Cyrus Dugger

NYCOSH: Arbitrary Time-Limits on Workers’ Compensation Hurt Workers

From NYCOSH:

Arbitrary time-limits on workers’ compensation hurt workers

Since 1914 – before the enactment of the federal Social
Security Act – New York workers who are permanently disabled
because of work-related injuries have been entitled to payment
for life. It has been the employer’s obligation to provide for the
worker who was injured, saving workers and their families from
welfare and the taxpayers from the burden of their support.

● Some have proposed to introduce arbitrary time-limits, or
“caps,” on worker benefits in exchange for a raise in the
maximum rate. This hurts all workers, but especially those who
make less than $600 per week and would not benefit from a
rate increase. This group includes most upstate workers and
working women.

● From 2001 through 2005, more than half of all workers’
compensation claims were filed by workers earning less
than $600 per week. The median weekly wage is $556.40
in Buffalo, $571.60 in Syracuse, $576.00 in Rochester, and
$619.60 in Albany.

● Increasing the maximum benefit does nothing to help these
workers, yet time-limiting their benefits hurts them. This is not
progressive reform– it is actually a cut in benefits. (link)

Posted at 9:52 AM, Feb 13, 2007 in Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)