Support for AB 5 and its “ABC test” aimed at classifying more workers as employees rather than independent contractors appears to be growing due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The federal, state and local government restriction on businesses and mobility have vastly limited the availability of work. Independent contractors, who are not entitled to unemployment benefits…
Last week, on behalf of a group of qualified medical examiners (QMEs), Nicholas Roxborough sent a letter to the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to issue an emergency regulation specifically allowing QMEs to perform evaluations via telemedicine during the current COVID-19 outbreak, not only to keep the cases moving but also to protect the health and…
A court will hear the State Compensation Insurance Fund’s contention that its tiered rating system algorithm was appropriately filed with the California Department of Insurance. State Fund convinced the court to reject requests by the CDI and an employer to deny State Fund’s petition– but just barely. The case affects the tier modifiers; it applied…