While we are still in the first quarter, 2021 is already shaping up to be a busy year for workers' comp-related legislation, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). That organization has noted several trends that emerged in the past year and will continue to impact the sector. The council is currently tracking 700 state and federal bills, including nearly 500 in states where it provides rate-making services. There also are more than 160 workers' comp-related regulations being considered. Related: Q&A: Safety, workers' comp and the remote workforce One of the most pressing issues for employers is whether they should require workers to get the COVID vaccine, according to Kimberly George, senior vice president of corporate development, M&A and health care at Sedgwick and a member of the NU Property & Casualty Editorial Advisory Board. She says that EEOC guidelines published December 16 dictate that employers can require workers to get vaccinated — with some limits. "Keep in mind that Title 7 workplace rights may impact someone getting the vaccine for religious exemptions," George says, "and the Americans with Disability Act still applies to some people that might avoid the vaccination due to pre-existing conditions." She adds that since employment issues are typically enforced through litigation, expect to see more court cases around the vaccine. In addition to the vaccine, the above slideshow highlights five other trends that will impact the workers' comp sector in the months and years to come, according to NCCI. Read more: |

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