Insurance weblogs. We are featured in an article about weblogs by Therese Rutkowski that appeared in the December issue of Insurance Networking News: Online Soapboxes Get Down to Business. Several of our fellow bloggers are cited too.
Returning to Work: Overcoming Injury and Achieving Success – an article written by Kurt Schuhl and Michael McMahon the January issue of Risk Management magazine.
Meth abusers cost employers millions – A recent study determined that each meth-using employee costs his or her employer $47,500 a year in terms of lost productivity, absenteeism, higher health-care costs and higher workers’ compensation costs.
Off-the-job injuries – A Stockton California police officer was denied workers comp for an off-duty injury he suffered while playing basketball. According to the court: “When an employee is injured during voluntary, off-duty participation in a recreational, social, or athletic activity, Labor Code section 3600, subdivision (a)(9) provides that the injury is not covered by workers’ compensation, unless the activity was “a reasonable expectancy of” the employment or it was “expressly or impliedly required by” the employment.”
The Weekly Toll. – Tammy at Confined Space reminds us all of the real reasons why we should be doing the work that we do – a grim reminder to redouble our efforts to keep workers safe.
Immigrant worker injuries – Our colleague Peter Rousmaniere points to a recent Massachusetts study that offers a breakdown of hospitalizations by medical diagnosis, job and ethnic orientation. The study shows a relationship between the type of job and the type of injury.
Drug dispensing by docs – Joe Paduda notes that workers comp prescription drug costs are driven by utilization and price. But are some docs compromised by a profit motive via on-site dispensaries now in vogue?
Looking out for the workers – RawblogXport reminds points to an item that paints a dismal portrait of the economic status of the American worker, who is working harder and longer for less pay. “For the first time on record, U.S. household incomes failed to increase for five straight years – and that record includes the Great Depression. And the minimum wage, adjusted for inflation, is actually worth less today than it was before the last increase was passed 10 years ago”
Is the U.S. economy strong? – In terms of wages and jobs, the U.S. economy is not as strong as it might appear, according to some recent economic studies, and as reported recently in the New York Times.
Ethics – According to a survey by theAmerican Management Association (AMA), pressure from management to meet unrealistic business objectives and deadlines is the leading factor for most unethical corporate behavior. The desire to further one’s career and to protect one’s livelihood are ranked second and third, respectively, as leading factors.
Scandal watch. Speaking of ethics, Business Insurance reports that an AIG settlement with the SEC and the NY AG may be pending. Meanwhile, Judy Greenwald speculates that there may be bigger fish to fry in the wake of recent indictments of senior execs at General Re Corp. and American International Group Inc.
Tags: economy, fatalities, immigrant workers, physician dispensing, recreational injuries, return to work, substance abuse
