbing recent business insurance cost increases that harm businesses and consumers.    » read more »

06/12/2007 -- (DENVER) – Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers, in conjunction with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment executive director Donald J. Mares, today announced the indictment of David F. Holt (DOB 4/12/47), of Lakewood, on suspicion of workers’ compensation and disability fraud.    » read more »

May 15, 2007 -- BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Governor Deval Patrick announced a settlement in this year's workers’ compensation rate setting proceeding, which will result in approximately $170 million in savings for businesses in Massachusetts. The new reduction averages a 16.9 percent savings per business; a significant increase from the last rate reduction in 2005 which averaged only a 3 percent savings. The Commissioner of Insurance has approved the settlement.    » read more »

May 3, 2007 - The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and the Metalworking Industries of Michigan Workers' Compensation Fund (MIM W.C. Fund) signed a formal alliance today to protect the safety and health of Michigan's metalworking industry workers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG).    » read more »

05/03/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the California Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision in Welcher v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board et al.:

“Today’s ruling is a huge victory in protecting the successful reforms to the workers’ compensation system that the legislature and I accomplished together three years ago. Thanks to these reforms, we have eliminated a poison to our economy and cut premiums by almost 65% - resulting in more than $15 billion in savings.”

Source: California Governor