Business Groups Worry Transparency On Workplace Injuries Could Be Exploited
A new federal regulation requiring that workplace injuries and illnesses must be made available for a public database has drawn cheers from unions and concern from business groups.
The Wall Street Journal:
U.S. To Post Employer Data About Workplace Injuries, Illnesses
A new federal regulation issued on Wednesday will reveal publicly the workplace injuries and illnesses employers have typically logged for their private use, triggering a clash with business groups that say the data could be misconstrued and exploited by unions and plaintiffs’ lawyers. The rule is the culmination of a long-running debate between workplace-safety regulators and businesses who have been at odds over what and how much safety information should be available to the government and the public. (Trottman, 5/11)
In other news —
The San Francisco Chronicle:
Health Care Firm To Pay For Firing Woman Who Sought Medical Leave
A Walnut Creek health care company will pay more than $37,000 in back wages and damages to an employee who was fired when she asked for medical leave, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday. Latoya Blanche, a clerical employee with Muir Orthopedic Specialists for nearly two years, applied for four weeks of leave in June 2015 because of a serious health condition, the Labor Department said. It did not specify the condition. (Egelko, 5/12)
