One of our largest expenses as a payroll company is workers compensation insurance, especially in our niche market. Because so many of our employees are of a "questionable" element, they tend to file a lot of claims for both compensation and unemployment. One of our tools for reducing that overhead was a discount offered by SCF for requiring drug testing in the event of an injury. They could then deny a claim if the employee was under the influence - seems pretty reasonable, right?
However, that discount is no longer available because the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled "that the state statute that barred payment of workers compensation benefits to workers who tested positive for drugs or alcohol after a work injury was unconstitutional".
So, if someone is so high that they run over their own foot with a forklift (yes, that's happened) it is not their fault and we are liable for their medical (and possibly other) bills. How does that work?
No personal responsibility at all....
Posted by Vox at April 5, 2006 02:51 PM | TrackBack | workSomebody at the legislature introduced a constitutional amendment to fix this problem. Not sure what happened to it, though, or where it is in the process.
Posted by: Special Agent Johnny Utah at April 5, 2006 03:52 PMWhat a bunch of shit. Why the hell must we baby everybody and give in to everyone's whim? Geez.
Posted by: Lori at April 6, 2006 08:41 PM