One outgrowth of a new California law that applies more stringent criteria for what constitutes an independent contractor is that many employers are likely to see more audits and calls for additional premium from their workers’ comp insurers. In fact, it’s already happening in some industries, according to the insurance industry trade press. More and…
In some instances, a commercial crime insurance policy may offer coverage for money a company loses due to a cyber attack, a court has ruled. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta has ruled that an insurer must indemnify a policyholder that was scammed out of more than $1.7 million in a phishing…
Physical medicine treatments like physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care correspond with reduced opioid prescription use among injured workers, a new study has found. Workers who were treated using physical medicine while also being prescribed an opioid all received lower doses of prescribed opioids compared with workers with similar injuries who did not receive physical…
A new report by Willis Towers Watson predicts that most commercial insurance lines will see increases in 2020 as the market continues to harden almost across the board, with the only exception being workers’ compensation. Overall, 19 commercial lines are expected to see price increases according to the report, with property, umbrella, and public company…
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new and more simplified rules for determining joint-employer status, which can often be found in work involving temporary workers, subcontractors or workers in franchises. The new rule reverses Obama-era regulations that employers say opened a floodgate of litigation, making it easier for workers to sue more than one…
California’s controversial independent contractor law suffered its first two legal setbacks in January after trucking firms and independent truckers were able beat back at the new law in court. On Jan. 8, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled that AB 5 does not apply to independent truckers because they are covered by federal…
With increases in litigation and federal and state enforcement of wage and hour laws, employers should make sure they comply with laws at both the federal and state levels. All businesses should conduct periodic self-audits addressing the various wage and hour issues that are applicable to their workplace, in order to avoid the most common…
6. Return of the individual mandate A new law brings back the individual mandate requiring Californians at least to secure health insurance coverage or face tax penalties. This comes after the penalties for not abiding by the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate were abolished by Congress in late 2017. Starting in 2020, California residents will…
The new decade is starting off with a massive swell of important new laws and regulations that will affect California businesses. There are so many new laws and regulations that companies have to be on their toes especially at the start of 2020 to get their bearings. This is the first of a two-part entry…