Governor Signs Bill Increasing Minimum Compensation Rate

On 9/6/23, Governor Hochul signed a bill which will increase the minimum rate in New York workers’ compensation claims to one-fifth of the state average weekly wage.  this goes into effect 7/1/26. Coming more quickly are other changes, Effective 1/1/24, the minimum rate will be increased from the current $150.00 per week to $275.00 per week. The minimum rate increases again on 1/1/25 to $325.00 per week. In any case where the claimant’s wages are less than the minimum rate, the claimant will receive his or her full wages.  The legislation is especially beneficial to lower wage workers who will benefit from the higher minimum compensation rate. This will potentially  increase workers’ compensation insurance premiums as well as costs for self-insured employers. By 1/1/25, the minimum compensation rate will be more than double the current $150.00 rate.     Moving forward, the  minimum compensation rate will be adjusted in each successive year after 7/1/26 to one-fifth of the state average weekly wage for the year in which it is reported.

Topics: workers compensation, Claims

These are the Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations in the workplace for 2022:

Topics: safety, OSHA, Loss Control

Keeping Safe with Winter Driving

Topics: winter driving, driving tips

According to OSHA, Landscaping and Nursery companies are responsible for requiring workers to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions or where specific regulations indicate the need for using PPE to reduce the hazards to the employees.

Topics: safety, Risk Management, Landscape

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a National Emphasis Program (NEP) focused on heat hazards.  Through this, OSHA will be conducting proactive inspections for heat-related hazards—in both outdoor and indoor work environments.   NYSNLA members should be aware of this new program.  Are you ready for an inspection?

Topics: safety, Risk Management, heat hazard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a National Emphasis Program (NEP) focused on heat hazards.  Through this, OSHA will be conducting proactive inspections for heat-related hazards—in both outdoor and indoor work environments.    Is your facility ready for an inspection?

Topics: safety, Risk Management, heat hazard

How do you protect your business from the m assive increases in cyber attacks?  These attacks present themselves in various forms.

Topics: Breach, Cyber, Ransomware, Hack, Hacking, Data, Risk Management

When it comes to safeguarding your business, it’s important to protect yourself against employee lawsuits. The costs associated with these claims can be staggering and can impact businesses of any size or type. Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) provides protection against employment practice claims such as discrimination, sexual harassment, wage & hour and wrongful termination. During FY 2020, the EEOC resolved 70,804 charges of employee discrimination, securing $439.2 million for victims in both the private sector and government workplaces.

Topics: OSHA, Sexual Harassment, Employment Practices, Risk Management, Covid

As many of you know, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) into law this past May. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

NYS has developed a new Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard, a Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan, and industry-specific model plans for the prevention of airborne infectious diseases. Employers are required to comply within 30 days from the DOL release date.   The standard and prevention plan were released this week so the clock is ticking toward that August 5th deadline.  

Topics: safety, Compliance, Heroact