Leave of Absence and Workplace Accommodations
July 26th, 2022, by ShaunTeah L. Radcliffe, CPDM If you are reading this article, chances are you are familiar with Leave of Absence and Workplace Accommodations. However, you still have some questions, right? As a People Leader, do you often ask yourself, “How can I understand when an employee needs a leave of absence or […]
Hiring Workers’ Comp Adjusters? Compliance Training is Your Challenge.
If you’re hiring new workers’ compensation adjusters in California, you already know that your biggest challenge is compliance training. Section 2592, Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations defines the minimum training requirements for workers’ compensation claims adjusters and medical bill reviewers. For claims adjusters, the State requires 160 hours of training, 120 of […]
SCOTUS Rules Arbitration Agreements Can Waive PAGA Claims
A blog post by Gregory B. Wilbur, June 2022 In a highly-anticipated opinion released yesterday, Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that arbitration agreements between employers and employees can both send an employee’s claims under the Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, to binding private arbitration and prevent […]
Employee Training – A Critical Part of On-Boarding
Industry trends, compliance requirements, and in-demand skills aren’t slowing down – they’re accelerating. For organizations navigating workers’ compensation, disability and absence management, and HR compliance, staying current isn’t optional. It’s essential. Delaying employee training and development doesn’t just create skill gaps – it increases risk, impacts compliance, and makes retention harder in an already competitive […]
A Brief History on 420 and Workers’ Compensation
What is “420” and What’s it Got to Do with Workers’ Compensation? Dating back to the early 1970s, use of the term “420” in relation to Marijuana use is said to have started with a group of Northern California high school kids. To rally their like-minded classmates, they used the term “420” as a stealth […]
CMS Warns Against Using ‘Non-Submit’ and ‘Evidence-Based’ Medicare Set-Asides
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement (WCMSA) Reference Guide (Reference Guide). The latest version, Version 3.5, was published Jan. 10, 2022. The Reference Guide was updated to clarify the use of non-CMS-approved products to address future medical care.
How to Navigate Electronic Service
Special Report Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) amended its Rules of Practice and Procedure to permit electronic service, including via email. That represents a huge change for the practitioner. This article addresses questions we’ve encountered since the amendment. The New Rules The new rules are available on the DWC website. They […]
California Supplemental Sick Leave Extended
January 26th, 2022 Eric De Wames, Managing Partner Employment Law Division, Michael Sullivan & Associates, LLP. On Tuesday a deal was struck between Gov. Newsom and California lawmakers to provide a new Supplemental Sick Leave similar to the one that expired on September 30. Although not yet in final form, here are the components we […]
Absence & Disability Management – Convincing Your Senior Leadership to Invest
December 15th, 2021, by ShaunTeah L. Radcliffe, CPDM $6.2 million, $8.6 million, $20 million, $125 million, $125 million, $175 million, what do all these numbers have in common? Are they lottery jackpot payouts? Close but not quite. These are dollar amounts that medium to large corporations have paid out as settlements for missteps in the […]
Reasonable Accommodation Process
Workplace Accommodations – Year End is the The Perfect Time to Review Company Policies and Procedures. December 2021, by ShaunTeah L. Radcliffe, CPDM What exactly is a reasonable workplace accommodation? A reasonable accommodation is a temporary or permanent change to the job or hiring process that allows an employee or applicant to perform the job’s […]