North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Reform Debate Boils Over
Tensions mounted this week as the debate over potential North Carolina workers’ compensation reforms stoked passions on both sides.
An April 21st article in the Huffington Post quoted the President of North Carolina’s AFL-CIO, James Andrew, about the proposed reforms: “We believe there is a number of provisions being proposed that would hurt workers… [changes to make it more difficult for hurt workers to change physicians and the redefinition of what might constitute suitable employment] would require workers to take Wal-Mart type jobs in an effort to quickly return to work.”
The Post also quotes Ray Evans, the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s current Director, who did his best to cool the tensions between labor groups and business groups over the proposed North Carolina workers’ compensation reforms. Evans said “in this legislative environment, it’s difficult to separate the anecdotal evidence from what we consider more factual evidence… we hear all the time about people on disability out playing golf or basketball. We don’t know if that’s urban legend.”
As this blog reported last year, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that our state’s workers’ comp costs were one of the highest in a group of 15 different states analyzed. Advocates of the Republican sponsored reforms point to this and other related indicators as signs that something must be done – now – to help to us regain fiscal control.
Meanwhile, as the debate rages in the state capital, hurt and injured workers – and their families – are anxiously awaiting the passage (or not) of the bill.
How will passage affect them, personally?
If you or someone you care about has been hurt, will you no longer be able to change doctors as easily, if you want to? Will you be forced to go back to work earlier than you thought? Will your workers’ comp benefits be cut off sooner than you had expected them to be?
These and other uncertainties may be plaguing you. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this battle alone. A North Carolina workers’ compensation law firm can review your situation and help you understand how/if the changes to the law might impact you.
Part of what is so distressing about proposed reforms is that employers and employees alike are stuck in this state of transition. When you are in limbo, it is difficult to plan. Hopefully, this limbo won’t last too much longer, and we will get some resolution either way about the law, so hurt and injured workers and their families can take practical, proactive steps to protect their rights and their benefits.
More Web Resources:
Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI)
