Wisconsin Workers' Compensation Blog

New legislation proposed in California puts employers on notice that they may have to treat workers as employees rather than independent contractors. What this means in practical terms is that employers would have to offer employees benefits such as workers' compensation coverage, unemployment compensation, and other employee benefits. The bill pending in California would give companies like those operating rideshares (Lyft and Uber) or food delivery business (Door Dash) legal requirements for establishing whether a worker is an employee. New York's Governor has indicated legislators there will have to look at that same definition of employee versus independent contractor.

It’s well-known by now that spending hours a day sitting at desk hunched over a keyboard is bad for your health. Sitting at a computer for more than two hours per day can affect your health in many ways.

Before you invest in a fancy ergonomic office chair, standing desk or yoga ball in your work space, consider a simpler solution: walking.

While this may seem like a straightforward question, the answer actually depends on a number of factors. It's miserable to have back pain, there's no doubt about that. But in order to receive workers' compensation you have to prove that your pain stems from work not from natural causes such as getting older.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more than 600,000 employees a year suffer from back disorders and it is one of the leading causes of disability for individuals of working age. As the current generation ages, this number is expected to increase exponentially.