Workers’ Comp Board Launches Free College Retraining Program
- The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board is collaborating with SUNY and CUNY Reconnect to offer injured workers free community college access.
- This initiative allows workers unable to return to previous jobs to pursue associate degrees in high-demand fields such as healthcare and cybersecurity.
- The program covers all costs, including tuition, fees, books, and supplies, for eligible adult learners.
- Vocational rehabilitation counselors will help claimants find suitable programs and navigate enrollment.
Delaware Contractors Now Strictly Liable for Subcontractors’ Workers’ Comp
- Delaware’s Workplace Fraud Act now holds general contractors strictly liable for certain worker misclassification violations committed by their subcontractors.
- This expanded liability includes responsibility for unpaid workers’ compensation premiums and administrative penalties regardless of the contractor’s knowledge of the subcontractor’s actions.
- The legislation also introduces a private right of action, allowing misclassified individuals to sue for damages and attorney fees.
- These changes became effective in early 2026.
Office of Workers’ Comp Offers $3 Million to Improve Return-to-Work Outcomes
- The U.S. Department of Labor announced a $3 million funding opportunity to support workplace rehabilitation and return-to-work programs.
- Administered by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, these grants aim to help injured or ill workers remain in the workforce.
- The initiative specifically targets state and local government agencies to implement evidence-based strategies for vocational recovery.
- Applications for this federal funding must be submitted by April 2026.