by David Schek | Jun 29, 2017 | Professional Employer Organization (PEO), Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
A Florida-based staffing company recently learned a hard lesson about discrimination and had to pay out five figures in damages to an employee after being sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The company allegedly violated the religious rights of the employee, a Rastafarian, by requiring him to cut his dreadlocks to meet company grooming standards.
It turns out this was a violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. After learning the hard way, the staffing company reviewed its policies and updated its employee handbook to address disability and religious accommodation requests.
Right or wrong, employment laws and regulations present some of the biggest challenges for staffing companies. In addition to federal laws, there are state laws that affect employment decisions and can be challenging for staffing firms in multiple states. A Professional Employer Organization or Employer of Record can manage your compliance with myriad laws and handle your workers’ comp as well.
Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | Jun 15, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
According to a recent study on automotive fleet companies, safe driving policy does not match practices. A study by SambaSafety, concluded that while 80% of automotive fleet companies say driver safety is there main priority, the stats don’t back it up.
70% don’t monitor drivers and 59% don’t have a safety program in place. Driving can be a dangerous profession, and it behooves these companies can have a safety culture that doesn’t encourage unsafe practices. One such example provided by the study says that berating a driver for missing a call may encourage reckless driving to make it to the next one on time.
This is a good advice for staffing firms that provide drivers for various industries. Instilling a safety culture in drivers, especially those who may be transporting cargo for long distances, is key to preventing accidents and injuries. This in turn keeps workers’ comp costs low.
Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | Jun 1, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
In our last blog we discussed the spike in drug use in workplace, including the use of opioids. Starting in August, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation will phase in prescribing guidelines for opioids for work injuries.
These guidelines will only apply to federal workers, but could possibly set a standard for states or even employers, if feasible. The federal standards include limits on how long an opioid can be prescribed and documentation from a physician for review by a claim administrator, if that limit must be exceeded. The guidelines also attempt to get doctors to consider tapering doses and consider whether an opioid is even necessary.
Opioid use has been connected to slower return to work rates, can cause impairment, and lead to harder drugs. Employers, including, staffing firms, to the extent they are able, should consider setting guidelines for opioid use. Fewer opioid prescriptions will lower work comp costs and get workers back to work faster. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | May 25, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
The good news from a recent study is that opioid use in the workplace is actually going down. Unfortunately, employees continue to use marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine at alarming rates.
Employees testing positive for marijuana climbed from 2.4% in 2015 to 2.6% in 2016. Cocaine saw a jump of 12% in 2016 reaching a seven year high of 0.28% of the population up from 0.25% in 2015. Meth increased more than 8% in the workforce in 2016. Even though opioids on the decline, they are still being prescribed in record numbers and can lead to harder drugs.
This study was based on urine and saliva testing mainly. Even in states where marijuana is legal, it is still permissible for employees to test. Staffing firms should have strict drug testing policies in place, and be on the lookout for impairment during work hours.
If these trends continue, employers can expect to see major performance and safety issues, which in turn lead to workers’ comp injuries and higher worker’ comp premiums. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | May 18, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
If states serve as laboratories for future federal policies, South Carolina one that is blazing the trail for workers’ comp coverage for the gig economy. Currently, Uber and Lyft ride-sharing services don’t provide mandatory workers’ compensation for drivers injured on the job.
Uber in South Carolina-one of eight states–will start offering workers’ comp type insurance in the form of a state personal injury policy. It will be optional for drivers who will pay -3.75 cents/mile for up to $1 million of coverage. Passengers will pick up the tab as Uber will jack up fees in the state.
The gig economy is transforming the temporary staffing landscape, but one of the benefits to employers and consumers is the absence of burdensome regulations, including workers’ comp.
It remains to be seen whether this will catch on in all markets and possibly lead to more stringent workers’ comp requirements. If that becomes the case, then Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | May 11, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
If you think letting your employees choose their workers’ comp providers versus a system where the employer controls provider choice makes a significant difference in costs, think again. According to research done by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute, workers’ comp indemnity and medical costs differed very little in states with employee provider choice and employer provider choice.
WCRI notes that the type of injury has an impact. Namely, costs increased when employees had control over provider choice for expensive back injuries. Back injuries tend to be expensive anyway, so this would likely account for the higher indemnity costs.
In conclusion, this suggests that staffing firms are not likely to experience any workers’ comp savings if they restrict worker provider choice.
It makes more sense for employers to lower costs by finding ways to improve safety and prevent these expensive injuries occurring. In the event of an injury, employers should carefully monitor claims and medical treatment. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
