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Worker's comp COLA is 4.2 percent for FY 2016

The Department of Labor and Industries has announced that workers’ compensation benefits will increase by 4.168 percent in fiscal year 2016. This is due to the increase in the state’s average annual wage last year. The maximum monthly benefit will increase to $5,482.90 (from $5,263.50). According to L&I, “Less than 4 percent of L&I claimants […]

InFocus: Employment, rent control, state budget & the $10 bill

Washington's average wage increases, affecting UI taxes and benefits

Today the Employment Security Department reported that Washington’s average annual wage was $54,829 last year (an increase of 4.2 percent over 2013). The average weekly wage was $1,054. Unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and taxes (and workers’ compensation benefits) are calculated based on the average annual wage. Consequently, for new claims, the minimum weekly unemployment benefit […]

Workers' comp settlements and the closure effect

Last week the Washington Post reported on a proposal from President Obama’s administration that would reduce workers’ compensation for federal employees. Currently, the compensation level for injured workers with no dependents is two-thirds of their pre-injury wages. For employees with dependents, about 64 percent of the recipients, the compensation level is 75 percent. . . […]

Sundry links

The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that Gardner Economics of Seattle was asked by the Coalition for Housing Solutions to study Seattle’s proposed linkage fee (a tax on new development to fund affordable housing). Matthew Gardner said, “I believe as do many (others) that the biggest consequence is going to be that people are going […]

Labor policy's "unintended consequences"

In The Upshot, a New York Times blog, yesterday: “When Family-Friendly Policies Backfire.” These policies aim to help women stay in the workforce after starting families, but they “often have unintended consequences.” The post provides several examples from Europe — women are paid less, get fewer full-time jobs, and are less likely to become managers. […]

Wages vs pension promises: A bird in the hand . . .

David Goldstein links to the news that the Illinois Supreme Court has found certain pension reforms in that state to be unconstitutional. The New York Times reports, The changes would have curtailed future cost-of-living adjustments for workers, raised the age of retirement for some and put a cap on pensions for those with the highest […]

Looking on the budget bright side . . .

In 2013, Oregon had reformed its public pension system, including by repealing certain cost-of-living adjustments. Yesterday the state Supreme Court ruled that that was unconstitutional. The Oregonian has a delightfully scathing editorial: Unfortunately, the majority party has spent much of the current legislative session on a counterproductive, far-left policy bender. . . . Thursday’s court […]

In Focus this week: Free trade, minimum wage for actors, and rent control

Follow-up on minimum wage for actors in L.A.

The New York Times reports that the actors union, Actors’ Equity, will force at least some small theaters L.A. to begin to pay minimum wages to actors. (I blogged yesterday about desire of many local union members to keep actors in small theaters exempt from the minimum wage.)  The national union representing stage actors has […]