Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., is proud to have two lawyers who are North Carolina board-certified workers’ compensation specialists. The attorneys bring a high level of professionalism and knowledge about workers’ compensation law to each case they handle. They understand that being injured and out of work can cause…
The annual list of the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA safety standard violations in U.S. workplaces features many familiar hazards and one workplace safety standard on the list for the first time. Patrick Kapust, deputy director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, told the NSC’s Safety+Health magazine that the…
There are many reasons a person may quit a job. However, you should keep in mind that leaving an employer that owes you workers’ compensation benefits can complicate a pending workers’ compensation claim. Resigning from a company that is responsible for your workers’ compensation benefits should be a carefully considered…
North Carolina establishes its rules and regulations for individuals employed in the state in Chapter 95 of the NC General Statutes, titled Department of Labor and Labor Regulations. Most North Carolinians will work their entire careers without giving much thought to workplace rights and regulations outside of their employers’ orientation…
If someone were to mention workers’ compensation fraud to you, what would be your first guess at who is generally responsible? Is it employees? That’s what a lot of people wrongly think. According to a poll conducted on Claims Journal’s website, employee fraud was cited as the number one kind…
The North Carolina Industrial Commission recently released a report auditing the state’s Workers’ Compensation Program. The report evaluates the degree of compliance of businesses with the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act and how well compliance is being enforced. All companies in North Carolina, with the exception of a few exemptions laid…
I am often asked the question, “If you had to do it all over again, would you roll the dice and endure the mental torture and financial strain that law school demands?” Each time I answer with a resounding “YES.” The reason I went to law school was because I…
In a show of support for workers and law-abiding businesses, the North Carolina House passed a bill that would prevent businesses from classifying workers as independent contractors when in fact they are employees. This misclassification cheats workers from being covered by workers’ compensation laws and allows the cheating businesses to…
RALEIGH In early 2014, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry had some good news to share: Workplace deaths dropped significantly, with only 23 people having died in accidents on the job in the past year. It was the smallest annual toll since Berry took office in 2001. That count, though,…
The budget conference committee was just appointed, so we finally have an opportunity to let our voices be heard about Section 15.1.6(b) of the budget bill. This provision would dramatically change the terms of Deputy Commissioners who hear workers’ compensation cases at the Industrial Commission. The Senate budget provides for…
