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NCCI's 2020 Regulatory and Legislative Trends Report

In addition to a comprehensive review of the activity in more than 20 states to address workers' compensation presumptions of compensability in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NCCI's 2020 Regulatory and Legislative Trends Report provides an overview of actions by state legislatures, governors, and regulators (through July 31, 2020) to address workers' compensation insurance.

Key subjects include:



Mega claims (over $3M) on the rise

According to a new study by 10 rating agencies of workers' compensation claims from 2001 through 2017, during the Great Recession the rate of mega claims declined sharply, with the fall in construction employment, but they have consistently increased since 2013.

While the construction sector makes up less than 20 percent of all workers' compensation claims, it accounts for over 40 percent of mega claims. Motor vehicle accidents give rise to 20 percent of mega claims and 30 percent of claims with more than $10 million in incurred losses, but represent less than 5 percent of all indemnity claim.

Mega claims comprise a relatively small percentage (0.04%) of all indemnity claims in workers' compensation, but add $1 billion to $2 billion in losses every year. The largest share are in California and New York.

The good news is that insurers are identifying the potential for such claims much quicker than in the past with analytical models. However, it still takes time to breach the $3 million threshold. Less than one-half of mega claims reach the $3 million threshold by 18 months from policy inception, and less than 90% reach that threshold by 126 months from policy inception.



Labor Department issues guidance on tracking employees' teleworking hours

Although the new Field Assistance Bulletin addresses employers' obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for remote work that has skyrocketed during COVID-19, it applies to all other telework or remote work arrangements.



NLRB upholds company's moonlighting ban

In Nicholson Terminal & Dock Co., the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) upheld the company's "moonlighting" policy that prohibited employees from having another job that could be inconsistent with the company's interest, have a detrimental impact on the Company's image with customers or the public, and could require devoting such time and effort that the employee's work would be adversely affected. It also noted that employees are expected to devote their primary work efforts to the company's business.



New safety resource for construction industry from ASSP

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has launched a new library of construction safety resources.



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