Quote of the day
"I'm pleased that we're putting money into computers, and not into enforcing laws."
Washington State Rep. Steve Conway, to an employee of the Washington Department of Labor & Industries workers' comp program at a task force on the underground economy
Computers Seized from Monterey County Firms in Fraud Probe
Investigators from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Insurance search a Salinas packaging materials plant and a medical office for records related to an alleged workers’ comp fraud case. The employers allegedly dissuaded employees from reporting compensable injuries, according to Deputy District Attorney Ed Hazel.
Go to the full story by Daniel Lopez, Monterey County Herald
Go to the full story by Erin Digitale, Salinas Californian [With Photos]
State Fires Shot Across Bow of Underground Economy
State officials target a Southern California drywall contractor in their first step in an expected series of enforcement actions against scofflaw employers who fail to pay minimum wage or purchase workers’ comp. “Our goal is to send a message to industry to knock it off,” says California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown. By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
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Washington Rep Takes Underground Economy Task Force to Task
Washington State Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, hammers members of a state Department of Labor & Industries task force on the underground economy. The Olympian – Adam Wilson Blog
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Washington Firm Denies Misreporting Hours, Risk Classifications
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries reports that the sibling owners of a Vancouver, Wash., excavation business deny 31 felony counts each for violating state labor laws, including failing to accurately report employees’ hours worked and risk classifications. One of the siblings faces charges of witness-tampering. By AP via KOMO-TV
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80 Percent of Houston School’s Staff Files Claims
About 80 percent of the staff—88 employees—at a Houston middle school file workers’ compensation claims claiming ailments connected to the building’s air quality and possible mold. By AP via Victoria Advocate
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Canada Court to Hear Workers’ Comp Stress Case
The Yukon Court of Appeal will hear the province’s argument in favor of overturning a Yukon Supreme Court decision from earlier this year awarding workers’ comp to a former Yukon Workers’ Compensation, Health and Safety Board employee for stress she purportedly still suffers due to her firing five years ago. CBC News
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