CDC: Half of workplaces offer health/wellness programs
Almost half of all U.S. worksites offered some type of health promotion or wellness program in 2017, according to a new study, Workplace Health in America 2017. This was the first government survey of workplace health promotion programs in 13 years.
Nationally, almost 30 percent of worksites offered some type of program to address physical activity, fitness, or sedentary behavior. Some 19 percent of worksites offered a program to help employees stop using tobacco products, and about 17 percent of worksites offered a program to address obesity or weight management.
FMCSA delays publication of proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has delayed until further notice the publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers. The proposed rule remains under the Office of Management and Budget review.
NLRB gives employers greater discretion to limit union activity on their premises
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently issued a decision in UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside that reverses a longstanding precedent and holds that employers no longer have to allow nonemployee union representatives access to public areas of their property unless (1) the union has no other means of communicating with employees or (2) the employer discriminates against the union by allowing access to similar groups.
Study: Energy drinks take toll on heart health
Popular caffeine-packed beverages could affect heart rhythm, according to a new study. Research findings of a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) confirm the short-term risk consumers take when consuming energy drinks. Drinking 32 oz. of an energy drink in a 60-minute timeframe directly affected the heart rhythm of the study’s participants, a result bolstered by previous research.
State News
California
- The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board is planning to reorganize its Rules of Practice and Procedure, and is seeking comments from system users about other changes that it should consider. Comments can be sent to WCABRules@dir.ca.gov.
Georgia
- A new law, the Georgia Long-Term Care Background Check Program will take effect Oct. 1, requiring nursing home and other long-term care workers to submit to extensive background checks.
Illinois
- Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana.
Massachusetts
- More changes to three key deadlines for the Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) law.
- September 30, 2019 – Employers and covered business entities are required to post a notice and provide written notice to their current workforce.
- October 1, 2019 – Payroll withholdings begin for the October 1 to December 31 quarter.
- December 20, 2019 – Deadline to file for a private plan exemption for first quarter contributions.
- January 31, 2020 – First quarterly contribution payment due through MassTaxConnect.
Michigan
- The governor issued an executive order creating a separate workers’ compensation appeals commission. The action separates the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission from the Workers’ Disability Compensation Appeals Commission.
Minnesota
- Enacted detailed new recordkeeping requirements for employers, effective July 1, 2019, and wage theft protections for employees, effective August 1, 2019. For more information.
- Department of Labor and Industry is urging all employers to examine their safety programs, after a spike in reported amputations this year.
Missouri
- Department of Labor is offering confidential safety and health consultations aimed at helping employers build safer workplaces. Businesses must have no more than 250 employees at any one site, and fewer than 500 total employees, to qualify.
New York
- The Workers’ Compensation Board formally adopted its drug formulary and prescribing rules for injured workers, set to go into effect Jan. 5, 2020.
Tennessee
- Rejecting the strict “ABC” test adopted by its appellate court, that state has enacted a new law (H.B. 539) adopting a 20-factor test to determine employee-versus-independent contractor status. The new law becomes effective January 1, 2020.
- An NCCI study found that prescription drug utilization decreased across all categories, regardless of whether they required prior authorization. After the Official Disability Guidelines Workers’ Compensation Drug Formulary was adopted, the utilization of N-drugs, which require prior authorization, dropped by 23.2%.
Virginia
- On July 1, 2019, a new amendment to Virginia Code Section 8.01-413.1 will take effect, requiring all employers to provide copies of employment records to employees upon written request.
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