Five Things You Need to Know: 5/2, Wednesday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -

 1) Next Up for Out Front Ideas: A Workplace Violence Webinar

Safety National and Sedgwick will sponsor a webinar entitled “Workplace Violence: Assessment and Response,” on May 15 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST, according to an emailed press release. Kimberly George, SVP of Corporate Development, M&A and Healthcare at Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.; and Mark Walls, VP Communications & Strategic Analysis with Safety National, host the Out Front Ideas series. Speakers for this session will include Bob Durand, Practice Leader of Medical Group Support Services for Permanente in the Northern California Region; and George Vergolias, PsyD, and VP Medical Director for R3 Continuum. Topics will include “…How to proactively identify workplace violence threats,” and “Strategies for safely defusing anxious, hostile or violent behavior at the earliest possible stage,” per the release. Click here to register.

2) Is China Really Monitoring the Brainwaves of its Workers? 

It seems more like a sci-fi novel than news fodder, but Hangzhou Zhongheng Electric, among other companies in China, have been utilizing “…government-sponsored technologies to monitor the brain activity of employees while they’re on the job, the Post reports,” according to a Motherboard (VICE) article written by Samantha Cole. Hats and helmets have been given to some factory and production line workers to monitor emotions and productivity with AI algorithms. What else is scary? “…the basic dystopian conceit here — that your employer would force you to wear a mind-reading device so it could increase productivity — is not impossible,” according to the article, noting recent patents and inventions that track productivity, including smart watch apps. It’s also important to note: “…Whatever changes an employer makes to the workforce based on behavioral data might be overthinking problems that a much simple solution — like better benefits, paid leave, or increased wages or flexibility — might fix.”

3) IL: Alleged Employee Disability Discrimination from Macy’s Leads to EEOC Lawsuit 

“…The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 18 that Macy’s will pay $75,000 after allegations of discriminating against an employee with asthma who took one day off work to address emergency complications related to her disability,” writes Mark Landolo of Legal News Line. The employee of almost eight years took an “emergency day” from her work duties to visit the ER for “disability complications,” and was later fired, according to the EEOC. "’…Macy's response to the employee's absence was not reasonable,’ Greg Gochanour, regional attorney of EEOC's Chicago District Office, said in a statement,” writes Landolo.

4) PA: Alleged Unpaid Wages Leads to Lawsuit Against Heating and AC Co. 

Philadelphia resident Ryland Shattuck has filed a lawsuit against Harmon Heating and Air Conditioning LLC and its owners, Warren Harmon and Melissa Harmon, for alleged unpaid wages, writes Noddy A. Fernandez of the Pennsylvania Record. “…The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible for allegedly failing to properly compensate him and for allegedly wrongfully keeping the wages and benefits they allegedly owe him,” according to the article. Shattuck requests trial-by-jury, owed wages, interest, court costs, and any other further relief.   

5) FL: NCCI Annual Issues Symposium/Golf Tourney to Sponsor Kid's Chance

“The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is pleased to announce that its Annual Issues Symposium (AIS) 2018 golf tournament will support Kids' Chance and is sponsored by JLT Re,” according to a WorkersCompensation.com Current News article. “…The AIS 2018 golf tournament will be held on May 16, 2018, at the Grand Cypress Orlando Golf Club in Florida. You can find more information about the tournament on ncci.com,” per the article. According to the organization, “…Kids' Chance believes that we can make a significant difference in the lives of all children affected by workplace injuries by helping them pursue and achieve their educational goals.”

Share This Article: