Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation, News Release Issued Today

Today's report released by Commissioner Keith Hallindicates a 9.8% rate of unemployment with employment in construction decreased by 64,000 workers in September alone.  Those fortunate enough to be holding onto their jobs should be careful if asked to take on additional workload -- exhaustion can too often lead to workplace injuries. 

Saving Costs, or Endangering Workers?

Saving Costs, or Endangering Workers?

When the economy takes a downturn, there will always be those who attempt to profit from the misfortunes of others.  Lately, an influx of federal stimulus money in New York has done nothing but encourage these types of people to try and get a piece of the pie.

The federal stimulus' focus on construction and other projects has led to the increased creation of fly-by-night construction companies who look to profit by exploiting hard-working people who need work.  New York law requires that employers provide workers' compensation insurance for their employees and to comply with workplace safety regulations.  However, many employers are falling short of their legal obligations.  Because of this workers are getting hurt and are left without many options when facing medical bills and lost wages after injuries.  Some of these companies have even begun to offer settlements to workers in exchange for the worker agreeing to not pursue legal action or contact an attorney.  Injured workers should NEVER accept a settlement without contacting an attorney first.  The employers offer these settlements to prevent workers from being compensated the full amount they are owed.

While we at the White Plains offices of Markhoff & Mittman understand that all workers may not be able to identify companies that cut corners on safety and lack workers' compensation insurance, we want all workers to be aware of their legal rights.  In a later post we will quick a overview of New York's workers' compensation laws.

Will new construction rules save workers’ lives and limbs?

Anyone who has spent time in New York City recently will have noted the explosion in construction.  It seems as though buildings are being torn down, built back up, renovated, or expanded on nearly every street corner.  Enormous booms and cranes stand out against the city skyline.  It can make you think “progress” – or if you’re familiar with what’s been going on in the industry lately you might think “danger”.

New York construction accidents have been such a serious issue this year that now Congress has gotten involved.  Throughout the year the New York Department of Buildings has been trying to pass new rules to shore up their clearly inadequate and understaffed inspection department.  However so far it hasn’t helped.

With 9 crane-related deaths this year, crane accidents have been an especially hot topic.  Now, with so many city, state, and federal officials interested in construction safety, we hope that the solutions they’ve come up with will in fact finally put a halt to the deadly and dangerous construction environment in the city.  Only time will tell if the city and OSHA and other interested parties can truly get their act together and save our workers needless death and injury.

We’ve got more details about the city’s attempts to make construction safer in our law library article “Will New Rules Save NY Workers from Accidents or Death?”.