Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen - December 2019 | Page 18

Workers’ Compensation Bowling Case gets Overturned on Appeal By Kari Hebrank, Executive Vice President, NUCA of Florida Your NUCA of Florida Advocacy Team tries to stay abreast of the top issues that impact your day- to-day operations, and we are constantly learning new issues as the members’ share their industry challenges with us. One of the recurring issues we monitor is workers’ compensation as we know the premium rates that are paid to protect both your company and your employees are some of the highest in the business community. Each Legislative Session we support bills that could result in reduced premiums and oppose initiatives that could raise rates without any additional protection to injured workers. However, one way rates are impacted comes not from the Legislature’s activity but from the court system as evidenced by the case Reynolds v. Anixter Power Solutions . Recently, a lady named Karen Reynolds sued her employer when workers’ compensation benefits were denied her for an ankle injury she sustained during an employer-sponsored bowling incident during regular work hours. The bowling activity with co-workers was intended to be a morale booster for employees to network and discuss some of the company’s goals for the next year. The court determined that since the bowling was conducted during regular work hours and one purpose of the event was to discuss goals for the upcoming year, this case was different from Whitehead v. Orange County Sheriff’s Department, 909 So. One of the recurring issues we monitor is workers’ compensation as we know the premium rates that are paid to protect both your company and your employees are some of the highest in the business community. 16 DITCHMEN • DECEMBER 2019