Chicago Report Finds Employee Fabricated Injury to Obtain Workers’ Comp Benefits
- A Chicago inspector general report found that one city employee fabricated an on‑duty injury to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.
- The investigation also identified two Chicago Police Department employees who received fraudulent PPP loansAxios.
- Another employee was cited for misusing work time at a private social club.
- The findings were included in the office’s fourth‑quarter misconduct report.
Legislators Act to Close Loophole Impacting Firefighter Workers’ Comp Claims
- Arizona lawmakers introduced bills to correct a punctuation error in the state’s presumptive cancer law for firefighters.
- The mistake has allowed some insurers to deny workers’ compensation claims for certain cancers.
- The proposed fixes aim to clarify that these cancers are presumed job‑related for full‑time firefighters.
- The legislation follows reports that the error created a loophole affecting benefit eligibility.
Workers’ Comp Agency Loosens Office Mandates While Another Must Weigh Exceptions
- The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) is easing its in‑office work requirements by allowing some employees to work remotely due to limited office space.
- The change comes nearly a year after federal employees were directed to return to full‑time, in‑person work.
- OWCP’s memo outlines eligibility for remote arrangements within the agency.
- Separately, an arbitrator ordered a Health and Human Services component to consider additional exceptions to the mandate.