ProAssurance Posts Q1 2024 Results

• ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA) posts some positive first quarter results, including operating earning of 0.08% per share.
• It’s workers’ compensation segment retained 87% of its existing policies with selective new business.
• Workers’ comp is facing higher medical costs per claim, but there are improvements in loss ratio and investment income.
• ProAssurance received an increase of 7% in the Specialty P&C segment.
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Council Supports Workers’ Rights

• A Boston Council is getting behind legislation that gives injured workers more rights.
• According to the National Employment Law Project, fewer than 40% of injured workers filed a workers’ compensation claim.
• The Council is throwing its weigh behind SB 1165, a bill that strengthens anti-retaliation laws, so workers are so not prevented from filing claims.
• The attorney general is empowered to investigate and resolve any retaliation complaints injured workers make when trying to assert their rights.
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Pork Company Jumped the Gun

• An Iowa appellate rules that until worker status is sorted, no summary judgment.
• A temporary staffing agency employed Emmerson Saul for a job at a pork processing plant. The staffing firm was listed as his employer, but SeaBoard Triumph supervised his work.
• After suffering an ankle injury, he filed a workers’ compensation claim with the staffing firm. In addition, he sued SeaBoard for negligence. The processor said that the exclusive remedy prevents the suit.
• The court says not so fast. Saul’s employment status is still unclear. Triumph did state that Saul was not its employee. On the other hand, there might be evidence to suggest that Saul and Seaboard entered into an employment relationship, during his temporary assignment.
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Truck Driver Classification Poses Challenge

• A new independent driver classification rule redefines owner/operators, potentially categorizing them as employees.
• This could have serious cost implications, including the cost of workers’ compensation.
• It’s only been a few months since the introduction of the rule, but it could see many independent contractors shift to employees.
• One trucking company says that the change could increase costs by as much as 30% to 40%.
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OZ Gig Workers Loosing Out

• Thousands of gig workers’ might lose protections in Queensland.
• Because they’re not considered employees, Gig workers will be prevented from filing workers’ comp claims for work injuries, if certain legislation passes parliament.
• Legislation under consideration does not define a gig worker as an employee.
• As in the US, gig employers including Uber and Lyft are prevalent in Australia, and fill a large part of the economy.
• Worker advocates are working on amending the legislation to make sure that gig workers have the same protections as regular employees, similar to the efforts in the US.
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