September 4, 2024
Why you need to watch out for workplace bulliesThe Workplace Bullying Institute estimates that 60.3 million U.S. workers are affected by bullying. Here are tips to prevent it in your workplace.
May 10, 2024
New changes to Minnesota workers’ compensation lawA number of changes to Minnesota's workers' compensation law go into effect in 2024. Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill on May 8, 2024. The legislation contains 50 sections with amendments to chapter 176, many of which are technical or cleanup provisions recommended by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
March 14, 2024
OSHA electronic reporting requirements for employersYou may have questions about whether your business is required to submit information to OSHA electronically, and what information you will need to submit.
January 23, 2024
What employers should know about marijuana safety and impairment policiesAn employer's legal marijuana safety and impairment policy options may depend on the level of operations the company has with the federal government.
January 23, 2024
Can you screen job applicants for prior workers' compensation claims?Asking job candidates about past work injuries, disabilities or medical histories isn't appropriate under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or state laws.
September 25, 2023
Hiring practices: Thorough processes can prevent injuries and problem claimsFollowing a thorough hiring process is one important way you can prevent problem workers’ compensation claims, along with other challenges. Choosing the right employee for a role is rarely easy, but there are steps you can include in your process to help you more confidently make hiring decisions.
July 24, 2023
Recreational marijuana: How Minnesota’s new law may impact work comp and workplace policiesOn May 30, 2023, Gov. Tim Walz signed the state’s recreational marijuana bill, making Minnesota the 23rd state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use. The new law contains several provisions that affect employers doing business in Minnesota, addressing changes to medical marijuana, use of off-duty lawful consumable products, drug testing in the workplace, as well as implementation of workplace policies.
April 26, 2023
Tips for hiring temporary workers or subcontractorsBefore you hire temporary employees or independent subcontractors, get answers to your questions about their safety and workers’ compensation coverage.
March 21, 2023
MN Supreme Court decision clarifies the nature and extent of PTSD claims in the stateMN Supreme Court decision clarifies the nature and extent of PTSD claims in the state
February 1, 2023
Minnesota Supreme Court rules on PTSD presumptionMinnesota Supreme Court rules on PTSD presumption
December 21, 2022
Avoiding litigation: ways to prevent disputes that land claims in courtWhen an attorney gets involved in a workers’ compensation claim, it can increase claim costs and harm outcomes for everyone involved. There are a number of steps that employers can take to prevent the kinds of scenarios that cause workers to seek representation from an attorney.
December 21, 2022
Retaliation claims: what they are and best practices to avoid themIf an employee feels they’ve been wrongfully targeted for exercising their protected right, they may in turn file a retaliation claim. Learn best practices to avoid them.
December 21, 2022
How to prevent safety hazards due to impairmentDrug and alcohol use and misuse are on the rise. As an employer you can establish or update your drug and alcohol program to prevent the safety risks of drug and alcohol use on the job. Learn how to prevent safety hazards due to drug and alcohol impairment.
November 29, 2022
What are employer liability limits?Employer liability coverage is rarely used in most states, and makes up a very small part of the workers' compensation insurance premium.
September 8, 2022
Legal and safety considerations for hybrid workersIf you have employees who work both remotely and on-site, there are some important legal and workplace safety considerations to be aware of.
April 18, 2022
Compensability of adverse COVID-19 vaccine reactionsU.S. employers have the right to encourage or require employees to vaccinate against COVID-19. This raises the question of compensability for adverse reactions from the COVID-19 vaccine, and related medical treatment and time lost from work. A key factor for workers’ compensation compensability is whether the vaccination was required by the employer.
February 7, 2022
Resumption of the presumption: Minnesota's COVID-19 presumption lawMinnesota’s workers’ compensation law has been temporarily amended to include a presumption of liability for certain workers with a positive COVID-19 laboratory test or clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 when a test is not available.
November 10, 2021
MN Supreme Court rules on medical cannabis in work compRecent MN Supreme Court decisions create a new bright-line rule about the compensability of medical marijuana in workers’ compensation claims.
December 29, 2020
Iowa commissioner deems rotator cuff a ‘shoulder’ injuryIowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Joseph Cortese determined that an injury to a muscle in the rotator cuff is considered a shoulder injury for the purpose of determining permanent partial disability benefits.
December 29, 2020
MN Supreme Court addresses workers’ compensation caseThe Minnesota Supreme Court addressed the rights of intervenors in workers’ compensation proceedings in the August 12, 2020, decision of Koehnen v. Flagship Marine Company and Auto Owners Insurance Company.
September 4, 2020
A legal perspective on injuries while working from homeIt can be challenging to determine whether an employee’s injury is considered work related, even in the typical work environment. Working from home can present unique workers’ compensation issues due to the inevitable mix of work-related and personal activities.
April 7, 2020
Retirement presumption can affect workers’ comp benefitsMost Minnesota workers retire at 67, but employers may have to continue permanent total disability benefits if an employee continues working past the expected age.
March 30, 2020
Information for employers: Injuries while working from homeWith more employees working from home due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many policyholders have turned to SFM for answers on liability questions concerning the home office.
March 25, 2020
Cumulative injury coverage under workers' compensationSome work injuries don’t occur at a specific time, but rather they are the result of a degenerative process that takes place over months or years.
March 18, 2020
Even unpaid interns may be eligible for workers’ compIf your organization offers internships, be aware that even unpaid interns could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
August 28, 2019
Are employees compensated when injured while violating company rules?Employers are can be frustrated to learn that employees injured while violating company safety rules can still receive workers’ compensation benefits in some cases.
June 25, 2019
Tips for a smooth premium auditRead our premium audit tips to make sure yours goes smoothly, and understand why your annual workers' compensation premium audit is so important.
May 29, 2019
Are employee injuries at parties and wellness events eligible for workers' comp benefits?Typically, an injury sustained in an activity that is truly voluntary is not compensable. But if the employee is encouraged or required to participate, or the company benefits from the participation in some way, it could be.
May 9, 2019
Workers' compensation and home office telecommutingEmployees who are injured while taking a short break from work can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. What happens when the injury occurs while the employee is working from home?
April 24, 2019
Workers’ comp exemptions for MN small business owners and familiesMinnesota law allows employers to exclude certain types of employees from coverage, such as small business owners and their close relatives.
September 19, 2018
From the president: Another blown opportunity to save lives in MinnesotaSFM has been an active supporter of proposed state laws banning the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving.
July 25, 2018
"Ban the Box" doesn't prevent criminal background check"Ban the box" is a national movement that prevents employers from asking about criminal history prior to interviewing applicants. In some cases, criminal background checks can be a useful hiring tool.
July 11, 2018
What the 'gig economy' means for worker protectionsA growing gig economy might leave some workers with gaps in workers' compensation and other protections.
June 13, 2018
Are your workers independent contractors or employees?Employers' workers' compensation requirements differ for workers considered employees versus those considered independent contractors.
March 1, 2018
Wisconsin law makes workers’ compensation ‘exclusive remedy’ for temp worker injuriesWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law on February 28 that prevents temporary employees who sustain work injuries from suing their employers, rather than going through workers’ compensation.
November 15, 2017
Are injuries at a work holiday party compensable?Although in most cases injuries that occur during a work holiday party would not be compensable, there are some exceptions.
June 30, 2017
Do volunteers qualify for workers' compensation?Volunteers generally aren’t eligible for workers' compensation benefits, but there are exceptions, and state laws can differ.
April 19, 2017
What Iowa’s new workers’ compensation changes meanIowa’s workers’ compensation system will see some significant changes on July 1, 2017, under a bill signed into law by Gov. Terry Branstad in March.
August 4, 2016
Wisconsin medical board adopts opioid prescribing guidelinesThe Wisconsin Medical Examining Board adopted new guidelines for prescribing opioid painkillers aimed at combating heroin use.
July 30, 2015
Minnesota implements new rules for prescribing opioid painkillersTo prevent injured workers from ending up with painkiller addictions, the state of Minnesota has adopted stronger requirements for prescribing physicians.
July 13, 2015
Nebraska Supreme Court reverses workers’ comp rulingThis 2015 ruling from the Nebraska Supreme court reversed a lower court’s ruling on the workers’ compensation case.
June 17, 2015
Iowa Supreme Court says workers’ compensation surveillance footage need not be disclosed before depositionThe Iowa Supreme Court ruled that employers do not need to provide surveillance footage to workers’ compensation claimants before they are deposed.
January 13, 2015
The four most effective tactics to avoid workers' compensation litigationOn-the-job injuries can cost your company time, productivity, money and even employee morale — costs that are compounded when you become engaged in a legal battle.
September 30, 2014
What your employee handbook should say about workers' compensationIncorporating workers' compensation into your employee handbook shows your staff that you take work injuries seriously.
June 16, 2014
How to discipline employees who’ve experienced work injuriesSimply because an employee sustained a work injury does not excuse that employee from performing the duties and expected standards of the job.
March 7, 2014
Minnesota Supreme Court maintains status quo for PTSD claimsThe Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed that an employee’s post-traumatic stress disorder was a non-compensable mental injury under the law in effect at the time of injury.
January 3, 2014
Minnesota Supreme Court reverses appeals court's Dykhoff decisionThe 2013 Dykhoff decision provides insight into what it means for an injury to “arise out of” employment, making it eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
December 23, 2013
Injuries while entering and leaving the workplace: A primerState law requires that employers provide safe, well-maintained and accessible routes for employees to and from their parked vehicles into their place of work.
August 26, 2013
Police officer’s mental injury might have been compensable under amended Minnesota workers’ compensation lawMinnesota law previously did not allow workers' compensation benefits for mental injuries unless they caused or were accompanied by physical injuries.
August 14, 2013
First ‘GINA’ lawsuit settled by EEOCThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settled the first lawsuit it had filed under the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
May 27, 2013
Summer can increase schools' workers' comp exposureAt schools, the summer months can present high potential for workers' compensation exposure, because wage-loss benefits can drag out longer than they would otherwise.
