A recent report showed that injured workers in the state of Texas have improved access to physicians who can treat them more quickly. The study compared studies performed in 2015 and 2000. They found that 84% of workers who were injured on the job received care in the first seven days after their injury, as opposed to 76% fifteen years ago. This ready access means a lot to workers and employers. The key being that this means that workers are seeing a better chance of returning to work more quickly. This also means that the effectiveness of workers’ compensation is improving for those injured on the job. Another reason for the increase in access and effectiveness was found to be an increase in the number of physicians around the state of Texas who were able to provide the necessary help for injured workers. The study noted a 26% decrease in the amount of patients each doctor treated over the fifteen-year span. This means that injured workers have more choices when it comes to treating doctors. In short, if you’ve been injured on the job and have filed a workers’ compensation claim, the available doctors are more qualified and more abundant today than they were in 2000. Click the link to read the study: Access to Medical Care in the Texas Workers’ Compensation System, 2000–2015

If you’re a federal worker and you’ve been injured on the job it is important that you follow the proper protocols to ensure that you get the compensation that you need. Here are some keys to making sure you don’t get your OWCP compensation benefits terminated. Provide a sufficient doctor report. In order to receive your compensation benefits, you will need to be examined by a doctor. Additionally, you will want to see a doctor that is familiar with DOL processes and procedures to make sure you get the proper paperwork done sufficiently. Bad paperwork can lead to denied claims. Accept suitable job placement. If your injury precludes you from performing your job, but another suitable job is available, you will need to accept this job offer. If you deny it, it is possible that your claim will be denied. However, it is important that the employee can perform the physical requirements of the position in relation to the medical evidence and fit within the employee’s skill set. Participate in vocational rehabilitation. In order to expedite your return to work and demonstrate your willingness to return to work, it is important that you take part in any available vocational rehab unless you have good cause to refrain. Maintain consistent medical records. This is another reason that it is important to have a doctor who is familiar with the process. It will ensure consistent and thorough records of your injury and health history. Cooperate with required additional examinations. If [...]

The risk of injuries faced by airport screeners is varied. Airport screeners around the country have reported back strains, lacerations, bruises, abrasions and even broken bones. As a result, proper training and techniques are key. It’s important that screeners utilize proper lifting technique and ergonomics. However, constrained work environments often make this difficult. The TSA has publicly acknowledged the problem of these working conditions and is investing hundreds of millions in improvements. A major source of the problem is changes in security regulations and increased hiring of new personnel that has short-circuited proper training processes. “When you’re not trained properly in how to lift bags, you’re going to hurt something,” said Lyons, whose union represents TSA employees. The TSA says that it plans to train screeners on safe lifting techniques and to develop more specific standard operating procedures to avoid injury. In 2012, OSHA reported that the injury and illness rate for TSA workers was 19.4 percent that year. The average for federal workers was 5.5 percent. These rate numbers represent how many times the government reimburses employees for on- the-job injuries or illnesses, divided by the total work force. The TSA employed about 65,000 people last year, with the vast majority working as screeners. Sadly, TSA screeners often complain they get the runaround when they file for worker’s compensation. This simply underscores the necessity of understanding your rights and responsibilities as an injured federal worker. Additionally, good union support, a doctor experienced in DOL paperwork and potentially [...]

A recent study performed by the Government Accountability Office found that almost all federal employees are rated as being above average in the job performance. In fact, 99% of all federal employees were given a rating of "fully successful" or better. 74% were received the highest ratings of "exceeding fully successful" and "outstanding". Less than 1% of all federal employees were given a rating of "unacceptable" or "minimally successful". This is exciting news for federal employees, though some seem skeptical of the rating system as a whole. The skeptics bring into question the anomaly of such overwhelmingly positive results. "Under a normal, bell curve distribution, an equally low percentage of employees would be rated in the lowest and highest categories. Yet, for every federal employee with the lowest 'unacceptable' rating, 386 employees receive the highest 'outstanding' rating." - WND.com "One must wonder whether or not federal employees really do perform at a rate that is far superior to private sector employees. If so, that is fantastic! But let's wait before we get too excited over these highly suspicious numbers." - D. Redmond, Low Testosterone Doctor Read more at http://dailysignal.com/2016/06/16/government-rates-99-of-federal-employees-fully-successful-or-higher/

AUSTIN - A chiropractor in the Central Texas area plead guilty to solicitation and receipt of illegal remunerations regarding the treatment of injured federal workers and the federal workers compensation system under the US Department of Labor (DOL). A judge sentenced the chiropractor to 14 years in prison and insisted the chiropractor repay the nearly $18,000,000 in money he received as a result of his scam. Reports indicate the chiropractor operated clinics in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Killeen, and Westlake. It is said that the chiropractor solicited kickbacks in exchange for patient referrals.

A couple of weeks ago the United States Department of Labor (DOL) rendered its final decision as to overtime rules. The new rule, which will be effective as of December 1st of this year, will increase the overtime eligibility for millions of Americans under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Though the new rule is expected to cause in increase in cost to employers, many are hopeful that there will be long term savings for employers based on increased retention rates and less attrition. "The Final Rule becomes effective December 1, 2016; this gives employers approximately six months to implement the changes necessitated by the updated regulations." - David, 24 Hour Video Monitoring The DOL did allow for employers to opt out of making overtime payments, provided they are able to meet the following criteria: The employee must be paid a constant, fixed salary The salary must be at or above the minimum salary level The employee's primary responsibilities must be in line with the work often associated with executive, administrative, professional, or computer employees To learn more about the recent ruling rendered by the Department of Labor please visit this source article: https://www.zanebenefits.com/blog/department-of-labor-issues-final-overtime-flsa-rules