As employees add the latest and greatest technological toys to their daily routines, it’s worth noting the ergonomic impact these devices have. 

Wisconsin lien law is a collection tool to “provide protection for [contractors, subcontractors and suppliers] who improve the property of others by furnishing materials or labor."   In many cases, liens are a contractor’s best leverage in getting paid. 

Abuse of prescription medications is on the rise, as are rates of addiction and overdose.  As an employer, you should be concerned about how this will affect your workers’ compensation costs and exposures.  Of course, over-medication will raise the cost of your claims – but the bigger risk is that employers will be held liable for the fatalities, long-term health care costs, and possibly even the tortious actions of addicted employees that are receiving work comp benefits.

OSHA publishes counts of violations by company, as well as incidence rates by geography and industry.  Now, they’re publishing the safety & health incident rate of many individual companies.  Through a simple search engine, interested parties can type in a company’s name and access high level accident and injury data of many US-based business. 

CHAD TISONIK
Advisory Practice Leader & Associate VP

OSHA released its Top 10 Most Cited Violations of 2011 today at the National Safety Council’s annual conference. Construction grabbed three spots, including #1 and #2 on the list.  The remainder of the most cited violations can be found in any industry. 

RENEE KUHS
Compliance Attorney, HNI

Most positions involve a certain degree of on-the-job learning.  Can the same be said for human resource functions?  The answer is yes, of course HR pros CAN learn on the job…but is this safe?  That’s a matter of opinion.

A new wage tracking app has been released by the Department of Labor that allows hourly employees to record hours, breaks, and overtime pay.  DOL-Timesheet is intended to empower workers to ensure that they’re getting paid correctly by their employer.  The data gathered through this app could be used as evidence in wage and hour compliance cases, and may spark even more employees to file these type of suits.

JODI MATHY
Post Loss Specialist, HNI

Here is a frightening statistic: 75% of substance abusers are currently employed. When these same employees arrive for work, they don’t leave their problems at the door. It is no coincidence that industries with the highest rates of drug use are the same as those at a high risk for work injuries.