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News Notes: Employees Limited To Workers Comp For Chemical Exposure
Three unskilled laborers who were hired to clean a film lab at Metrocolor Laboratories in Los Angeles sued, claiming Metrocolor told them to use a particular cleaning substance without revealing that it contained hazardous chemicals that can cause brain and nervous system damage. The workers’ skin became soaked with the liquid as it rained down […]
Workers’ Compensation: Insurance Commissioner Approves Big Premium Rate Increase
The state Insurance Commissioner has approved a 10.1% premium rate hike for workers’ compensation insurance in response to increases in medical costs that have battered workers’ comp insurers. Although the approved boost is only advisory, increases adopted by the commissioner are frequently used by the industry as a guidepost to set policy prices.
New Ruling on Liability for Injuries to Contractor’s Employee
In a series of cases in recent years, the California Supreme Court has discussed the circumstances under which an employee of an independent contractor can sue the hirer of that contractor for work-related injuries, rather that just collect workers’ compensation benefits. Now the high court has further clarified when you can be sued for damages […]
DOL Assesses Fines For Child Labor
Report: Fewer FLSA Cases Filed in 2011 than 2010
The number of Fair Labor Standards Act civil lawsuits filed in 2011 declined 7.2 percent, according to a recent report by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In all, 6,335 FLSA cases were commenced in district courts nationwide during the 12-month period ended Sept. 30, 2011, down from 6,825 during the same period in […]
Proposed Meal Period Regulation Lapses
California employers have been looking forward to a new regulation that would add some flexibility to the law requiring meal and rest breaks for employees. But the wait will be longer than anticipated.
Pro-Union Bill Highlights Need for Good Internal Problem Solving
Earlier this week, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) was introduced into both the U.S. House and Senate. Both supporters and opponents of the bill anticipate that the proposed legislation will spark fierce battles over the next few months. Employer advocacy groups have already launched aggressive lobbying efforts to defeat the bill. On the other […]
Health Care Reform: Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Individual Mandates
Unless you have spent this week on another planet, you have heard that the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing three days of arguments on the health care form law passed by Congress in 2010. The Court is expected to hand down a decision by the end of June. On Tuesday, day two of the hearings, […]
Wal-Mart Loses Class Action Certification Challenge in Huge Case
Last week, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling that granted class-action status to a lawsuit—the largest civil rights suit in history—accusing Wal-Mart of sex discrimination in pay and promotions. The class is estimated to consist of up to 1.6 million current and former female employees of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart unsuccessfully […]