workers' compensation

10 Stories

No Workers' Comp for UPS Driver Who Crashed After Beers

'Voluntary intoxication while working deviates from the ordinary course of employment,' says judge

(Newser) - A UPS driver who crashed his truck after downing several beers while driving is not entitled to workers' compensation for his injuries, a Delaware judge ruled. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Vavala ruled late last week that Delaware's Industrial Accident Board abused its discretion and erred as a matter of...

Actor Charged in $96K Workers' Comp Fraud

Q'orianka Kilcher of 'Yellowstone' allegedly claimed injury kept her from work, despite just finishing job

(Newser) - Q'orianka Kilcher, an actor who had a breakout role as Pocahontas in 2005's The New World, is said to have collected nearly $100,000 in a case of workers' compensation fraud. The 32-year-old of North Hollywood allegedly injured her neck and right shoulder in October 2018 while working...

New York State Fines Ocasio-Cortez Campaign

Her campaign lacked workers' compensation for a month

(Newser) - The campaign of US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been fined $1,500 for not having the required workers' compensation for a month last year, the AP reports. A spokeswoman for the New York state Workers' Compensation Board, Melissa Stewart, said Friday that Ocasio-Cortez's Democratic campaign lacked coverage from March...

Paramedic's Mom Died in His Arms. He Can't Get Workers' Comp

Quebec's Olivier Mireault was on a work call—but he responded before shift started

(Newser) - In November, Quebec paramedic Olivier Mireault responded to a call at his mom's house. The 63-year-old ended up dying in her son's arms of an aortic aneurysm rupture after he couldn't revive her. "I said, 'This can't be real. Someone wake me up,'...

Japanese Literally Work Themselves to Death

'Karoshi' demises are often from suicide, heart attack, or stroke

(Newser) - Work-life balance is the American worker's goal, but for Japanese employees, work and life may be one and the same. The Washington Post takes a look at Japan's toil-til-you-drop culture, where 12-hour days are typical and there's even a word ("karoshi") that means "death...

Why a Big Toe Is Worth $6K in California, $90K in Oregon

State payouts on body parts are way out of whack, investigation reveals

(Newser) - Anyone with the misfortune to lose a limb on the job at least gets a decent workers' comp payout, right? Actually, it all depends on where they live, reports ProPublica and NPR . Here's a crazy example of what the joint investigation calls this "geographic lottery": Jeremy Lewis and...

Court: Workers' Comp Justified Over Kickball Game

Employee got injured at company game, can collect

(Newser) - If the company softball or kickball game gets a little too violent, the South Carolina Supreme Court says you may be entitled to workers' compensation. The court today ruled that Stephen Whigham, who was injured in his firm's kickball game, is entitled to workers' compensation benefits because he was...

Employee Hurt During Sex Won't Get Workers' Comp

Case reached Australia's highest court

(Newser) - In the just-so-you-know department: Getting injured while having sex on a business trip does not qualify you for workers' comp benefits. Or at least that's how things roll in Australia, where a crazy case managed to reach the nation's highest court, reports Bloomberg . It started in 2007, when...

Pepper-Spraying Cop Wants Workers' Comp

John Pike, since fired, claims psychiatric injury

(Newser) - The University of California cop who gained notoriety during the Occupy protests by methodically pepper-spraying a group of student protesters says he's a victim, too. John Pike, who got fired from the university force after the incident, claims he suffered psychiatric injury and is due workers' comp, reports the...

Woman Hurt During Sex Wins Workers' Comp Suit

It's an 'ordinary incident of life,' rules judge in Australia

(Newser) - It might not be the stuff of workers' rights fights of yore, but it's still a victory. Of sorts. An Australian judge has ruled that a woman who got injured during sex is entitled to workers' comp, reports news.com.au . It seems she was out of town on...

10 Stories