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‘Draconian’ changes made in secret ‘will harm families statewide,’ attorney says The state Workers’ Compensation Board published proposed guidelines shortly before midnight on Labor Day weekend outlining changes that would decimate the state’s workers’ compensation system and put thousands of families at risk of ruin, according to attorney Victor Pasternack of Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh…

Every year, government regulatory agencies must make decisions about which safety rules to pursue, and which to abandon. While this is a necessary fact of life for agencies with limited resources, it nonetheless leaves workers exposed to unnecessary dangers in the workplace. In recent months of a changing political climate, there have been even fewer…

The 2017-2018 budget agreement for New York state included numerous workers’ compensation reforms.  Among these reforms is a drug formulary requirement. Legislators cited a number of recent studies showing a drug formulary in workers’ compensation cases could slash costs in New York by nearly 30 percent. That’s big when you consider that, as noted by the…

Most people don’t give much thought to their daily commute. However, if you are injured on your way to work, you may have a difficult time getting workers’ compensation in New York. That is in large part due to the “coming-and-going” rule. This is a common law principle holding that if you are coming or…

Rideshare drivers could soon have expanded coverage for work-related injuries, following the passage of New York’s fiscal 2017-2018 budget, which calls for amendments to the Black Car Fund. Further, rideshare services will now be permitted to operate throughout New York, rather than solely in the city. Uber and Lyft drivers are a significant segment born…

The purpose of workers’ compensation in New York City is to help workers quickly access medical care and lost wages while recovering from a workplace injury.  The ultimate goal in many cases is for employees to get back on their feet – literally and figuratively – and start working again. However, employers they clearly need…

Injuries on-the-job can occur in any field. However, those in the healthcare field, including nurses, face a very substantial risk of being harmed while at work. Occupational Safety and Health Administration warns that a hospital is actually one of the most dangerous places to work in the United States. More than 253,000 work injuries and illnesses…

As the holiday season approaches, households are facing some big expenses. According to National Retail Federation, families are expected to spend in excess of $800 this holiday season. If you cannot work due to a workplace injury, you may face financial hardship and have a difficult holiday season. Workers’ compensation is supposed to protect injured…

A report by the Department of Labor highlights recent changes in the workers’ compensation policies of more than 30 states that have made it more difficult for injured workers to file a claim and easier for insurance companies to deny claims. This means that too many employees did not receive medications, surgeries or prosthetics that…

A general contractor in New York City was fined a substantial amount of money by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to Construction Dive. The general contractor challenged the fines, arguing the corporate executives from the company cited had not been aware of the problems on the worksite.  In spite of this, the fines…