What Gov. Newsom’s Workers Compensation order means for NUHW members
COVID-19
Dear NUHW Member:
Nearly 11 percent of Californians who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been healthcare workers. As of Monday, 7,274 healthcare workers in California had tested positive, including at least 31 NUHW members.
Given the clear threat to healthcare workers and all essential employees, Gov. Gavin Newsom last week issued an executive order that will make it much easier for essential workers who’ve contracted COVID-19 to receive workers compensation benefits.
Under the executive order, workers will have presumptive eligibility for workers compensation benefits if they test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of working anytime after the statewide stay-at-home order was issued on March 19, 2020.
Because the governor’s order will be in place for only 60 days, we’re working with elected officials to pass a bill in the state legislature that would extend this system of presumptive eligibility into the future. Caregivers on the frontlines of this pandemic deserve the full protections and support of our workers compensation system.
To support NUHW’s members, we’ve made arrangements with attorneys who specialize in workers compensation issues to answer questions you may have about filing a claim.
If you’re based in Southern California, including Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties, you can contact the law firm of Ford & Wallach, and ask for Jason Swanson at 213-380-3140, extension 2209.
If you’re based in Northern California or the Central Valley north of Kern County, you can contact the law firm of Boxer & Gerson and ask for John Harrigan at 510-918-3500.
If you call, please tell them you’re an NUHW member. The consultation is free. If you end up filing a claim, the attorneys would only collect a standard contingency fee (a portion of your workers compensation settlement) if your case is successful.
If you have any questions related to COVID-19 and your workplace, please contact us at COVID19@nuhw.org.
In Unity,
Sal Rosselli, President, National Union of Healthcare Workers
Sophia Mendoza, Secretary-TreasurerNational Union of Healthcare Workers