Year: 2013

Workplace stress is unavoidable. From continual deadlines to unreasonable employers to difficult co-workers, most everyone experiences levels of stress and frustration in their daily job. What if the "normal" situation escalates? An incessant, berating boss. A...

Many of my back-injured clients use pain relief medication in the opioid family: Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin or Percocet), Fentanyl (Duragesic or Fentora), Methadone, and Codeine. Many variations of opioids exist, each with a different level of...

Last week we explained Wisconsin's rich history of protecting injured workers through its mandatory workers' compensation system. This week we'll look at what is happening in Texas and Oklahoma, where it is not mandatory for employers. Alternative worker's...

More than a century ago, Wisconsin's initial efforts in worker's compensation led the nation. In 1911 Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to place a broad constitutionally valid worker's compensation system into operation. Recent events, specifically...

Immigration reform is a continual and vexing issue in Washington. While politicians, lobbyists, and service organizations grapple with potential resolutions, there is no disputing the existence of illegal immigrants working for employers in our country. And when there...

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is charged with protecting workers from unsafe conditions at the workplace. One way they do this is by conducting inspections, but the agency does not have the resources to inspect all companies. Some have expressed...

A new study calls into question the notion that workplace wellness programs save an employer money. In a study tracking hospital employees for two years, although hospitalization for employees and family members dropped by over 40% for six major health conditions,...

Chemical exposure in the workplace can have an insidious-yet devasating-effect on a worker. In a wide-ranging article, the New York Times presented an in-depth view of chemical exposure at furniture factories in North Carolina: "As OSHA Emphasizes Safety, Long-Term...

A new study by AON Hewitt indicates more employers will be using penalties to prompt participation in an employee wellness program. Many employers use incentives for participation in wellness and health management programs such as Health Risk Questionnaires, biometric...

There is an undeniable connection between unsafe work places and workers' compensation claims. The more unsafe the job conditions, the more likely a work-related injury or death is to occur. Moreover, poor working conditions can lead to exposure to dangerous...