In the aftermath of a job-related injury, you may be required to see an independent medical examiner (IME) in order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Oklahoma. When on-the-job injuries happen, the impact on every area of your life can be severe. Even relatively minor injuries can prevent you from working while leaving you …
Could Medical Marijuana Impact Workers’ Comp?
Medical marijuana is legal in Oklahoma, but individuals applying for workers’ compensation should understand how it could affect their claim. In 2018, Oklahoma’s legislature legalized medical marijuana. Unlike other states, anyone who has a prescription from a physician can purchase and consume medical marijuana in any form. The law does not limit the use of …
What is a Lien and How Does it Affect My Workers’ Comp?
If you present a workers’ compensation claim involving liability of a third-party, your employer may have the right to assert a lien for recovery of the benefits paid out to you. If your Oklahoma employer is bound to provide workers’ compensation coverage, then you are entitled to those benefits if you are injured in the …
Can Federal Employees Seek Workers’ Compensation if They Contract COVID-19 at Work?
Federal employees are seeking workers’ compensation benefits for contracting COVID-19 at work. In July 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Audit issued a report saying that about 4,000 federal employees sought workers’ comp benefits on the grounds that they contracted COVID-19 in the workplace. The report mentioned that the total number …
Who is Liable if an Employee Gets Sick by a Coworker? Company or Employee?
While individual employees are responsible for taking actions to protect themselves against COVID-19, companies can be held liable for failing to take the proper precautions to prevent transmission in the workplace. Businesses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and throughout the state have begun reopening in the aftermath of widespread closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. While …
Workers’ Compensation and Employment Stance in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Find out how COVID-19 and issues concerning your employment stance could impact your rights to workers’ compensation benefits. Numerous businesses throughout Oklahoma City and Tulsa were forced to close due to stay-home orders issued at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Even at companies that remained open, many workers faced lay-offs and dramatic reductions of …
First COVID-19 Workers Comp Case Taking Place in OK
Workers’ compensation claims based on exposure to COVID-19 on the job are likely to become more common over the coming months. In the midst of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, essential workers are required to remain on the job. Many positions require contact with the general public, putting workers at a higher risk of contracting the …
Lawmakers File New Workers’ Comp Bills
Oklahoma lawmakers have filed a batch of new bills that could bring about changes for those seeking workers’ compensation or currently receiving benefits. Earlier in 2020, lawmakers in Oklahoma introduced 17 pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the state’s workers’ compensation laws. In the months since, several of the bills have passed while others remain …
OK Employment Law Panel on Coronavirus
Employers and employees need to be aware of updates in state and federal laws regarding how job impacts due to the coronavirus are handled. As coronavirus cases continue to climb in Oklahoma, the pandemic is having a dramatic impact on local businesses. State and federal laws have been revised to reflect the changing situation. Our …
Here is What Employers are Looking at When it Comes to Medical Marijuana
Concerned about how marijuana use could impact your job? Our Ponca City employment law attorneys discuss what employers look at in evaluating worker use. Marijuana reform is sweeping across the country. In Oklahoma, medical marijuana is permitted with a doctor’s referral. Despite having a valid license, your medical marijuana use may still be an issue …
