Michigan Workers' Compensation Law Turns 100 This Labor Day Weekend

Lansing, MI (WorkersCompensation.com) - Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Director Steven H. Hilfinger announced today that Michigan Workers' Compensation is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this Labor Day weekend.

The Michigan Workmen's Compensation law (Act no. 10 of Public Acts extra session, 1912) was signed by Michigan Governor Chase S. Osborn effective Sept. 1, 1912. Michigan's injured workers and their employers continue to be protected by the Workers' Disability Compensation Act, which provides wage loss compensation, medical care and vocational rehabilitation to workers who suffer an injury on the job while protecting employers from unlimited liability.

"The law was created to protect workers as the economy shifted from agricultural to industrial and will likely evolve in the future with changing work conditions of Millennials, the generation born in late 1970s and later," said Workers' Compensation Agency (WCA) Director Kevin Elsenheimer. "Workers' Compensation laws were the nation's first social legislation, later followed by unemployment and other employee benefits.

To recognize the milestone, Governor Rick Snyder is issuing a certificate of recognition for the 100^th anniversary of Workers' Compensation law in Michigan. Michigan's Workers' Compensation system has been recognized as a "competitive asset for the state" by the Workers Compensation Research Institute since overall costs have declined in recent years.

"We've been able to keep costs down for Workers' Compensation, which is a benefit for Michigan employers and ultimately employees and job seekers," said Hilfinger. "Changes were also recently made when Governor Snyder signed PA 266 of 2011 reforming the state's workers' compensation system which will continue to give Michigan a competitive edge in attracting and retaining businesses."

The anniversary of Workers' Compensation will be commemorated in conjunction with the North American Labor History Conference, Oct. 18-19 with national and state experts including Lt. Governor Brian Calley and WCA Director Kevin Elsenheimer. The event will be hosted at Wayne State University by the Workers' Compensation Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Michigan Workers' Compensation Agency. The seminar is at the Wayne State University Law School, Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium, located at 471 West Palmer Street in Detroit.

The event is being facilitated in partnership with the Wayne State University History Department, the Wayne State University Law School, and is funded by the Workers' Compensation Section of the Michigan State Bar. The two-day event opens with a screening and panel discussion of the film about the mining industry in the Upper Peninsula, 1913 Massacre, by award-winning directors Ken Ross and Louis V. Galdieri. The second day of the Conference commemorates the 100^th Anniversary of Michigan's Workers' Compensation Act by presenting a daylong symposium featuring eight national experts discussing Workers' Compensation's past, present, and future.

This event is free of charge. Participation in the NALHC luncheon requires registration and prepayment through the event website at http://nalhc.wayne.edu/. For more information on the 100^th Anniversary Celebration and the 2012 North American Labor History Conference contact Jack Nolish, WCA Deputy Director at 313-456-3650.

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